How do you?

[IndyNova]

:willy: So I am at a point in my build that I'm starting to get frustrated. I have my quarters on and done, but I've got a lot of metal yet to fix-cowl area, smoothing firewall, weld the pass floor and both toe boards, and a rear taillight Panel, and to be honest, I have very little welding experience, and am starting to get frustrated with my lack of experience and know how to finish the project. So what do you guys do when when/if this has happened to you. I don't want to sell it or shove it off to the side, and I have a vision of what I want out of the car. Any advice/help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

[War]

The short answer...learn to weld or you pay someone to do it. It's your car, perfect place to learn.

[ccracin]

Dive in. None of us are born knowing how to do all this. You can buy a lot of welding wire, grinding wheels and metal for what it would cost to pay someone. I'm not saying that paying is a bad way to go. Nothing wrong with that. But, if you want to learn and enjoy doing it yourself, paying doesn't get you there. Read, search on-line and ask questions on here. You will pick it up. Just go slow and don't put too much heat in any one spot. Other than that you can't do anything that can be redone. Our project could be done by now if I sent it to PRRC, Prodigy, Ironworks etc..... but I would not know what I do now, have as many cool tools as I do now, and as much metal to take to the scrap yard as I do now! All I can say is give it a shot, what's the worst that can happen you cut it out and do it again. :thumbsup:

[2Bad4Ya]

Go to walmart and buy a dorm fridge ( the lil sized ones) and then stop by the beverage section and get a cpl six packs of your favorite beer. Then set that lil fridge up where ever you are working on the car at.

Check youtube, and watch some welding videos. Then go grab a piece of scrap metal and try to do what you saw on the video. When you have welded a cpl pieces of scrap grab a beer and then figure out how you want tto attack your floor pan issues. The floor pan is the best place to start your welding adventures at since its not something that has to be smooth like a quarter panel or smoothed firewall must. Work on all those areas that will be covered or hidden like trunk pans, inner cowl areas etc... then you will feel less daunted by the task and can take another step forward.

Just dont get discouraged is the key, its easy to step away and come back later if you get frustrated. Though I love it when people get frustrated and say ahh to hell with it and before long the project is up for sale at a usually discounted price and I swoop in and get a new project at a discount.

[michael6372]

Great advice! I was wondering some of the same things as the OP. Where do you go to learn welding and metal fabrication skills? After seeing the great fab work done on these cars, I want to learn now more than ever! I must have went through the build thread on Bill's 72 Nova a dozen times and I am in awe of the craftsmanship put into that car. Provides some great motivation to learn and improve your skills.

Michael.

[frankenstang]

Since I am off for the next 4 weeks with a broken ankle, I'd be willing to help. Bring the car up to N. Illinois on a trailer and we'll knock out the stuff you need done. I'll find you a hotel.

I won't charge, I am just BORED out of my MIND. :willy: :mad:

Doing the floors first will give you the skills to do the rest. If you can weld those in, you'll be almost an expert.

There's most of a 10 pound spool of wire in my car. Been there....

[DRJDVM's '69]

Nothing beats experience....and you only get that by doing it....you cant get it on a DVD or a book. Its a good place to learn the basics but you have to go out and actually do it......

The floorpan is a great place to start. I did my trunk floor as my first, and looking back on it 2 years later I'm often tempted to go back and re-do some of it. My skills are way way better than when I started, so my standards are higher now. I could do a much better job now, but the bottomline is that its a trunk floor and not worth spending more time re-doing it. Start with the "who cares parts"..... stuff no one will ever see or care about. Get better and better and move on to the more "critical" stuff..

When I get frustrated, I'll just walk away for a couple of hours or even a week or so and do a different part of the build or just do something else not car related.

The other thing I've learned....dont try and compare your stuff to the pros on here. They have a ton of experience and lots more time to hone their skills. Some of them are just born with more raw talent but alot more have just put in the hours and training to be able to do what they do now. Many of them have worked hands on with "masters" in their fields. Dont set the bar too high for yourself at this stage.......

This is supposed to be fun. Some guys find out that its not fun for them....if you dont have fun or find that you just cant do it, then hire someone that can.

[2Bad4Ya]

There is also the ol community college autobody course. You willl learn the things u need to learn beyond welding and can usually work on ur own car during the course at school under supervision with their tools, You will also have others around you and making friends with a like interest.

This option is cheap, makes contacts in the skill, gives u a place to work on ur car if space is limited, etc.... i have a friend who lives in a townhouse with no garage to work in and he took autobobody 1 & 2 twice so he would have a place to work on his convertible chevelle and not have to buy tools, etc... The cost of the classes x 4 was less than paying someone to do it and know he knows how to do it from start to finish.

[GM Muscle]

There is also the ol community college autobody course. You willl learn the things u need to learn beyond welding and can usually work on ur own car during the course at school under supervision with their tools, You will also have others around you and making friends with a like interest.

This option is cheap, makes contacts in the skill, gives u a place to work on ur car if space is limited, etc.... i have a friend who lives in a townhouse with no garage to work in and he took autobobody 1 & 2 twice so he would have a place to work on his convertible chevelle and not have to buy tools, etc... The cost of the classes x 4 was less than paying someone to do it and know he knows how to do it from start to finish.

i 100% agree with taking a class at community college. once you really understand how it all works it makes a very big difference.

[MarkM66]

The short answer...learn to weld or you pay someone to do it. It's your car, perfect place to learn.

Exactly. If you don't learn it now, when will you? :yes:

[ironworks]

It's not like if you mess it up you can't fix it. It's just metal. I tell customers who want to do somethings themselves to try and build something for there first project with the welder before they cut into their car. Then start with the floors and bottom pieces. That stuff is easy to do and to fix. External parts like quarter panels and door skins have bigger consequences.

[2Bad4Ya]

It's not like if you mess it up you can't fix it. It's just metal. I tell customers who want to do somethings themselves to try and build something for there first project with the welder before they cut into their car. Then start with the floors and bottom pieces. That stuff is easy to do and to fix. External parts like quarter panels and door skins have bigger consequences.


Good point on welding a project before getting into the car. I know the perfect thing to build for a project also.... a welding cart so you can load your tanks up and your machine, some spare wire, brushes, gloves, hood, and what not.

[IndyNova]

Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it. I've taken a couple days off from it and am ready to get back on it. Frakenstang, I may take you up on the offer! I've got my pass floorpans cut in, just needs some finessing, but I'm kinda stuck on doing the toe panels.