Date:         Mon, 1 Oct 2007 21:48:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Ben S <phlogiston420@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben S <phlogiston420@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      WANTED: help with "custom" body work in bay area
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

i have an 86 westy weekender that was recently damaged in a collision.
 another driver attempted to pass me on the left while i was turning
left, severly denting in the sheet metal panel behind the driver's
side door.  while the sliding window did not break (nor is its frame
deformed) the panel below it was torn from its welded seam at the
lower rear corner.  the pillar that runs behind the sliding window was
dented in slightly, and the fender panel behind it also sustained some
damage.  i took the van to a trusted body shop and got an estimate for
$3300 to replace the damaged metal and repaint.  the other driver was
uninsured, and i have no collision coverage, so i'm not willing to
spend that sum out of pocket on a vehicle that already has seam rust
all around.  however, i'm also planning on leaving the country in a
year or so and don't want to start over on setting up a new van that i
won't have time to appreciate.  so i plan to take the unconventional
tack of performing a "functional" repair--a conspicuously custom
replacement panel which will keep out water and snow and major rust
for maybe a couple more years and will be obviously visible from a
hundred feet away.  say what you will about driving a beater, but i'd
rather have a terrible looking van that i know has new suspension,
tires, brakes, fuel and coolant hoses, clutch, transmission, bad ass
stereo, extra battery and gauges and has drank nothing but mobil 1 for
years.  i have sank too much of my time and myself on this van to give
her up over what amounts to only cosmetic damage, no matter how severe
it may be.

so what am i looking for?  someone i can hire to help with the
portions of this job for which i am ill equipped.  someone who knows
how to form and weld sheet metal and work with fiberglass.  someone
with paint sprayer and a place to use it.  and most of all, someone
willing to work on a car that will never again look like it did when
it rolled off the line.  i would prefer to help with every aspect of
this job and certainly plan to do all the "bitch work"--stripping of
the interior, masking, sanding, etc.  i'll pay for all the materials,
give you cash for your labor, and supply all the beer necessary for a
job of this caliber.

so if you (or your out of work welder buddy) are interested in this
job, please send me an email at the address below.  let me know what
your situation and equipment is and an estimate of what you think
you'd charge.  i have photos of the damage i could email you for
reference.

Ben.
ben.starkey @ gmail.com