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Will a body shop let me help work on my car?

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rockportag03

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
This may be a stupid question but I'm curious, is it common for a body guy to allow a customer to assist with the work being performed on the customer's car?

I'm very competent when it comes to working on things however, I've never done body work before and I would like to learn from someone with the know-how.

In an ideal situation, I'd like to find an old-school body guy who can teach me the "right" way to do things.

I know this is probably a long-shot but I just thought I would ask if anyone has ever seen or heard of this.

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
You would have to ask for mentorship. If you do get to work, a pizza for the shop on Friday's with soda might help alot.
Worked for me. You might have to sign a liability release.
 
#3 ·
Depends on the shop I would imagine.
I think it is something you're gonna have to address on a shop by shop basis until you find one willing to let you work and learn.

I learned quite a bit of the stuff I know from an 'olds-kool' body guy years ago when I needed some quarter panel repairs on my 62 Impala SS.
Could have just paid to have it done, but I was worried that I wouldn't get the quality of work and final paint I wanted (imagine that, even back then).
Worked out a deal for him to work in his spare/off-time on my car and I could watch/help.
We worked mainly Sat. & Sun. and I ended up helping him do a lot of work on cars other than mine as he tried to keep up with his shop volume some of the time.
Didn't much matter to me, as I was learning (on someone else's panel ;) ) and I knew even if he didn't get to mine, I would probably be able to do it myself fairly soon :yes:
Turns out that was pretty accurate anyway :eek:
Once we got the new quarter hung and welded in he got distracted on a series of other projects for the next month or so - I could drive mine and often took it home and worked on it in the evenings using skills I'd picked up from him.
Took me about another couple months to get it finished and ready for paint using trips to the shop and working at home, then he helped me shoot the final coat and wet-sand.
I did my first buff in the driveway - scarred to death I would screw-it-up somehow ... I didn't - it came out great and I never had problems with the paint for next 6~8 years I owned that car :thumbsup:
It was a great way to learn and develope a skill-set to allow me to go from for all my future needs.
I still look back on that being a positive experience - even though I didn't get nearly the amount of work he had originally promised he could do ...
I use 'tricks' and tips from him to this day :thumbsup:

But I'd still rather build an engine than do body work :yes:
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
I appreciate the responses.

I just don't like the idea of dropping the car off somewhere and simply paying to have it done. Especially when I know I could do it with the proper guidance AND I would love to learn a thing or two about body-work. If I had the time I'd love to take some sort of a classic car body class.
 
#7 ·
Your best bet is to find someone that works on the side at his own place.

I would say most shops don't want someone in there working on their own project, there is to much liability, not just on your car or yourself, but what happens if something happens while working on your car and damages another car in the shop.. Unlikely yes, but it could happen.

But someone that works on cars at home on the side in their garage or someone starting out, might let you in the shop, or might trade you labor. If you are offered something like that, be sure to clean up after yourself,and help keeping his shop clean. They will appreciate it if you keep the floors swept and the trash cans empty.
 
#8 ·
I tried to do this with an "old school" engine builder. It didn't work out so great. I was a cash paying customer and my engine kept taking the back seat to other inbound jobs that were quick turn arounds. It was a nightmare! His wife passed away, and a bunch of other events that kept postponing my engine build for almost 2 years. I finally lost my cool and got refunded my $3k deposit. He passed away from a stroke 3 months later and I felt like an *** for losing my cool with him.:(
 
#10 ·
I don't think I have ever read a story about something like this ending well but I have read many that went badly.

There is a lot that can be learned reading the build threads on this forum. Spending several hours going through these would give you a good idea of the skills and techniques needed to undertake something like this.
 
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#11 ·
First you have to find the right restoration shop (don't think it would work as well in a body shop), I was lucky enough to find a really old school shop right down the street from where I lived. Before getting the car done I started off being free shop help to learn the do's and don'ts and any little tip and trick he knew from 40+ years of car restorations, brought beer every time too which I found out worked better than money. When the time came to do my car he guided me through replacing a partial floor pan which was the only real panel that it needed the rest was just a few little squares of sheet metal and a lot of metal massaging then he finished up the final body work/blocking and paint, it all turned out well in the end and were still friends, I'm about to tackle a lot more work on the my new camaro project in my own shop with probably just a few calls for guidance then to him for paint.
 
