Finally in the shop. now for some decisions

[68RustBucket]

My baby is finally making her visit to the body shop. I took her to Gelsi Mustang World in Vineland, NJ (about 45 mins from where i live). It's owned by Bob Gelsi, and very well known mustang restoration specialist, so i know she's in good hands. As of now, he is removing all the rust in the body/unibody and repairing those respective parts.
Here is the decision i have to make: Do i want him to take care of the entire car (engine, tranny, suspension, exhaust, brakes, interior) or should i save some of that for myself? It'd save me thousands of dollars to do some work myself, and i think that is the driving reason for that option. if i were to let him do it all, the car would be completed in 4-5 months and i'd get it back with keys in the ignition all ready to be driven home. So it boils down to these two things ... building my own car up, or quick satisfaction? tell me what you guys would do

 

[97fxdwg]

I am having so much fun with each little bit of my DD restoration - 68 Coupe, 302 - (Last 2 weeks has been the total redo of my dash and interior quarter panels, I sit back now and say, "Did I do that?"), that I'm trying to figure out how to paint it myself too! Thankfully that won't happen but the satisfaction I get from seeing results from my handiwork is something I wouldn't want to trade off. As we all say, "But that's just me." But you asked. Good luck and have fun!

 

[65straightsick]

There is no better feeling then the end result of a DIY project. I am now doing one of the most monotanous and long thing I have ever done.....I am doing my own bodywork... It will be hard but I will be so proud when my baby comes out of the paint booth straight and clean and perfect..Of course If I ever have an accident and it is the other drivers fault...I will make them come over and learn how to do bodywork....But that's just me. It may be easier to hand over a couple thousand for a complete car...but it's not as fun.

 

[cardude]

As always it depends on your situation... do you need to drive it right away or are you willing to take the time and money and effort to spend on doing things youself? Also what are you good at and what tools do you have? if you dont have interest in interior work or will have to send it out then have that done, if you are unsure about other areas or dont feel inclined to do it then have it done.

I personally have done every stitch of work to my ride and loved, hated at times, got discouraged, got revitalized, and spent way too much on a setups that never should have been put together because I was over zealious about have a big cam and such, and am still not close to being done after 3 years of on and off work on it. I would not change anything because I have learned a bunch and have something I can say I did that... even if it does not win shows. I love every minute I get to work on my car, but then again it is not driven daily and gets worked on when money, time, and kids/wife afford me the luxury.

in short pic the things that will give you pleasure and do those yourself. just dont beat yourself up if you have to re-do it over a couple times to get it the way you want it.

 

[68RustBucket]

i feel that i can do absolutely anything that i put effort into, given that i have correct parts and tools. time isn't really an issue. i'd like to have the car safely drivable by the spring, but i won't push that goal too hard. i care that things are done correctly, not quickly.

the learning experience is the main reason i'd like to do most of the car on my own. the body work is way out of my reach, so that's why i sent it to the shop. all the mechanical stuff, though, i feel like i can tackle it. help may be needed, but it'll be something i can say i did myself and that is one of the best feelings in the world. so i think that decision has been made.

there's still one more ... the paint. the shop i have it at also does phenomenal paint jobs. i have the choice of letting them paint it while the car is apart, which is a much better way than painting it while everything is together. if i do this, i run the risk of scratching/chipping/damaging the paint while i am doing the rest of the work. is an amazing paint job worth that risk, or should i wait til everything else is done to get the paint?

 

[cardude]

it is your call, I can show you a couple scratches in my paint that make me want to cry when we did the engine and such. on the other hand you want it painted and ready to go to put interior into it like windows and all that good stuff.

its a coin flip.....

 

[dodgestang]

Here's another way to look at it....4-5 months puts you in December/January - not prime mustang driving season....but perfect season to do those things he didn't do so you could save a little money and then have it ready for the spring

 

[Hack]

I would wait and do the mechanical stuff first. But I'm on the extreme of this one. I've had my car for 14 years and I've only done mechanical things that had to be fixed.. up until this year.

If your kids are small, that would be another reason to consider waiting for paint. My car has so many door dings from sitting in the garage! The kids always liked the car, but kids just aren't that careful.

 

[68RustBucket]

fortunately, i am 21 years old and am far far away from having kids. putting that aside, i think i will wait for the paint til everything else is finished. it's just a safer bet.