How many of you do your own work?

[35fordtn]

Curious how many of you guys have shops work on your car vs do it all yourself?

[Bored&Stroked]

I do everything I can do myself - which covers everything mechanically. I don't do upholstery or difficult metal work.

[big deuce]

Delete...

[rockfla]

Bored&Stroked X2


When I got my, new to me, house and shop, 5 + years ago, I told my wife I was going to outfit my shop SO I can do everything I can possibly do, myself. I currently "can" do everything except paint and I am working on that and having my own paint booth. After paying BIG money for a "supposed" professional restoration at a shop in North Georgia and getting a moisture filled paint job....I will be mad with myself and have more money in my pocket than paying someone with NO moral compass or ethics to "screw me"!!!! I have a two post lift, machine shop capabilities - lathe, 2 mills, 2 ammco brake lathes, 20 ton shop press, a 1 ton gantry crane with a 1 ton electric hoist and 1 ton chain hoist. I have shrinker, stretcher, sheet metal brake, sheet metal shear, bead roller, 8” buffing machine, MiG, TiG and Oxy Acetylene, Sun 504, bead blast cabinet, parts washer, 16.9CFM 80gal compressor, engine run stand and a complete outfitted wood shop SO painting is the last order of business for my shop!!!! AND by and large I don't have to rely on anyone's help to accomplish what I need to accomplish or wait on someone else's scheduled. NOT to be braggadocios by any means

[Hitman]

I do all of my own work.

[mhsprecher]

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I do almost everything myself.

[The Art Doctor]

I had an early 911 when I was a much younger man and took it to a specialty shop to have a bit of work done. That experience taught me a very valuable lesson. I'd rather buy the tools and trip over them for the next 35 years than pay anyone to do anything on any of my cars, motorcycles, boats, washer & dryer or anything else that was assembled by a human ever again. YouTube has made being a self-repairer easier than ever. It may take me longer and I might not get it right the first time but in the end I know it was done right and I can repeat if and when necessary. New cars are not user friendly for repairing, the two we have go to a local independent when anything creeps. Biggest hurdle I see is getting old, the physical stuff catches up to most of us.

[TJ]

I used to do all the work except painting. Now it's mostly mechanical and wiring. I also used to do upholstery kits for my own cars and also did it for others. Once the upholstery kits were no longer available it put a stop to that activity.

[tubman]

I used to do almost everything myself. I would farm out engine machine work and upholstery. After my health "troubles" last spring, I can't do much any more. I still have my '51 and my Corvette. Neither of them need anything at the moment, so I'll keep driving and see what develops.

Oh yeah. I do have my oil changed commercially. I have everything I need to do it myself, but I just hate drain oil for some reason.

[Mart]

I do everything that I can do myself. I recently paid to have a radiator recored, but not before trying to repair it myself. I found a local place recently that will fit and balance tyres reasonably so will use them in future. I can remove and fit them but cannot balance them.

[ford38v8]

I farmed out my radiator repair, axle housing bearing surfaces, pinion bearing removal, torque tube center bearing, generator rebuild, tire install & wheel balance. Everything else was my busted knuckles except upholstery and engine internals which were good from the git go. It is my firm opinion that anyone who doesn’t do hands-on is merely an observer, not a hobbyist. Sadly, by my own definition, I’m no longer a hobbyist because I sold my pride and joy.

[JayChicago]

My car has never been to a shop, and it came to me on a flatbed because it wouldn't run. But I send components to experienced pros for rebuild.

I think you will only see responses from those of us who want to brag. Other readers are not going to post that they have no mechanical abilities and pay others to do the work.

[GB SISSON]

I also do most everything on my old vehicles, including paint and 'upohlstery.' I'm pretty good with a 3" brush and have fairly low expectations. Last thing I farmed out was the machine work on my 8ba rebuild. I try very hard not to cut corners on the mechanical side of things, but have been known to choose a slightly worn original ford part rather a new overseas aftermarket 'reproduction' part. The need to do hands on wrenching is very strong in me. I hope my body holds out for a while, because I still have a lot of stuff I want to build and repair.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Mart

I do everything that I can do myself. I recently paid to have a radiator recored, but not before trying to repair it myself. I found a local place recently that will fit and balance tyres reasonably so will use them in future. I can remove and fit them but cannot balance them.

I have found that the cheap bubble balancers like those sold at HF and NH work quite well. (The hardest part is keeping the carrier mounted correctly on the balancer frame.) I have also found that "pre-balancing" the tires by moving the tire in relation to the rim can make a big difference, as well as giving some thought on placing the weights.

[Ggmac]

I do everything, engine , trans , electrical, paint , body , interior( except headliner ), suspension, etc . Its getting harder and not as much fun as it used to be to be . I’ve got 14 old cars , trucks . Some original, some drivers ( original trans etc ) modern sbc , some street rods and some old race cars . Non are trailer queens . I drive them all the time, even grocery shopping and to walmart . More people see the old cars and smile than if I just took them to shows . As if any shows exist anymore around here.

[kurt v]

Ggmac what is your ins bill on all those cars, i got a 40 ford coupe thats a driver and it's over 2 hundred?
I do most of my own work.

[glennpm]

I do everything except painting. I can do the painting and have all the equipment and have done so in the past, but no good place to do it other than small parts. I also should do more paint panel buffing, but kind of dread it do to lack of experience.

[Tim Brown]

I do all my own work.

[Zeke3]

I try to do all my own mechanical work, but i did just have someone rebuild my 21 stud engine plus machine work, short block. I will probably be outsourcing the component repairs to the trusted experts on the Barn. I am attempting the metal repair on the sheet metal right now, watching a lot of YouTube videos on the topic.

[Newc]

Very few shops left that know our cars, and prices per hr are killers. Hobby mags will NOT report on the $ involved, Priced many out of our cars. Newc