When to send body to bodyshop ?

[michel schryer]

I received my kit and of course it's going to need a lot of sanding and filling for fitment of doors,hood,trunk,etc. My questions is "should i install all the hinges,door,hood,trunck latches before sending the body to the body shop making them functional eventhough there would be huge gaps or the bodyshop guy will install them". I wouldn't want to screw up the paint job trying to install hinges and latches especially when your not sure of the alignment.
Thanks guys !
Michel

[DonC]

Michel:
My position has always been that if you don't feel comfortable doing a specific task, let the experts handle it.
Body panels (doors, hood, trunk) should be perfectly alligned before the car is painted. Everything will have to be broken down again before paint but by making sure everything is correct before painting, putting it back together after won't induce any damage to the finish.
Body and paint is an art form in itself and, in my opinion, should be left to someone with experience. Not a place for novices unless you're using the build as a learning experience for nonexistant skills.
The finished product is what it's all about and, while it's great to be able to say "I did it all myslef", if the finished product looks it you may not be satisfied with the result.
DonC

[vettestr]

I think Don hit it on the head. All panels need to fit perfectly so the gaps are correct and the stripe is correct when all is installed. If you do any bodywork yourself make sure the products are top notch and proper prep so they do not shrink or come loose etc.. If you need to trim around pipes or what ever it is much easier at this stage than after painted and have to re-seal the edges.

[michel schryer]

Guys,i won't do anybody work,i just want to know if i should give the bodywork expert all the hinges and latches etc. and let him install them. Would that be part of the paint job cost ???
Thanks A lot !

[D&M2]

I can't give you a definitive answer but I can share my recent experiences in dealing with various paint shops to have mine painted. I'm having mine painted as one of the last steps in finishing up the build. Several of the shops who have come to take a look at giving me a cost have indicated that they could take the car just the way it is and they could hang and adjust the doors, position, drill, and install the lights, latches, badges, and other body accessories. Of course, the time and cost associated with that resulted in a lot high price than if I did most of the up front work and the body shop only needed to do the final adjustments and body prep.

Depending upon who you talk to for the body work, they should be able tto give you some idea on what they would charge you to do all of the installation, adjustments, and prep work and what they would charge if you did some of that work yourself.

Hope that helps some. Good luck.

Mike