1970 Cutlass 442 Convertible! The Finished Product!

I promised finished photos today, and here they are!  Unfortunately, due to a mishap with a shipping company, her bumpers did not arrive yet, but, because she turned out so beautifully, I decided to go ahead and post these anyway.

As we anticipated, the car turned out great.  She is shown here with a base coat /clear coat black mica metallic finish with a pearlized white 442 racing stripe configuration. 

The car took approximately 3 weeks to complete and came within budget.  So everyone is happy.  That's the way we like to see things go!  Her owner says the bumpers should be here within a couple days and that should put the finishing touches on this beauty.  She sits on 275R16 Goodrich tires mounted on aluminum alloy rims.  A look that we personally think is a very good one for this particular car.

As you can see from the above shots, the body on this car is just sheer perfection.  Congrats to Larry for the unbelievable straightening job on this one! 

A great big hand to Larry Blackman and Adam Stratton for another great job well done!

The next vehicle to go under Larry's hand will be a 2005 Mustang!  Look for it in about 2 weeks.  We'll be following that one through the steps too!

Thank you to everyone that watched this car go through her transformation.  We'd love to see your projects too!  Send your pics to Dee Blackman at ldjautobody@yahoo.com.  We'll post them here.  Please send us the story that goes with them.



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Cutlass 442 UPDATE! Pictures of the Paint Job!

Well, the 1970 Cutlass 442 project car that we have been working on here went into the paint booth yesterday!  It's always a great feeling of accomplishment when a project car reaches the paint booth.  Regardless of whether it was a complete, ground up restoration or just a new custom paint job, these older beauties are what it's all about.

Here's some pics of the 1970 Cutlass 442 as it went from primer to paint!  The final pics will be posted tomorrow.

Shown here with sealer in place, she's ready for paint.  As with most all of our custom jobs, this vehicle was finished using all DuPont products. 

We endorse and recommend DuPont products here at LDJ and have been using them for almost 30 years now.

After allowing the sealer to dry, she's ready for the first base coat.  The following pictures show the progress from base coat thru the application of the pearl white 442 racing stripes.

With the black base coat in place, it's time to start the racing stripe.  The stripe is taped off and sprayed using a tri-color pearl by starting with a white base coat and then the pearl.  The stripes on this car are the original configuration and included the two large hood panel accents.

With the stripes in place, the car is ready for the final clear coats.  The car was finished in DuPont Black Mica Metallic with a tri-color pearl white original 442 racing stripe.  The finished product will sport 6 coats of DuPont clear to protect the finish.

Check back tomorrow for the final shots of this beautiful car after wet sanding and buffing.  We'd like to thank the owner for allowing us to follow the work of this vehicle so we could take you through the steps of a custom paint job.  The finished car will have chrome 1970 Cutlass 442 bumpers which were fitted prior to the paint job.  

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Good Shop....Bad Shop - How Can You Tell the Difference?

The auto body and collision repair business is a very specialized part of the automotive repair industry.  Repairing a vehicle after it's been involved in an accident requires the knowledge of many different skills.  The repair technician must have a strong knowledge of metals and their properties when working with vehicle frames and body panels.  He needs strong mathematical skills to determine exact dimensions and to make sure that a repaired car or truck will travel straight and true when fixed.  He needs to understand chemistry when it comes to the chemicals and compounds needed to complete the repair work.  Paints must be mixed precisely to ensure that the paint matches even when the rest of the vehicle has been sun faded.  And, in most cases, he must be a master mechanic on top of everything else!  Suffice it to say, a good auto body technician must have a good amount of schooling behind him and to be really good, he must also be somewhat of an artist!

Like any other business, there are good shops and there are bad.  But, how do you tell the difference?  Having a car repaired after an accident is expensive and the last thing you want to do is find out after your repairs are done, that the technician who did them was not as knowledgable as he seemed.  So how do you evaluate the prospective body shop you are contemplating having do your repair work?

A good place to start is "word of mouth".  Ask your friends, family and neighbors who they have used in the past.  It's a good start for weeding out the shops with the horror stories and also a good way to start a list of "good experience" shops.  Check the Internet for shops in your area.  Pay attention to the reviews of these places.  Although, Internet reviews are not always completely accurate, they can be a great start to pointing you in the right direction.

Next, ask about Certifications.  A good body shop will undoubtedly have certified technicians.  The best shops will not only insist on their technicians being certified, but will assist their technicians with on-going education in these areas.

