Posted By : Ian Osprey, 10-May-2007,
09:36am
John,
You'll get lots of differeing opinions on this.
Personally, yes, if you have the right frame of mind, you can do it. The biggest disadvantage is that it'll take you a LOT longer than someone who's
used to doing it.
I suppose it comes down to why you are considering doing it yourself. If it's to save a few bob, then maybe you should farm it out, because if you have
no real interest in finding out how to do it properly, how to correct you're cock ups, how to weld, how to paint etc etc etc, then you'll quickly
become disheartened and give up.
My reasoning was that I needed something to get me off the couch of an evening, and not into the pub! From no engineering training, but a keen interest
in the workings of cars, I have managed to replace both floors, door skins, rear valance and the front inner and outer wings, learning how to weld on
the way. The self-satisfaction is immense, and it's still nowhere near on the road! My get-out was, if I cocked it up really badly, I would still have
learned something.
If you decide to go ahead and DIY. Read everything you can get a hold off, talk to those who have gone before, do one side at a time, and brace those
doors!!
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Posted By : John Pendergast, 10-May-2007,
08:57pm
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your advice, i'm weighing up my options at the moment so still not sure which way to go, one reason for giving it a go myself is because
as an engineer I feel I should be able to do the panels myself and it would just be being lazy to have them done at a garage! On the other hand
they make a living out of cars so why put myself through possible hell!!!
Regards
John
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Posted By : Mark Field,
10-May-2007, 10:16pm
why not give it a go the sense of acheivement is great.pannel fit is some what better with most of todays pressings and there are trades people
out here you can call on for help its only a call away quite often we also have folks drop into the work shop for a chat and to see how things
fit .all the best regards mark
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Posted By : Ian Osprey,
11-May-2007, 07:39am
John,
I agree with Mark
Why not try the bonnet repairs yourself? If you mess it up, you can get another, salvageable bonnet quite cheaply, and give that to a garage.
If your successful, and enjoy it, carry on and do the tub repairs. If you don't enjoy doing the bonnet, pass the tub out to a garage.
Look on it as lots of mini projects, not one huge one