Professor Fitzee: Thanks to you, I felt confident enough to cut out and weld in new rocker panels on my '04 Jeep Liberty. I also had to make new bottoms to the back end of the front fenders. I also learned that if you plan on keeping a vehicle for a long time, don't get a Uni-Body if you live in the Rust Belt. Body on Frame is better. Anyway, Thank You. PS, I'm only 73 and just learning this stuff. I plan on being just like you when I grow up. :)
What I love most about you Fitzee is you make difficult repairs look like something I could do. No fancy expensive tools, no magic, just hard work, patience and skill. I can provide the first two and you're providing the third. 👍
He’s not far off taught you then. Because that’s what fitzes all about. Doing repairs without all the fancy tools. Just bog standard cheap and cheerful tools.
I know right! I can't tell yo! u how excited I got watching this because I know I have the hard work and patience part down all I need to do is watch Fitzee and learn the skills! Some of the tricks he uses I was already using when I make flashing for the roof and siding of homes. Fitzee is a national treasure to whatever country he belongs.
tbh it's not that difficult of a repair, and he made it harder in my opinion, he could of cut the outer piece of and used it as a template, tackle the inter one and weld the replacement on.
This is the 1st time I have come across this guy and boy does he know his stuff. Not only is he excellent at fabrication He knows just how to communicate his ideas across to people I have learned a lot just from this one video. Liked and subscribed and looking forwards to learning more. Thank you for making your videos. .........Ray H Eng UK
Saw you had a new video so I paused my work to “attend class”. You and Trevs Blog (a guy in the UK) are the best practical instruction available anywhere. Outstanding Fitzie.
I'm an old school bodyman , was taught lead repairs by my instructor in high-school and had a successful career. I repaired 70s GMC trucks and have passed on your repairs to those who are restoring their squarebox trucks to the younguns , love watching your repairs
I am 50 something and just getting into project welding and rust repairs for an old car I have. Its something I have always wanted to do and now I have the time. What I really like about your channel is there is nothing fancy about your tools or methods. Your methodology and how you approach a repair is really great info. I also like what looks like a hand-made metal brake and I will be looking at your roller vid shortly. Appreciate your videos! Subscribed.
If you havent seen Bad Chad yet, he has hired a young guy to help in the shop. This kid seems pretty eager to learn. All hope is not lost. :) Or MacroMachine I think is the channel name. Young kid that has crazy skills!
I never repaired a rusted quarter panel in my life before and never will. I can tell this guy is a true professional and he is GREAT at explaining every step of the way such that even a novice can understand. The main thing is that he walks you through the thought process. At the end, you realized that tribal knowledge like this is what separates a hack (like me) from a true pro.
Wow. Im floored. For such a hard area to do that most ppl will cut corners cause its not really seen, especially the inner pieces, you did amazing work. Even a lot of trained people will never know that was repaired. Amazing work. Great job.
I finally understand how in the world anyone can fabricate complex curves for auto body panels. It was always a mystery to me. Of course, actually doing it seems to be quite an art. Thank you for the great explanation as you showed us the secrets of your craft!
Hey Tony, another great video. I followed your advice and cut my 1964 f100 roof out, small sections at a time to not lose the profile, and completed it a couple days ago. I started cut and butt but ended up with too large of gaps and had welding sinkage. The driver's side got a little distorted. Not bad but you could feel it with your hand. I changed to cut, scribe and trim to fit on the passenger side and was able to finish the job without any additional shrinkage. It wasn't bad enough to cut it back out and I was able to straighten it out with a light coat of Bondo. Looks good and all that's left is restoring the seam filler above and below the gutter lip. Thanks for the tips!:) You've helped me more than I can say!.
Great work Fitzee! Lots of very valuable processes and tips. You have the years of experience and it shows through to your finished product. I will definitely remember to get the outer panel fitting and shaped right then fit the inner from that. Then weld in the inner first then the outer last. your hands on years of experience are very much appreciated. Thank you very much for taking the time to help others. Hats off to you for that!
