Let's see your before and after

[Supercharged111]

A bodywork thread? Count me out. Unless buying a truck without a bed, then subsequently bolting one on counts.

Of course there were countless hours of labor involved in between scrubbing the frame down to clean, painting, changing leaf packs, sandblasting, welding on a small section snipped by the PO to install a welding bed, etc. And the bed is far from perfect, but at least the truck is semi-presentable.

 

[Texas82GP]

A body-work thread wasn't where I was coming from, per se. Really, more of a "I started with this total hunk of sh*t and now it's this."

 

[MrSony]

Started with a pretty ok 84k mile bone stock car. Everything worked.

Now 4 engines, 4 transmissions, 2 rear ends, and a frame repair later, its visually worse. 😀

 

[08Malibu]

This is the only pic I have on my phone from when I brought home my Malibu in March of 07. It was grandma fresh with 35k on it. Second is how it sits now. I can’t believe how little I’ve actually done to the car over the years. And that I’m actually making some progress on it now, even with 2 small children.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

This is the only pic I have on my phone from when I brought home my Malibu in March of 07. It was grandma fresh with 35k on it. Second is how it sits now. I can’t believe how little I’ve actually done to the car over the years. And that I’m actually making some progress on it now, even with 2 small children.

Not fair, both pics look dam-nice LOL

 

[08Malibu]

Not fair, both pics look dam-nice LOL

It was in good shape when I got it, but all those trips to the supermarket took their toll. It had a lot of parking lot dings and both door edges were folded over. The nose also was painted over the years.
I’m shooting to paint it over next winter.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

It was in good shape when I got it, but all those trips to the supermarket took their toll. It had a lot of parking lot dings and both door edges were folded over. The nose also was painted over the years.
I’m shooting to paint it over next winter.

Start saving now. Those costs have really gone up. I’ve got a fortune invested in primers, paint, sandpapers (before and after painting)and buffing/polishing supplies.

 

[08Malibu]

Start saving now. Those costs have really gone up. I’ve got a fortune invested in primers, paint, sandpapers (before and after painting)and buffing/polishing supplies.

You don’t have to tell me, I do it for a living. $2000 in materials alone for a paint job alone. Lucky for me I can get some things cheap. I work a side job for a guy that works for a large dent company and they get huge discounts on materials.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

You don’t have to tell me, I do it for a living. $2000 in materials alone for a paint job alone. Lucky for me I can get some things cheap. I work a side job for a guy that works for a large dent company and they get huge discounts on materials.

Nice to hear you get a break on some costs. It sure ain’t the 70s when a quart of red paint was considered high priced at $10.00 . Now I’ve turned into my grandfather telling me how cheap things were when he was young.

 

[ck80]

Well, the last gbody I saved would've been this one when I bought it:



Then stripped it down to the frame and long block because the front accessories were hit, replaced everything - water pump, pulleys/brackets, alt/steering pump/ac compressor/etc, even the smog tube and fuel pump. Welded up a small tear in the frame and pulled things basically straight from a slight bend. Also replaced were the gas tank,, send unit,, all the rubberized fuel hose, brale booster and mastercylinder, if it wasn't the Longblock, trans, or rear it was changed. One of the hardest parts to find was the vacuum solenoid for the cruise control they used in 1983, and what little remained nos were well over $100 just for the 2 inch solenoid, not whole unit, because... well, corvette. Finally grabbed one from an old caddy since nobody had reman available. Here it is waiting for the water pump:


Here's a poor picture with the external body and sheetmetal all rehung, but before paint, body molding replacement, and getting its Michelins on the 14" wire hubcaps. Front fillers are off to be painted with flex additive.


I actually sold it on the way home from the paint shop to a dad and his kid for it to become the kids first car. Had him come by the house to grab a few extra parts as spares and sent them on their way. Can't find a pic of it painted/together, but should have one somewhere...