Hi folks, I live in Ocala, Florida, I have a 2003 Town Car that needs rust repair on both sail panels. Around here it appears no so called "Auto Body" shops repair rust so really all they do is bolt on and replace. One shop said they don't fix rust because someone may get hurt from the rust chips flying around? Anyway, can anyone recommend any actual auto body shop that actually fixes rust anywhere in Central Florida? Essentially anywhere from Daytona Beach to Orlando to Tampa to Clearwater to Gainesville. I have also tried to look for antique car restorers but they are not interested. Thanks for your help and responses!
Rust repair is difficult, frustrating, time consuming and expensive because it is not what is seen, it is what is unseen. Which can make it rather expensive such that it can exceed the value of the car. Especially a car that is over 2 decades old that does not have a lot of market value. The economics of that can turn out badly for the shop if the owner backs out. The shop owner has to go through the legal process of recovering money from the sale of the car.
If the car is worth $5000 to $10,000 and the total repair was $4000 to $7000 would you do it?
Many people are not going to do that so why take on that kind of repair as a business owner of a body shop. Especially where other kinds of repairs make more money in a shorter repair time. A shop may ask for and/or you might volunteer to collect a deposit to be applied towards the repair.
Finding a donor vehicle* and a welder versed in sheet metal welding may be a different approach.
You disassemble the vehicle of parts that are close to the panel area that needs to be cut.
The welder cuts the old and donor panel. Then welds in the donor panel.
Then send the car out to be prepped and painted.
*The other issues is obtaining sheet metal. The 3 ways to approach are:
1) Sand/grind and add filler. This method only goes so far and is a poor way to fix.
2) Cut holes and add raw sheet metal. This may have to be cut and bent to fit. Compound curves will be difficult to make.
3) Get a donor vehicle to cut out pieces to be used on your ride.
What about the Lincoln Dealership in Ocala?
Don't have a clue if they do it or not but I would ask them.
BTW.. they are a wonderful dealership to do business with.