In the auto repair industry, the two biggies are ASE and I-CAR.  We'll start with ASE, The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.  The following is an excerpt from an article by Tom Torbjornsen, Maintenance Editor for AOL Autos and an expert author in the automotive repair industry.  He provides an excellent explanation of the benefits of having a "certified" technician work on your vehicle

 
ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence)
"Until the early 1970's, consumers had no way to distinguish between incompetent and competent auto technicians. In response to this need, the independent, non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was established in 1972. At present there are about 420,000 professionals with current certifications. They work in every segment of the automotive service industry: car and truck dealerships, independent garages, fleets, service stations, franchises, and more.

Here's how ASE certification works: Prospective candidates register for (and take) one or more of ASE's 40-plus exams. The tests are grouped into specialties for automobile, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, and collision repair technicians as well as engine machinists, alternate fuels technicians, parts specialists, and collision damage estimators. Upon passing at least one exam and after providing proof of two years of relevant work experience, the test taker becomes ASE certified. Certification, however, is not for life. To remain certified, those with ASE credentials must be retested every five years. ACT, known for its academic and occupational testing programs, administers the tests. They are conducted twice a year at over 800 locations around the country. The exams stress knowledge of job-related skills. They're not easy to pass; approximately one out of three test takers fails.

You, the consumer, benefits from ASE certification. How? Two ways: 1)It is a valuable yard stick by which to measure the knowledge and skills of individual technicians; 2) It is a valuable yardstick by which to measure a repair facility's commitment to quality (by employing ASE certified technicians). Consumers should look for facilities that display the "ASE Blue Seal of Excellence" logo on outdoor signs, in customer waiting areas, in the Yellow Pages, and in other advertisements.

ASE's mission: To improve the quality of vehicle repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals in the Automotive Industry.
To better understand ASE certification and testing, here are the tests as outlined at the ASE website (www.ase.com)"

Next would be I-CAR Certification.  Also from the same article, Tom Torbjornsen writes the following: 
Now let's take a look at I-CAR
Founded in 1979, I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) is an international, not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

I-CAR has adopted a concept we call "Outward Vision". This concept is driven by the need to define the "Ideal State" of the Collision Industry relative to technical training. I-CAR's definition of the Industry's "Ideal State" is:
That every person in the Collision Industry has the necessary technical knowledge and skills relevant to their position to ensure a complete and safe repair. I-CAR continues to develop and deliver technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the Collision Industry. Furthermore, I-CAR provides a communication forum for anyone interested in proper collision repair. Finally, that I-CAR's primary funding is derived from student tuition and services, insuring that I-CAR can remain unbiased in developing courses and services on an industry-wide basis.

I-CAR Mission Statement:
To research, develop, and deliver quality technical educational programs related to collision repair; to raise the level of available knowledge and recognize professional achievement; thereby improving communication throughout the Collision Repair, Insurance, and related Industries for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

Now do you understand the significance of certifications when choosing a technician to work on your car? As in all fields of expertise, there is "more than meets the eye." Working on today's vehicles requires intense training and continual education to keep up with industry changes. Go do your homework! Save yourself money and hassle over the long haul. Take your valuable "second-largest-purchase-you'll-make-in-a-lifetime" vehicle to a qualified professional.

Lastly, take a look at the shop's previous work and look at the shop itself.  Although the building that houses the shop is not nearly as important as the people who work there, and I've seen some extremely good work come out of some of the most unlikely places, there are a few things that should be taken into consideration.

A good, legitimate shop owner should be proud to show you pictures of their past work.  They should gladly hand over a list of references with previous customers that you can contact.  Here at LDJ, we ask our customers to fill out a form when their vehicle is finished that asks them to evaluate our performance.  From their satisfaction with the overall job to their experience with our staff.  We also ask them if it's OK to let potential customers contact them.  It's a very simple procedure that most of our customers are happy to participate in. 

