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Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 8:51 pm
by mitch_04
Threw some primer on the quarter. Total time into the repair is around 12 hours
![Image](http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t192/antonsenm04/Datsun/IMG_0736_zpsa9153b99.jpg)
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 1:53 pm
by Gregs672000
mitch_04 wrote:Threw some primer on the quarter. Total time into the repair is around 12 hours
![Image](http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t192/antonsenm04/Datsun/IMG_0736_zpsa9153b99.jpg)
And at a shop rate of $65/hr that's $780 in time alone, not to mention materials, and there's still more work to do. Now folks can understand why car resto and paint cost so much... And why I encourage people to do as much of their own work as they can! It's very labor intensive.
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 4:19 pm
by mitch_04
You'd love my shop rate, $25/hour!
I do this for a few reasons. I don't have a large overhead since I work afterhours in the shop I work at (or my garage at home), I am not an expert body guy, it won't be done as quick as a regular body shop, and because I just plain love working on old cars.
I only do restorations or customs. I won't do collision repair or repaint a normal car. I'm not interested in that, I don't have time to waste, and I'm not doing this to get rich.
The low labor rate helps offset the cost of parts and allows people to go a little nicer with certain things. I'd rather see a car built well than cheaply every time, like I said before I just plain love cars. I won't do a job where someone wants to cheap out or skimp... not saying I'm only going to do concours quality work, but I'm not going to puddy over rust or ignore a part that needs to be replaced, not if my name is going to be referenced as the builder.
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 7:29 am
by sleepyzzz
mitch_04 wrote:You'd love my shop rate, $25/hour!
I do this for a few reasons. I don't have a large overhead since I work afterhours in the shop I work at (or my garage at home), I am not an expert body guy, it won't be done as quick as a regular body shop, and because I just plain love working on old cars.
I only do restorations or customs. I won't do collision repair or repaint a normal car. I'm not interested in that, I don't have time to waste, and I'm not doing this to get rich.
The low labor rate helps offset the cost of parts and allows people to go a little nicer with certain things. I'd rather see a car built well than cheaply every time, like I said before I just plain love cars. I won't do a job where someone wants to cheap out or skimp... not saying I'm only going to do concours quality work, but I'm not going to puddy over rust or ignore a part that needs to be replaced, not if my name is going to be referenced as the builder.
would you consider moving to NW AR?
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
very nice work. and at a very reasonable price.
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 11:38 am
by mitch_04
Spent some time in Camp Robinson Arkansas, nice country down there. Appreciate the kind words.
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 8:28 pm
by mitch_04
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 6:40 pm
by mraitch
Sorry to hear that you are not up to snuff currently. But WOW, you do great work. I wish I knew how to do metal work - maybe I will take a 'shop' course at some time.
And I do hope that your MIL thinks you are the best addition to the family since your wife.
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:10 pm
by mitch_04
Thanks! I really have little to no experience with metal work. Lots of internet reading and also read the book "Key to Metal Bumping". Aside from that I just hit things until they move!
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:44 pm
by mraitch
I trust 'hitting things until they move' doesn't reflect your driving style <G>
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:13 pm
by mitch_04
Stripping everything off to remove paint and get some primer down
Somebody liked glue! Are they normally glued down?
Not going to pull the engine, I think I can get it pretty well covered with everything off.
![Image](http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t192/antonsenm04/IMG_1041_zpse5ae5d1c.jpg)
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:45 pm
by theunz
Looks like you're only an hour away from having the engine and trans out. Why not go ahead and pull it, that way you will have much better access when spraying. There are a lot of nooks and cranies in there that are hard to spray even without the engine in the way. An added bonus would be that you could then paint the parts of the frame that you see when looking at the engine. Oh while your in there.......!
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:13 pm
by mitch_04
I'm tempted, but I'd have to either push it down to my shop or try and find room for a cherry picker and drivetrain in my garage. Neither sounds too fun especially considering we just got a half foot of snow. Realistically, it'd be easier to lift the body off at this point! However, this project has already snowballed considerably and I have to draw the line somewhere. I'd love to make it a full frame off resto but I know it's not necessary for what it'll be used for. I'm assuming that eventually in life it'll end up in my possession again and that's when I can get a little more picky!
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:31 pm
by Skyman
I've seen some of your work. It will be awesome when finished either way.
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:28 pm
by mitch_04
Thanks Skyman!
Re: Mother-in-law Restoration 1970 Datsun 2000
Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 5:24 pm
by mitch_04