Hi Fitzee, I am practising your techniques on an ancient metal lawnmower - no real value but lots of complex curves. Better to do it on a scrap device than mess up my car.
How thin is the metal on the mower? I'm guessing it isn't bad since it is much older... ...modern ones are basically made with tin foil - making welding a pain for sure.
@@PWN_Nation I guess this petrol lawnmower is 15 or so years old. The body is simply a pressed steel outline with a couple of baffles welded in and brackets welded on for the handle. The steel is just over 1mm thick. The car I am hoping to repair, of similar age, has steel somwhat thinner than that. I intend to follow Fitzee's advice and use 18 gauge steel for repairing. The lawnmower has lace-like sections and the rest is pretty rusty.
I fixed the lawn mower deck like that last year cut a piece out of a cross member of an old chassis had just the right bend welded did it right in using fritzy's teaching
I never thought to build the outside panel and then shape the inside one to fit. It's so much easier than trying to fit a panel around the inside you may have butchered when trying to fit it. You never fail to amaze me brother! Well done!
It’s like you knew I needed this video. Will be applying this knowledge to a Bronco and a Ford van. Thank you Sir. Also anyone who questions you not rolling that edge hasn’t been watching your videos.
Growing up as a kid I had a neighbor that was a pro body and paint guy and would build show quality lowriders. For rust repairs that had tricky contours, bends and angle he would fill in and shape the spots as much as possible with body filler and mesh to have a flawless template to work with and shape his sheet metal, once he was done and satisfied with his piece he would cut out the rust and bondo and weld his newly shaped pieces. Definitely cutting the rust is not smart until everything is fitted right and satisfied👍
Fitzee you are a legend! Ive just been in the shop working on the 1974 230.6 Mercedes for the first time since coming across your wisdom. What a difference your tips and knowledge have made to my end product. Massive thanks from Auckland, New Zealand for giving me the confidence to tackle all the rot in my car on my own! Cheers Fitzee!
Listening to how you do it helps to understand the process as opposed to just seeing it done. And you use fewer tools to do it. Became a subscriber. Now I've got you and Murphy. LOL!
Thanks Fitzee for your time and experience, I was a bit concerned about that bottom compound curves/rolls matching on the lower left side. So this practice of using the original rust form saves a lot of tweaking labor on the final fabrications and can be used on most rusted areas no matter where it is located on the car/truck.
What's great about these videos and the way you repair them is that it shows that, even if you don't have all the equipment there are ways to still make and finish a repair to a really good standard.
I like how you don't give a set way of how to do it, you show the process of how, to tackle the job and, correct as you go the right way to get an un noticable patch. Each job is similar, but unique at the same time, the process is what counts. Thanks for passing on your knowlege. You're a real oldschool pro.
I'll be rewatching this a few times. Last owner of my car must've been a sculptor. No metal left on the lower quarter, just bondo (surprise). Always a good video fitzee.
@David Galea What you're saying is not untrue, but I knew what I was getting into when I bought it (even if the specific issues are a surprise). I laugh about the things I find and just add it to the list. Part of the process. Some past owner fixes are more "creative" than others.
Some time you can find creative repair would when the vehicle is coming to the end of its daily life use and not seen as a classic in the eyes of the owner just keep it going for few more months
Haha I creative repaired the f*** out of 1985 Nissan Stanza back in the day. Totally know what you’re saying, dusty. AFIK, it is still running up in Connecticut somewhere… but I did tell the person who bought it about all my creativity :)
Fantastic video. Ive got a 69 Chevelle that needs this exact repair. I keep debating to just do it myself and your videos give me the confidence to try it. Will see how it goes. Thank you sir!
Fitzee, As always a GREAT informational video , done with the most basic of tools . Knowledge is what helps to make these parts, not thousands of dollars of tools. We OLD GUYS used to do it this way , back in the day. It is so refreshing to watch your videos. which I have followed you for quite some time. Thanks for the knowledge. STAY REAL. Your cat was doing a "mouse check " for you....
