Here's a website of a guy doing a concours frame-off restoration of a Hemi Roadrunner. He did most of his own 1/4 panel, floor and other section replacements early in the project.
He did a great job of documenting what was involved and has great photos. He also talks about lessons learned and had to redo some things.
You are going to have to ask yourself:
Do I have the right equipment?
How good are my sheetmetal cutting skills?
How good am I at aligning body panels?
How good are my welding (especially spotwelding) skills?
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
A guy told me once when I asked that question "Its just metal, if you F it up, just cut another piece and do it again" Words of wisdom from a 60+ welding guru, but not too comforting nor inspiring to someone that has never done it. I am currently working with a friend who knows how to do this. Learn from those who know. Plus, I dont have the tools to do metalwork and that makes a big difference. My advice is to find someone that will do it on the side and let you help. It is the only way to learn.
You can do it. I did it. Just read and study beforehand. Get knowledgeable. Great if you can work directly with someone experienced, but not a necessity.
Yes, I definitely agree, the best way to learn is by doing it yourself, plus its much more satisfying. Just take your time and when youre through you will certainly know more than you knew before. I compare it to hanging wallpaper...a pro can do it fast and make it look good (and easy), and an amateur can either do it fast and make it look like a mud fence or do it slowly and make it look good.
If you take your time, you can do it. Read up on the subject first. I have never spot welded, but I have played around with a mig. The mig is farily easy to master, but you want to play around on some scrap metal until your proficient.
The thing is that we amaturers will probally take 5 to 10 hours to do the same amount of work as a professional body man can do in an hour.
That's because the shortcuts come with experience. When you start getting proficient, you'll know how much to cut off, when to fill with weld and grind a bit, when to stop and redo what you've just done, and when to not make it perfect. I suffer from the "too perfect" syndrome, where I'll continue carefully shaping things until I can't tell where the repair was. Some people would say that's great, but it still takes more time than most people would pay me for! I say most because I do manage to get work. Sometimes the best way to get over a fence is to throw your hat over! But make sure you have a backup plan before making the cut, and I'd highly recommend paying someone to come in at the beginning and at strategic points to make sure you're on track. Or go cut up a car that you don't care about (any Ford will do), and play on that! Make some fender flares, a hood scoop, a rear spoiler, fill in some of the chrome trim holes, put a set of zoomies just in front of the rear tires, whatever, just have fun! You'll learn a lot quicker having fun than you will if you're worried about how good the final product will be! Just my thoughts!
