Salty & Sweet? Or Salty And Corrosive? Part II

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snow storm salt

As a PDR technician, you will want to make sure that the work you do on a vehicle is going to withstand the harshest of weather conditions. This means that there is not one single job you can do that can be less than perfect or you will be the recipient of the worse kind of customer, the one that comes back to you wanting you to redo the job you have already done. Not only is this a huge waste of time, since you will not get paid for the redo, but it is also the worse conditions possible to deal with an angry or disgruntled customer.

Putting together a simple quality control program can alleviate or even prevent any work from leaving that may cause a warranty issue later on. From the start, your main goal should be to eliminate any possibilities and this is why a simple checklist would go a long way for repeat business, not redo business which has no monetary value.

In today’s market, with metals changing and steel becoming thinner in an effort to create a more efficient vehicle, it’s difficult to tell how long before corrosion takes hold of the metal and causes permanent damage. While the metals of today are stronger, if corrosion takes control the vehicle will be compromised and your reputation as a top PDR technician can take a hit.

Unless you use some sort of quality control procedures through your whole repair, you can and will find yourself later taking more time because of an overlooked step. While in your classes with East Coast Paintless Dent Repair Training, you will need to pay particular attention to the instruction on how to apply corrosion protection and the tricks to look between panels for any corrosion. There is not one single thing covered in class that you can afford to miss. Take your courses seriously and you may find later that you will be spared angry customers, warranty breaches, and your business overall.

PDR Technicians: Which Cars Are Best To Restore Part VI

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Chevrolet Camaro-1967-’69

The Chevy Camaro is probably, outside of the Mustang, one of the most memorable vehicles ever made. That is of course as they pertain to muscle cars. Both are sleek and eye catching. Also, both you can easily find all parts for which includes the panels, trim, mechanical, and electrical parts. the 1969 Camaro is unanimously recognized as the go to hot rod of its day and ours. There will always be a huge demand for these cars which is the good news and the bad. If you can find one, completely rusted out and basically useless, you will not pay less than $2,500. They are just that much in demand.  But if you do find one there is a huge aftermarket for performance parts for them. You could not ask for more. This car will go down in history as one of the most sought after cars, ever. I could tell you stories for days about these cars. Oh, the good old days.

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Dodge Challenger-1972-’73

The Dodge Challenger has been given second bill compared to the first choice which is the Cuda. Mopar fanatics seem to prefer the Cuda but the Challenger is actually the better car. With its detail and more upscale look, you would think that this would have won the challenge hands down. The reproduction of parts continues to grow, making even the rustiest project car salvageable. The later models have the small-block V-8’s are the most affordable to buy and the easiest to find. The E-bodies have grown in popularity and therefore the demand is outrageous. There is one thing to consider when restoring this vehicle, they must be restored to factory-original or else the value of the vehicle isn’t worth the effort.

dodge-challenger-2

PDR Technicians: Which Cars Are Best To Restore Part V

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Ford Model A-1928-’31

This was the hot car of the pre-war era. Much the way the Mustang was in the post-war era. Absolutely every part that you need to work on this vehicle is available, including the new body panels and all trim pieces. There are also a growing number of performance cylinder heads and five speed gearboxes available for these. Since there was a huge production run on these means that there plenty of cars to choose from and relatively cheap. In addition, there are car clubs that work predominantly on these relics that are glad to give advice and even possibly lend a hand for a good meal. Because they are built much like a box, they are very easy to rebuild, especially for a PDR Technician. Easy to get to dents make life a whole lot easier and quicker for resell. Roadsters and Coupes seem to bring the most money when reselling, but you could easily add the Ford or Sedan because their market value is equally good. These will still be better served as a practice vehicle for your PDR Techniques as the Model A market is over saturated due to their popularity and availability.

Ford_Model_A_Coupe_1928_0000

Packard — 1951-’54

Cars made in the 1950’s will continue to climb in their popularity, and the best of all are the models with the Packard Plate. These are all beautifully styled cars that are very well constructed, with a ton of detailing throughout. Nearly every mechanical and electrical parts can be bought brand new, and for much lower than you would think. Of course with the good news comes the bad and that is that body and trim parts are a bit difficult to locate. You really have to know where to look and even have connections in those places if you plan on restoring more than one. If you belong to a good car club, they will keep records on where to go and who to ask for, so this should move things along more quickly. Selling a well-restored Packard is very quick and easy so will be a cash cow when times are rough or you’re ready for your next project. Try to find someone else to test drive it for you because once you do you never want to get rid of it. There is something so very special about these cars, you feel like Royalty behind the wheel.

Packard_Mayfair