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Holy Christ ! At least now it is in very capable hands. |
I didn't know that there have been some site sponsors and kind people that have offered help.
I think this type of info needs to be out here in the forums. No need to be humble and shy about it. Places that step up and help people out will get my business for when I'm looking at buying stuff. We all help each other out and make our Lateral-g community stronger. |
Thanks guys..
Mike at MuscleRodz... thank you very much for the trunk lid and patch panel Mario..... thank you for the offer. Paint is a good 8-10 months away, but I'll call you if the offer stands that far out. Bob..... thanks for pointing out that in many ways I got screwed way worse that Tony did...but I'm not going to go there. Tim and TJ... thank you for all your hard work and all the ways you are trying to help me out. TJ and I must have exchanged about 100 emails in the last 2 weeks and everytime we get on the phone its an hour long converation about the car. Thank you.... |
Updates.... Tim has been cutting the car all to hell. Everytime he turns around there is some aspect that Chris butchered... what the hell he was thinking is beyond us all..... I've decided to open my own shop and have my 6 year old son do the welding... it would turn out just as nice...
So ....more carnage.... you may want to have a garbage can near by to catch your vomit... Anyone like modern art? http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...chescutout.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...byRaceRodz.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...cowlpatch3.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...dersbefore.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ersbefore2.jpg Now that is quality craftsmanship at its finest.... |
This is the firewall piece after it was cut out.....nice and flat.....did you guys know that metal likes to warp when you heat it up to 1000 degrees with a MIG ? I guess Chris didnt...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ewallpiece.jpg Chris filled the rear seam..welded it when the panels didnt real line up and then ground the hell out of it. The metal was so thin Tim could crack it with his finger..... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...sengerside.jpg Its gets better...... with all the sheetmetal work and heat he put into the front end with all the overzealous MIG work, the front driver side corner warped upward about half an inch !! When Tim cut all the junk out it actually sprang back down to where it should be.... Tim is gonna get it all lined up right.... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...tmockup017.jpg |
Okay....now the "after" stuff....
New firewall....nice, clean and FLAT..... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...lupdate001.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...shapeafter.jpg Trunk gaps and the seam was cut out and a patch welded in... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...removed004.jpg New cowl patches done.. http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ssengersid.jpg This is the ride height we are shooting for... it looks like with the 20's in the rear we may have to mess with the mounts to get it to sit right.. http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ideheight2.jpg |
Ouch...but that cuda is bad dude!
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Yeah that's some nice work! :faint: Even if Chris' 'employee' did the work, Chris NEVER should have let it get to that point!
Looks like Tim is doing a great job like we all knew he would! :thumbsup: |
thats gonna look sweet sitting like that, coming along good!
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sad you cant trust anyone these days with your valuables. car is looking better though.
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Can't be at a better place |
Hang in there Ned, I'm glad to see you have not given up.Had a great time togethor at SEMA this year.
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wow that was so really nice work.
I especially like this picture. It almost looks like a bug http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...byRaceRodz.jpg |
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http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2...viouswecn4.jpg http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6...viouswean7.jpg after... http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/1...chinproab3.jpg http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6...removedzt1.jpg |
I haven't read all the posts but I assume this guy is no longer in business. i do have to say having been in the auto body Industry this is not uncommon work. There are Benz dealerships doing those exact repairs to new $100k cars and owners accepting it.
A quality job is what the owner perceives to be quality. There is always a better way to do something. I have to say although probably not the majority view, this is the difference between a job that say cost $8k and one that costs $16k. If the original shop charged this guy what Bruining? would charge a walk in customer you should go after him legally. Everybody thinks they can weld up some panels and save some cash with body work. Not that this happened here but there are tons of pics posted of work with 50 great replies that make me cringe. You can't judge work by a picture on the internet. I am not defending anyone but sometimes for a shop it is hard to turn away the quick mig them up jobs and ship it out the door with a nice profit. Not everyone can afford a true metal finished job. Not every build is a $100k car with a $25k sheetmetal and paint bill. By the looks of the work and what they feel is bad you are in good hands. |
Looking good thanks to the Bruning guys... In reply to what ^ he said, there is a difference between say what Bruning charges someone and what a cheaper job costs. However, there is no excuse for those piss poor welds and craftsmanship. Someone would have to be completely blind to get wool pulled over their eyes on that one... If someone is that incapable they should have admitted it and given up instead of wasting these fellas time and energy.
