The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Any Florida folks out there???

I need some help in South Fla...
I had a fabricator lined up to help me with restoring my cab since I currently don't have what's needed to do it myself. I'm in the middle of rebuilding my house and would love to be able to park my 53 in a shop somewhere and have some body work done on it. Only problem is this guy, as good as he is, is taking forever to make room for me...like 6 months now.

If any Florida folks are out there, are there any other shops down here that I could try? My truck needs the ussual body and cab work and its already stripped down and ready to go.

Thanks in advance...

I'm here in Boca too, Mario, but I do all my own work and don't know any of the shops, Sorry. That's what started me on this long journey, BTW. Noone would paint my truck so I did it myself.

I found a good painter in east Boca actually.
The problem is, with the house getting ready to be built, I have no storage. Plus I don't have the tools for the work. I could learn how to do it, but without the equipment, I don't know what else to do.

Nice to hear I'm not alone down here though

Take a look at the cab progress on my '41. If you are interested let me know and I'll send you the contact info. I'm up here in the Melbourne area of Florida. Although its about 2 1/2 hours from you at least it's a shop that might take your project in.

Can you post any pictures?

I'm headed up to the shop in a few moments and will inquire about having your cab done.

Hope you can find place to get your work done! Here in Central Florida the big shops are so loaded down with insurance work...quick in...quick out that they won't even look at a project vehicle. I had to jump through hoops to even get them to squirt my full repaired and prepped 54 and then it took them 45 days to get it right!

The insurance jobs are much more lucrative and the turn-around quicker. Then there are the small shops that have a couple "project" vehicles gathering dust in the corners....you know they will never be completed....cost for rust repairs is just too prohibitive and the materials costs have gotten ridiculous. Toss in a "home owners" association raising cane if you even jack up a vehicle in your driveway....well, you know the story! Even if you can do all the work yourself, you've got to contend with somebody complaining about the "fumes" or "noise"!

I've got over 1500 hours plus $6K in parts in my "project"....and it's by no means a "show" quality restofication. Fortunately, I got a chance to leave the coast, build my own shops in a small town and can do my own work. Trying to resurrect "old iron" in an urban area is becoming a real hassle!!

Isn't "progress" great?

Dave

We are in FL too, but Wayyyyy up here in Pensacola. Might as well be Bama. I do know that the shop here that is worth anything is backed up till next JUNE. He only does customs too. Gorgeous work though. Good luck and congrats on the new house!

Roberto, my guy up here in Brevard, said absolutely, he would do your bodywork and would even drive down and pick it up asap. He is expanding his shop and hiring some more body guys to do more restoration work. Let me know and I'll send you a PM with the contact details.

I finally admitted to myself that I had neither the talent, time, or tools to do the job myself. None of the local shops around here were interested, except one of the high end show quality places and their price was far more than I wanted to pay for a driver. I had been trying to get in line at another shop for over two years. Purely by accident did my truck finally come off the blocks, and out of the attic in my garage; I was selling some automobilia and ended up meeting a guy who bartered the body work for some stuff.

That's good info...thanks.
I have to think about this now.
I was looking forward to being able to visit my baby at the nearby shop. Let me think about this.
Thanks again.

Down2sea, That's some really good work your guy did. You said he didn't charge you an arm/leg to do the work?!

I have a '50 3100 here in St. Augustine. The entire chassis is complete and about ready for a body. The cab and rest of the pieces are sitting around the garage as I scratch my head wondering how I'm going to pull this off.

Would your guy be willing to work a long-distance estimate on similar work? I actually like the color on your "what happened 1".

Hello Red - I'll PM you the info and let you speak to Roberto. I would think that if you send him some detailed photos he would give you a quote. St. Augustine is not that far away either. The work is getting better as we go along and I continue posting new shots every few days or so. Hopefully, I'll have a rolling chassis by Friday.

Red - Just posted some new shots of the first clear coat on the cab and door. Also, the new guy Tom seems pretty good with the mig patching.

More metal work and paint work photos put up today. Tom is doing a great job on fenders, floorboard and toeboard.