Fantastic info, you are truly a genius metalcrafter! Even at 70 years old you have inspired me to build my 1934 Austin roadster that used to be a drag race car back in 1965. It was a C/Altered that ran at all the northwest tracks. Thanks Man!
Due to the complexity of compound bends with inner and outer structures, I can fully understand your methodology. You are basically reverse engineering a factory stamped panel(s), putting the emphasis on the finished exterior first and then using that as your guide and template, rather than your usual chopping out the rusty bits behind first and going from there as it will leave you guessing. Without a doubt, this repair is certainly seamless concourse level restoration. Totally awesome bro, good video and quality content.👍👍 On a funny note...... If Fitzee's did a barbecue video...., Fitzee: First I going to take your bun.., I'm not going to toast it yet but rather use it as a template to build your hamburger patty and then I will cut and butt it later. I'm going to allow for shrinkage so I'm going to make the patty a bit bigger at first and not trim it until It reached the proper temperature. After that, I going to measure the width of your mouth so the burger will fit in it properly and it will all look factory. When your bun is toasted, I'm going to add the cheese to the patty and allow it melt and flow. When that's done, I'm going to go ahead and add just a spot of ketchup and mustard with some pickles, onions and dress it in a way so it don't drip and run down your shirt...
Really want to thank you for the wealth of knowledge,experience and the ability to connect with your audience. This channel is by far the easiest in regards to understanding and applying what is being taught.I'm 54 years old and recently began the restoration on a 1999 RCSB Silverado.I have plenty of mechanical experience but lacked in the automotive sheet metal welding and fabrication trade.Thanks to your channel I've been able to apply what you've taught with great success,I am very thankful for the knowledge and the visual examples you've shared with your students (subscribers). Keep doing what your doing cause it works . Thank you.Layne,Kelly Lesyk.
Fitzee your a great teacher. I watch you and Ron Covell for the same reason. You both sneak up on the point by showing it. It doesn't always seem obvious at the start but by the end you have learned a much better though process and approach to a problem than when you started. You can Ron can't be more different in other aspects. You give us practical simple tools approach to a problem and Ron offers high tech tools to solve problems. Glad your here to give us small garage guys a chance too.
Doing that patch in a way that will hold up as long or longer than the factory metal. Great work, awesome finished product. My dad was an old school metal man. Used lead, hammer welded, brazed, hammer and dolly work. I miss watching him do all that. You bring back the whole experience, I can even smell my dad's shop while watching.
As a welder fitter by trade, the only thing I can think of is that Final Cut n butt is going to throw metal shavings inside that clean metal you just sealed off. I really do like your method of slow fitting the pieces together on the original body to get it just right. Body work scares me, and you make it look more enjoyable than I thought. Great vid man.
Superb as always! I know that you work really hard to keep the original lines/shapes etc, is it not tempting to try to redesign some areas like this one to try and remove water traps/increase drainage?
Excellent workmanship. Most folks would fit it "good enough" and try to smooth it out with filler . . . and you're definitely not "most folks". This is a perfect example of how things done well requires careful thought, patience and time. Thanks for doing this demo.
Was a bodyman by trade but enjoy the metal fabrication side of it. When everyone wanted to be a painter I want to cut metal. Mostly self taught. Not alot of metal guys in my part
Nice job, Fitzee. Gives me the confidence to tackle a few small problem areas on my old project cars. I love your 'what sounds to be' Irish, French, Canadian accent😁 Also, loved the 'Cat-Scan' by the 'Quality Inspector' at the end, gave me a good chuckle🤣👍🇦🇺
This is an interesting tutorial. I have a 1989 Chevy pickup and need to do rust repairs. It's good to know what could be done to make it look really good. However, I have to keep in mind that I'm rebuilding a work truck and don't need perfect. My issue is that I don't have a welder. My plan is to make half decent panels and lap joint them in with JB Weld or body panel epoxy. I've seen some kind of tool somewhere that can bend the existing metal in just far enough to get a flush joint. Your tutorial helps a great deal when it comes to making panels that fit. Thanks for such a detailed video!
