Should I do the body work myself?

[jrohrig]

This is actually a 3 part question:

1) Should I attempt at doing the body work, gaps, and sanding myself? I plan on having it painted by a professional.

2) What percentage of people do it themselves?

3) If I do end up doing some of the body work, should I do that prior to putting the car together? In part one the of FFR video on body assembly, they mention that they recommend doing the body work first.

[miller7448]

Opinions. We all have one as well as something else. I wanted to do everything myself but dreaded the endless sanding of the bodywork. In the end it was actually enjoyable as long as a deadline was not involved. Just guess how long it might take and then double or triple your guess. As an amateur it took almost 2 full gallons of Rage Gold which is much better to work with than the Bondo found at the local stores. Also until primer is applied its very hard to see the amount of pinholes involved. Primer also better allows for sighting curve lines from my experience. Not sure how you would fill and sand the surfaces around the dash with the body installed. I'd give my final bodywork an 8/10 and my amateur paint job a 6/10 but enjoyed the feeling of doing it all.

[edwardb]

Couldn't tell you how many did it themselves. Minority for sure. Common for builders to mount the body and the moving surfaces (doors, hood, etc.) trimmed just enough to fit. But some don't even do that. Then deliver if for body and paint. Normally on the chassis. Then everything is removed for paint. The starting point is everything on the car, other than very basic clean-up.

Not sure what video you're referring to. Pretty standard process to complete the chassis, aluminum, etc. then fit the body. Every one is just a bit different. Of course there are exceptions. But that's the most common.

By all means, talk to your painter first. Many (maybe most?) prefer no DIY body work. Could end up costing you in the long run. Unless you're going to do everything including your own paint. For sure most will not want any product on the body.

[Gumball]

I did all the bodywork myself, but turned it over to a pro for paint.

No prior experience with bodywork or fiberglass, but I received tips and suggestions from quite a few people here on the forum and a friend who owns a bodyshop.

It took me the better part of a full summer and fall to get it ready to go for paint and the body was on-and-off the chassis a few times during that process.

I chronicled the entire process here: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?7645-Chris-Bodywork-Thread-Mk3-1&highlight=chris+bodywork+thread

If I remember right, I was all-in on materials and supplies at around 1200 bucks. On top of that, I paid my friend's shop another five grand to do a final block-sand, primer/sealer, paint, clear, and cut & buff.

Here it is after six years and 16K+ miles........

[GoDadGo]

I tried to do the bodywork myself and then had to call in professional help.
Just understand that my Professional Help Pool is deeper than deep compared to most hobbyist builders.
I also had a ton of advice from Jeff Kleiner so what you see is a culmination of a lot of folks.
Shown below are my bodywork videos that may help you or possibly not:

Parting Line Removal:
https://youtu.be/_3sLamdkIFg

Parting Line Smoothing:
https://youtu.be/meBYeI96_A8

Bodywork Begins:
https://youtu.be/6QXWP5H8mT0

Bodywork Gets Serious:
https://youtu.be/6UK6K2jcwTU

Bodywork Is Nearly Done:
https://youtu.be/po1Bb2_XDDk

Body Is Removed & Back Side Coated:
https://youtu.be/FVMCA4_UZHU

Reassembly Starts:
https://youtu.be/ELFJDOVKb4g

Reassembly Continues:
https://youtu.be/A0Jb1tjjtPU

Graduation Video Minus Wipers:
https://youtu.be/9WEe6-wdNtA

Just understand that I Would Not Have Gone Down This Path had I not had my pal Ernie, that owns a body shop and been in the business for 42 years.
In addition, the fellow that saved the day was my friend Sammy who has been working for my pal Ernie for the past 32 years which is where we shot the car.
Most people don't have friends that eat, drink and sleep in the body and paintwork business, but if you do, then consider yourself lucky.
Again, I hope you find this information helpful, but understand that it may be of little or no use to you.

Steve

[Jacob McCrea]

If you can responsibly afford it, and have no burning desire to learn the art, pay a pro to do as much of the bodywork as possible. I say that because the builders who seem the most successful at completing the cars in a decent amount of time (and enjoying them as vehicles, not garage art) do the mechanicals, then turn the paint over to a pro. Frankly the bodywork is a grind (no pun intended) and I am sure many a project has stalled because the builder didn't want to pay for the body work, but really lacked the ability to do a decent job at home. I did everything myself because I have the tools, shop and experience, and my business slowed a little due to covid, giving me some free time last summer. But it was a staggering amount of work and I doubt it was the most effective use of my time. And if I were to do it again, I would pay someone to do the body.

[jrohrig]

I dont have a burning desire to the body work myself, but I also don't want to miss out on a portion of the build that might add to the enjoyment of the "built not bought" process.

Gumball, how much money do you think you saved doing the body work yourself? (I realize this is kind of a loaded question because you spent many hours working on it). I guess a better way to ask it is, how much would your friend have charged to do both the body work and the paint?

[Kodiak]

Do what you feel comfortable doing . Body work and paint require good tools also .I’m looking forward to the body and paint on the roadster good luck with which ever path you choose .

[Fixit]

I can do anything mechanical and basic upholstery. I have the tools, experience, and skill-set to accomplish this easily, and be totally satisfied with the end result.

Body & Paint work... NO. It is an entirely different tool-kit and skill-set. I feel confident I could learn it, acquire the tools, but probably not be satisfied with my results. IMO there are certain things you turn over to an experienced pro, and this is one of them.

(Frankly, nobody's gonna be ooohh/ahhhh over your perfectly routed & bent brake lines, or the gorgeous wire looms you've built. 95% of them will be looking at the body & paint.)

[CraigS]

I think a mix of some diy and some pro works well. The problem w/ having a pro do it is whether or not your pro has any FFR experience. When reading here and the other forum it becomes obvious that there are a lot of FFR specific fit issues to deal with. I think that getting the body properly located and then fitting trunk, hood, and doors is maybe best done by an enthusiastic owner who will use the forums to find the best solutions. A body man who is fully qualified otherwise, probably is not going to search for solutions here. He is just going to do his best based on his experience. Being able to do the the filling, sanding, blocking, priming, and putting on a great shiny coat of paint is great. But it goes to hell quickly when the driver's door is opened and it scrapes the paint off the fender because that gap that looked great w/ the door closed was, never the less, insufficient on an FFR.

[Avalanche325]

I did my own and really enjoyed it. I also did my own engine assembly. So, I'm definitely a built not bought guy.

Here is my advice:

Are you a meticulous type of person? If so, go for it. If you are a "That's close enough" type, don't even think about it.
Do you WANT to do it? It is a HUGE amount of labor for the bodywork. Then 24 hours of terror when shooting the paint.
Don't do it to save money. You won't save all that much after buying tools and consumables. Especially considering the labor time.
If you want to do the bodywork and not the paint, some painters won't do that. Get that checked out first.

[TMartinLVNV]

I was going to try and drive mine for a year before bringing it to the painter. I wanted to try and just get it functional and let the painter make it look pretty. After few days of messing with the hood, I called Jeff Miller and asked when he can get me in. I haven't regretted it a day since.

[Lickity-Split]

If you were going to have a professional shop do the body/paint work, would you take them the whole car assembled, or just take them the body and doors, etc?
Are there any advantages of disadvantages to either way?
I'm thinking of the 33 Hot Rod.

[CraigS]

I asked the guy who painted mine. He said, I can't take the body off a Miata when I paint it. But it is your guy's preference.