Recommendations on where to send my 1954 BN1 for metal work?

[christophe]

My 1954 BN1 needs some metal work and most likely at least one new front frame rail. I've contacted a few places already, but one of the major companies wants $119.00 per hour, which is way out of my budget for this car. It's one thing if I had something really special, but not a car that will potentially only be worth around 50 with a pristine restoration. I'm in Alabama, so I'd prefer to find someone in the SouthEast, but I'll branch out if need be. However, the West coast is probably a bit too far. I could do the work myself, but I just have too much on my plate right now and I really want to get this restoration kicked into a higher gear.

Thanks!

 

[drambuie]

You may want to contact a frame shop in your area, I have heard of shops that specialize in frame straightening and rust repair, also research online frame shops and their specialized equipment and technicians. they may point you in the right direction! Good luck.

 

[Keoke]

There are several British car clubs located in that area i am sure they might be able to help you too.

 

[christophe]

You may want to contact a frame shop in your area, I have heard of shops that specialize in frame straightening and rust repair, also research online frame shops and their specialized equipment and technicians. they may point you in the right direction! Good luck.

Thanks, but I don't trust any of the local rednecks that don't even know what an Austin-Healey is. I would really prefer to send the car off to someone who is well known for restoring healers.
The car needs new sills, wheel well patches, lower hinge pillars, complete latch pillars, work on the door hinges that have been heavily molested, driver's frame rail work, etc.

 

[healeyblue]

Any body that fits your requirements will unfortunately be in that same price range though.

 

[Randy Forbes]

I'll throw Paul Tsikuris' hat in the ring. You might want to calculate how far you are from Lakeland (Kathleen perhaps) Florida, and factor in how often you'd want to monitor progress.

He took not much more than this:

And gave me back this:

(without the snow...)

I don't know what his hourly rate is, but given his experience with Healey bodywork, I'm certain that he'd be as cost-effective as someone that charged half as much (I gave up on trying to get my body panels to fit, swallowed hard and took the car to him for body & paintwork). He'd have done as much, or as little as I wanted him to.

 

[drambuie]

I have Heard of the Healey Werks in Lawton IA. However, I personally have never dealt with them so enter with caution any place you choose, and do some back ground checks to their business practices! Sounds like Randy Forbes had a good experance with his shop, so that may be a good place to start. A call to them wouldn't hurt!

On the other hand, with rotted frame rails and outriggers, I would strongly suspect the rest of the frame has long lost its integrity. Thus, I would would be very cautious of throwing good money after bad! You may consider unloading it to break even and hunt down a more solid specimen. Just food for thought my friend!

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey Christophe,
Are you in a local Austin Healey Club of America chapter ? Know there is one in Alabama and a really big and active chapter in Atlanta so maybe they can refer you to someone in Georgia or Alabama. Go to the national website - www.healeyclub.org - and you can get contact info there. The Atlanta chapter has its own website at : www.atlantahealey.org. I used to live in Atlanta and used a fellow named Neil Estes who operated Neil's Restorations in Decatur, GA. Super guy and honest as they come but I only used Neil for mechanical work, not body work on a MG TC and BT7. But he might be good for body work too.
Regards
Mike

 

[christophe]

I have Heard of the Healey Werks in Lawton IA. However, I personally have never dealt with them so enter with caution any place you choose, and do some back ground checks to their business practices! Sounds like Randy Forbes had a good experance with his shop, so that may be a good place to start. A call to them wouldn't hurt!

On the other hand, with rotted frame rails and outriggers, I would strongly suspect the rest of the frame has long lost its integrity. Thus, I would would be very cautious of throwing good money after bad! You may consider unloading it to break even and hunt down a more solid specimen. Just food for thought my friend!

Their work looks excellent, but they are the company that wants $118.00 per hour and that is just crazy expensive unless I were paying to have something super rare restored that required expertise that only they could provide.

 

[christophe]

Hey Christophe,
Are you in a local Austin Healey Club of America chapter ? Know there is one in Alabama and a really big and active chapter in Atlanta so maybe they can refer you to someone in Georgia or Alabama. Go to the national website - www.healeyclub.org - and you can get contact info there. The Atlanta chapter has its own website at : www.atlantahealey.org. I used to live in Atlanta and used a fellow named Neil Estes who operated Neil's Restorations in Decatur, GA. Super guy and honest as they come but I only used Neil for mechanical work, not body work on a MG TC and BT7. But he might be good for body work too.
Regards
Mike

Thanks, I'll look into it. As a small business owner and a father of a 3 month old, I don't have a lot of free time to participate in clubs. I never even made the Saturday morning coffee events before i was a father.

 

[blueskies]

As suggested by others, you might want to consider a new frame. If all you want to do is patch up what you have, there must be a local metal worker/welder who can do a competent job of cutting out rust and welding in new metal. That likely would be much less expensive than an all new frame and if done properly should yield a solid car. But you get what you pay for, and you won't end up with a concours quality car that way.

You might also consider taking or sending the frame/body north to Martin at Jule frames. I don't know him personally, but have spoken to him on the phone and found him to be very helpful. With the Canadian dollar in the tank, your US dollars may go a lot farther there. I'm not sure whether he prices his work in US or Canadian dollars, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[RonR]

JMD Restoration in Platte City, Missouri, 816-858-3010. around $50.00 per hour
Jeff has done several big Healeys in addition to MGs, Triumphs, and Jags.

 

[christophe]

As suggested by others, you might want to consider a new frame. If all you want to do is patch up what you have, there must be a local metal worker/welder who can do a competent job of cutting out rust and welding in new metal. That likely would be much less expensive than an all new frame and if done properly should yield a solid car. But you get what you pay for, and you won't end up with a concours quality car that way.

You might also consider taking or sending the frame/body north to Martin at Jule frames. I don't know him personally, but have spoken to him on the phone and found him to be very helpful. With the Canadian dollar in the tank, your US dollars may go a lot farther there. I'm not sure whether he prices his work in US or Canadian dollars, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

The frame is actually solid, but it is dented all over from jacking and it has obviously had some bubba repairs to the suspension mounts on the driver's side.
I have spoken with Jules. Unfortunately, the downside to that is shipping to and from Canada and then paying import taxes on the frame and work when the car enters back into the United States.

 

[christophe]

JMD Restoration in Platte City, Missouri, 816-858-3010. around $50.00 per hour
Jeff has done several big Healeys in addition to MGs, Triumphs, and Jags.

Thank you! I will look them up!