Anyways, can't wait to see more and more pictures as this goes on. Gotta love them E-bodys! :cheers: |
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Go back and take a closer look at the first guys work......... :faint: |
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Mario |
the only way to metal finish a but welded panel like bruning is tig, its looks like there using reg filler, but silicon bronze works very well and keeps the heat down when welding and metal finishing
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I doubt Mercedes owners take their cars to the dealer to have wheel tubs, spoiler, tunnel, shaved body panels, inner fenders, etc custom fabricated for their 80k car. Collision repair is completely different than custom sheet metal work and I'm sure there are a lot of body shops out there that cut corners by adding more filler. Many areas on Ned's car couldn't be fixed with filler alone... Also, experience and skill level are a huge factor in terms of the amount of time required to the job right. We looked at pictures of Ned's car and came up with rough time estimates for each area. We then looked at the car in person before bringing the car up North. We're doing everything possible to make things right with respect to Ned's allowable budget, which is exactly what we do for every other customer. I don't know what Ned agreed to pay RR, but I do know that Ned would have been better off if nothing had been done and he only lost the money. The time required to fix all the issues is more than it would have cost to do it right in the first place. So, please don't assume that we're more expensive because other shops cut corners and rip people off. There is more to it than that. Knowing your strengths and being honest with the customer is key. For instance, we talked to Rob (Demon build) about header options. While I would have liked for us to build a custom set of headers, we couldn't compete (price, not quality) with some of the production headers on the market. Custom headers were lower on Rob's priority list (determined by his budget) than suspension and body mods. What we do on Ned's car is no different. |
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Tim used silicon bronze filler on some of the thin areas around the quarter skin. The patch was fit and fusion tacked in place. Very little filler rod was needed. The upper section above that patch was also replaced right below the window area. |
How much would it cost a body man to make this panel flat with filler?
inner fender removed http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6...ates002cz7.jpg back side http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6...ates004wu6.jpg or this? new panel - still in the works... (There is a brace tacked in place supporting the fender mounting flange) http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6...fender2xb8.jpg http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/9...fender4cg4.jpg back side radius corner http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1...erbackswk4.jpg |
TJ those look fantastic, nice job!
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Thanx for the reply TJ ! I never tig welded before only mig at my body shop . I have alot to learn. But I never mess with something I do'nt know . Thats why I have MCC doing my floor and nine inch housing on my 69 .Some things you need to leave to the pros.I agree with what you said '' IT TAKES MORE TIME FOR YOU TO UNDO MY SCREW UPS THEN ITS GOING TO COST ME MORE'' just leave it alone if you do'nt know what your doing!!!!!!!
Mario |
I'm happy to see Ned's car at a proper place. The old metal work looked bad.
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I was at Bruning Auto Design for a couple hours today and the work that was done previous to being there does not meet anyone's standards.
It looks worse in person than in the pics......sorry Ned. There is no way that any customer should have had to pay anything for what was done by Race Rodz. I think it's great that Ned hasn't given up on this car. :thumbsup: -Rob |
This thread is both satisfying and humbling for me. I get some small degree of satisfaction thinking that my amateur efforts are better than the original work done on the car and very humbling knowing that I will never, ever, be able to do the quality of work that is being done on the car now. Amazing work, even more so when you consider the starting point.
Don |
I've been cussing some of my own patch-panel work all week, seeing the before pics here makes me feel a little better about my own efforts. Sorry, but that stuff really is awful.
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Believe me guys... I know how crappy the car ended up, so you wont hurt my feelings by telling it like it is..... its in excellent hands now, so I feel alot better.