Vision, confidence and a tad bit of experience is whats needed to do this kind of work. Good to see a craftsman at work. Very interesting video (well for me at least), well done.
This is the exact way to do it, the only thing I do differently is I cut the entire scrib line use these panel aliner then butt weld it in place as you do. You did a perfect job, I would give you an A+. That is a perfect job it's as good as new factory. That's a job that will take no filler. And anyone would be ecstatic with that repair....
Glad there is people like you showing the steps and time, time , time it takes to do it right and hopefully people we see why it coast so much to do this type of work when rust repair panels are no available !
I hope you don't get offended when I call you uncle fitzee, you remind me of an uncle!! I also call you doctor because of your precision, and I call you professor because of the way you take the time to teach people!! It's nice to see things done right!! Thank you once again sir!!! God bless you and your family!!!
Great video, very inspirational. I'm starting work on a 70 El Camino and appreciate the clear instruction, good technique using simple tools. Many Thanks
This is the reason why I never took to body work! People don’t realize how much goes into this. Those panels are formed by a die stamping into sheet metal. Making and matching all the compound curves is a ton of work! Looks great!
Great job, I see lotsa hours in it. When a 64 impala i owned didn't have any more metal to template on the right quarter i decided to use cardboard salvaged from a giant box of corn flakes and make a cutout template of the left side lower quarter and then reverse-transfer the left template to the right it worked out great.
Fantastic looking job as usual. You know I think I learn something from you every time. I’ve never really done any body work. I have played with bondo (filling in holes the wrong way). I’m 65 and still want to learn, so thanks for the info. Keep ‘‘em come in.
PATIENCE. A couple of comments say about you, I see your total confidence in what you are doing and that no matter how much more time it might take, you are going to repair and fabricate as if it was yours and parked right out front of your shop. In addition to your obvious skill and pride in the process necessary to achieve a finished repair that would be difficult to say was not as it rolled off the assembly line, you are explaining why you are doing every step along the way in a lighthearted manner I believe shows you really enjoy what you are doing. You would have made a memorable instructor for high school kids, as I was lucky enough to have someone similar to you in skill and demeanor back in school. If someone showed interest, he took the time to walk me through whatever it happened to be we were working on... of course that was before the internet, you tube and the cell phone...Due to these modern day devices instead of you helping a few hundred kids, you are taking extra time every video to share your skills with thousands of people that really want to know the right way to do body repairs. I'm not about to try and sell you anything, and this is about my 3rd or 4th comment I have EVER written, just sowing appreciation where its due and thank you for doing these videos.
Although I'm too old to learn and become proficient in your techniques, it's still a pleasure to visit with you awhile watching how a pro would do it. I hope the youngsters are getting something from you
I am repairing rusty wheel arches on a truck bed. Did the first side my way... turned out terrible. Happened to see your video last night and just now did the second side. It was.... less terrible! Thank you for the idea of using a template!!!!
when you can make it look as easy as this gentleman can, you have mastered your craft. Good stuff here. Its definitely intimidating to tackle but a necessary skill to have when refurbishing these older cars.
Have heavy engineering fitting and welding background and panel steel work scared me .After watching and listening to you feel I done another apprenticeship I'm getting up with the play now thanks Fitzee teaching is in your blood .
Hay I went with the way you make panels and put them on before cutting that does work so much better everything fits so much better faster and less guess cutting. Thanks it's helped me a lot.
I love the way you can take a complete rust monster with 14-inch fangs and a very angry expression and tame it into a common-sense step by step and turn it into a thing of beauty. When I first saw that rust, This was a monster in my eyes. I have been watching your videos as I have started some minor rust repair on my 76 Eldorado Convertible and it is turning out great and way beyond what I thought my abilities to be thanks to you. I think the most valuable advice you have given "at least for me" was not to overthink and get overwhelmed as I easily do.