#12 ·
On my 70 RS I work out that I did all the metal work, everything need prior to laying any mud and the body shop I worked with was a single man outfit and he actually like it this way because he preferred doing the finish work and not the metal work. Saved me allot of money and the car came out an A- show quality (not that I was looking for A+) but it worked out really well. I think the finish work and paint is an art and my hobby does not allow me to spend the time to put out the quality I would like to have.
I am doing the same on my 67 RS' and he is looking forward to getting it.
 
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#14 ·
I think it would depend upon the type of shop, your relationship with the owner, and the amount of skills that you have. If it's a "crash and dash" shop, where a lot of insurance jobs are being done, with the owner bring behind the eight ball as far as time...then, space and productivity becomes the issue. If the owner is a lay back, restore type, it might be a great thing as you could help out at times, run errands, or pick up parts...usually a one man effort is this situation. If you are taking shop time away from from the business by asking demanding questions, or asking for constant help... then that may not work out. Guess, ya gotta take all things into consideration...and think about some of the suggestions shared in this thread.

capt
 
#15 ·
And to add to Capt's suggestion, you can add onto the estimate, remember it's only an estimate, you make progressive payments to the shop.

The owner and you establish a payment plan and this way you pay for the work done rather than rely on the shop to float the 'loan'.

I set mine up for three payments,
1. Sheet metal work
2. Primer coat just before painting - the final guide coat has been sanded off before the car goes into the booth
3. Final paint - pull off tape and fix blemishes.
 
#16 ·
Scott, why don't you just give it a go yourself? With the money you'd save paying someone to do it for you while you learn, you could pick up all the necessary tools, a bunch of how-to DVDs, and some confidence to do it. If you're handy, as you say you are, it shouldn't be too terrifying. Start on some small, easy stuff and work your way up to the bigger issues. That's how I did it/am doing it.
 
#17 ·
69Tom said:
Scott, why don't you just give it a go yourself? With the money you'd save paying someone to do it for you while you learn, you could pick up all the necessary tools, a bunch of how-to DVDs, and some confidence to do it. If you're handy, as you say you are, it shouldn't be too terrifying. Start on some small, easy stuff and work your way up to the bigger issues. That's how I did it/am doing it.
Click to expand...
Some good advice there. How rough is your car? That would help this discussion.

You are welcome to drop by for a quick lesson on plug and butt welding and then you can practice all you want on my scrap metal pile. You can also block sand my latest project for a day or two until you get the hang of it... :D I can show you the basics that I learned the hard way. The hardest part is having the patience to take the time to do it right and then to do it again if you don't get it right.

BTW I am not the seasoned old-timer that you are looking for. I am old, but not seasoned...

Don
 
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Discussion starter · #18 ·
Lots of good info here...as always.

Don, I see you're in Argyle...just down the road from me here in Grapevine.

I just might take you up on the offer to come by and shoot the breeze.
Maybe I can even do some block sanding, just to get the hang of it.


I'll shoot you a PM.

Thanks again guys for all the responses.
 
#19 ·
Been there and done that Spoken from a shop owner that doesn't work out. The shop owner spends more time showing the novice what to do and then redoing what he did do and doesn't get anything done himself. There are places for that and they are called trade schools and we haven't began to talk about the liability issues if you get hurt in the shop
 
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#20 ·
In the case of a high volume production shop,they might be open to it in some parts of the job.They could never charge you the kind of money they would have to to block sand out your entire car 100 times. If you think $100 per hour labor rates are steep,you should know that a lot of these shops are billing insurance companies in a way that allows them to bill for 4 hours labor for a job that takes a tech 1 hour.So inreality,they pay the tech 1 hour($25 per hour on a good day) and collect $400 per hour.

I had a parts car sitting in my driveway infront of my pickup truck one night.The glass in the car was just layed in place.A wind storm took the back window ot and it crashed into the front of my truck No dents,no new sheet metal,just scuff and reshoot the hood,the fenders{clear only) and replace the winsheild{which I have since replaced again for $190 installed). They billed the insurance company $3000 and I dropped my truck off at 8 am and it was done by 2 PM.They were real nice though and let me slide on the deductable.The guy who did the bodywork and shot the paint is a friend of mine.They pay him $11 an hour.
 
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RichSchmidt
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