As for the work.... I've only been welding for around 2 years now and I am dead on convinced that I could have done better work than that... I mean come on, man.... and it wouldnt have cost me much $$ to butcher it myself. As for the MIG vs TIG....... I'm a complete amateur but heres my take.... if you can TIG it, then do it...... MIG will work okay alot of the time but you have to stick to some basic principles and techniques...nice gaps and fitment and heat control are key. MIG also doesnt give you much ability to work the metal after the weld, while TIG does, so it allows you to finesse the area more after welding. I think for alot of guys MIG will be just fine but you need to take your time and stick to a good technique |
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http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7...ates003rq3.jpg Backside of radius http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8...ates005wb3.jpg |
Bruning,
Sorry I wasn't trying to come across suggesting (although I did not intend to) that your work was overpriced or anything. I can imagine that it is always cheaper to have it done right the first time... (unless you are someone who just simply doesn't mind hack work which I'm sure there are some out there. Your work looks great, actually it made me go home and get behind the tig torch last night for a while. You said though that the whole inter fender well panel will be fusion welded (no filler rod?). Just for reference what type of amperage do you have your tig set on when you do thing gauge sheet metal work like that? I seem to warp thinner metal like that, but I'm sure that has a lot to do with skill as well. Anyways, please keep us updated on the progress... love the pictures! :cheers: |
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Man I think the MIG welder is getting a little bit of a bad name here. Like any other tool, it is 98% the person running the machine.
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updates?
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Went by the shop this weekend and dropped off the Supercharger for mock-up. Car looks killer the rear spoiler looks awesome.
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Long overdue for an update...
Once again, Tim has been doing spectacular work. I couldnt be happier. Both TJ and Tim have been great to work with on every level. After the quarter panel issue came to light, my enthusiasum for the car took a huge downturn and my concern with my budget became a big issue. At that point I was pretty freaked out that my dream and my budget were both going in the toilet. Needlsess to say, I wasnt exactly the easiest customer to deal with..... Despite being a PITA and getting anal about my $$, they were complete professionals and we worked things out. These guys have helped me out immensly and I will be eternally greatful. They are not only great craftsman, but great people. I want to whole heartedly thank both Tim and TJ...... they have seen my dream car circle the drain and my emtions go up and down about this car. As a smaller shop, they dont have the luxury of dontaing much of their time to help guys like me. They cant just throw a couple of employees at a "feel sorry for you case" like me, and still be making $$ and paying bills with other projects at the same time. When they donate their time, they arent making any $$ for the shop at all. Despite that, they are doing the new quarter panel install for free, in order to help me keep my project going in the direction I dreamed of. I cant express my gratitude enough....... Thank you I also want to thank Mike at Musclerodz again...once again he stepped up and helped out with getting me a new quarter panel. Thank you... So....on with the update... The innder fenders are all done and turned out awesome...... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...fenders003.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...fenders001.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...fenders007.jpg Ron Davis radiator all mounted up...Tim re-did the front rad support and moved the mounts outward so I could get a bigger radiator in there http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...dlayout013.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...rogress018.jpg |
After much back and forth with with Rodger at Ironworks (thanks again) and Procharger, I was able to get a procharger bracket for the 6.1 HEMI, so I could make sure the inner fender design would allow a unit to fit. However it looks like the Procharger might be "off the plan" due to budget issues, but it may still happen and at least I know it will fit.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...updates011.jpg My Ricks tank...thank you Hector..... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...9RicksTank.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...rickstank2.jpg Off with the old quarter panel..... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...updates007.jpg More stellar work by Chris.... this is the outer wheel tub to quarter flange than Chris did....part of the old flange and some new Chris made....nice work once again.... no wondet the panel wapred all to hell.... http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...updates010.jpg http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...updates012.jpg |
Front valance in place
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...updates003.jpg Driver fender.... Tim had to do alot of work to get both front fenders to fit right http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...updates013.jpg Thats about it for now.....Tim is working on the new driver quarter panel....and bleive me, its not a quick take the original off and put the new one on....Chris did some stuff that takes 10x the effort to undo. |
glad to see it back on track! :thumbsup:
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Thanks for the update Ned!! I need to head over and take a look! I'm thinking it looks a lot better than the last time I saw your car! Nice to see it moving in the right direction! :cheers:
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