Cost of a Respray..

[HK1837]

Go and look at it with an experienced person with the series or a panel beater. There is really no other way.

[GTS]

Even if you have an experienced person with you, you still cant see what is under the paint......I found that out with my "rust free" van....that only took 3 hours a day for 5 months to repair.

[HZSandman]

I have always found that the old fashioned fridge magnet trick is good at checking for under paint issues.

See if the fridge magnet sticks or falls of the usual spots. Above wheel arches, rear quarters, sills, door bottoms, etc.

It wont pick up everything but when it doesn't stick theres some filler going on there.

[jennie285]

Ask them to soda blast it first, then you will see how much rust is under the paint, and bog...:sick::Texas::weights::Tongue: (if only)

We never imagined there was so much rust under the paint on the yellow van.....

[HK1837]

You can usually tell a "goodun" for some vehicles ie good the body is, normally when they have original paint or very old paint. Hard to explain in words, but you can. Just like how you use your hands to feel that a panel is straight when you are file finishing it. Not sure how many here understand what i'm talking about, I know Greg will. I know I can walk up to an old Holden or Torana and just know that it has a good original body, but it has to be old or original paint. This is why I say don't buy pretty or shiny old cars. Always buy the ones with faded and over-polished paint. Look past the bling at the core of the vehicle. Like our mums always told us to do with people, and we still dated the local bimbo (or at least had a crack!).

[ambientgoat]

I have a look at the panel joins and folds also. I've seen plenty of bog work were they didn't really match the original join of the car. The Sills on vans/utes are a good example.

The door frame on my sandman is what gave away to me that the whole side of the thing thing was bog. The lip where the quaterer panel came in and attached to the door frame was too smooth. Drove a screwdriver in 2 inches of bog before I found the original door frame that had been caved in from a nice prang. (don't remember you try this on a car that's no yours tho, hehe)

Or if you're lucky like my wagon, they don't use quite the right shade on repairs, so the bits are the lighter green in the right light are "X marks the spot" for dodgy repairs.

Also remember, that rust seems to be a little bit like an iceberg. That little rust bubble can be a big drama under the paint.

[Rolla]

Yep half the reason why I drove up to Wogga Wogga to get mine. Good price for an unbelievable original quality HJ Sandman. Orignal paint, no rust, no dents! Heck the stripes are even in bloody good condition, not to mention the inside and under the hood! I guess thats what happens when the owner throws it under wraps since the 90's. Can't be happier with my purchase. Going to make the restoration easy easy easy!

I agree with HK. Don't jump into something. Wait till the right buy comes along. It will come!

[playwme]

You can usually tell a "goodun" for some vehicles ie good the body is, normally when they have original paint or very old paint. Hard to explain in words, but you can. Just like how you use your hands to feel that a panel is straight when you are file finishing it. Not sure how many here understand what i'm talking about, I know Greg will. I know I can walk up to an old Holden or Torana and just know that it has a good original body, but it has to be old or original paint. This is why I say don't buy pretty or shiny old cars. Always buy the ones with faded and over-polished paint. Look past the bling at the core of the vehicle. Like our mums always told us to do with people, and we still dated the local bimbo (or at least had a crack!).

Just what I was going to say. This is one time where you will be happy to see faded oxidized paint.