Lastly, get everything in writing.  From the estimate to an explanation of your repairs and any warranties involved.  All good repair shops will warranty their work and should be happy to provide you with all of them in writing.  Parts warranties will come from the parts manufacturer and will depend on what the manufacturer covers under that warranty, but, most manufacturer's warranties do NOT cover the cost of labor.  Body work warranties vary between shops, but, a good, reputable shop should have no problem guaranteeing their own body work.  Using high quality compounds, bondo, and sealants may cost a little more, but, will outlast the cheaper brands by far.  Here at LDJ, body work is guaranteed for the life of the vehicle because we use only the best fillers and compounds.  Paint warranties are a different story altogether.  Different paint manufacturer's have different warranties and some warranties change with the grade of paint the manufacturers have.  Be VERY CAREFUL when agreeing to the type of paint being used on your repairs.  Remember, the paint is going to be there for a long time and using a high quality paint will insure that the color will not fade, chip or peel.  The shop should provide you with, at the very least, the length of time recommended by the manufacturer and most reputable shops will also give you the option of an extended warranty.  Some paint manufacturers offer certification in their particular brands and shops certified by them can offer you greater warranties that those not certified.  These certifications include the better manufacturers like DuPont, PPG, Diamont and other large paint suppliers.  Using paint certified shops can save you a lot of money should the paint peel, crack or become sun faded because certified shops can offer you labor warranties should the vehicle need to be re-painted and there is a lot of labor involved in the re-painting of a vehicle.

Following the above guide lines should help protect you from financial woes when looking for a good collision repair facility.  Of course, nothing speaks louder than your own personal opinion of how comfortable you are with the shop and the technicians you choose.

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Our Newest Project Car Will Delight Muscle Car Fans!

HERE'S THE NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR PROJECTS

1970 CUTLASS 442 CONVERTIBLE - COMPLETE RESTORATION!

The Cutlass 442 is a favorite of every muscle car enthusiast!  It's distinguishing stripes allow for great color combinations in a variety of paint colors.  This 1970 Cutlass 442 Convertible is a fine specimen of the ragtop version. 

This car came to us with most of the body work finished and our job was to correct the body work flaws and complete the job with a custom paint job.  She'll be finished using a  tiny silver "mica" flake infused in an "Infinity" based black paint with a custom pearl white "original design" 442 racing stripe!

This car will no doubt be a "head turner" when finished.  The following pictures show the car as it arrived to us.  We'll be posting regular updates by the week so check back often.  The proposed finish date will be around the third week of November!

This car is owned by a regular customer of our's and as far as we know, the car will be a driver and currently is not for sale.  Many of you have inquired about this vehicle and rest assured, we will let you know if the status of this vehicle changes.

This car has a beautifully re-done interior to match the soon to be spectacular exterior!  Don't forget to check out our affilliates for great prices on all YOUR interior and exterior accessories and parts!  Try the link below for some awesome prices from Auto Parts Warehouse!  The Cyber Monday prices will blow you away!



The Cyber Monday Blowout pricing ends November 30th, so act quickly to take advantage of this great deal.  Remember, you can have your order shipped directly to us and we'll call you to let you know when it's arrived to schedule the installation of any of your accessories!

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Selling Your Vehicle? How to Cost Effectively Increase It's Value!

There's an old saying, "you have to spend money to make money".  This statement is especially true in the the automotive industry.  However, it doesn't have to cost you an "arm and a leg".  Taking some simple steps to increase the value of your vehicle can drastically add to the price someone is willing to pay for your car, truck, suv, or motorcycle.  Here are some ideas to help you get the most money when selling yours....

Looks are everything!  You can have the most reliable vehicle in the world, but, if it looks like it's been neglected, that is exactly what your prospective buyers will think!  Improving the overall appearance of your vehicle will gain you mega dollars in your bottom line.  Dull, oxidized paint, peeling clear coats, and cracked mirrors and light lenses are the first things your buyer will see!  Repairing these "sale killers" doesnt' have to be expensive.  Plastic light lenses are inexpensive and are easily obtainable for most vehicles.  Shop around for the "best price" when replacing these as the prices fluctuate from supplier to supplier.  Check out the suppliers right here on this page to see the best prices for these and other "appearance enhancing" accessories before you list your vehicle for sale.  Cracked mirrors, missing weather stripping, and other seemingly minor items scream "I don't care" to the potential new owner.  Unlike picking out a puppy from the shelter, you car's new owner isn't going to feel sorry for it and want to give it a new home!

Another big, price lowering fault, is dull, oxidized paint and peeling clear coats  Even though these things don't affect the performance of the vehicle in any way, the way a person's car looks makes a big statement about the owner!  Especially with a younger, inexperienced buyer or first time car-buyer.  Young people like to look good in their cars and dull paint and peeling clear coats take away from the overall look of the car.  An inexpensive way to improve dull paint is to have the car professionally buffed. Hand buffing is sometimes acceptable for minor oxidation on newer paint.  But, machine buffing with a good quality compound is always the best way to go!  LDJ offers a detail package that includes compound machine buffing that will run somewhere around $100 or less for most average sized vehicles (larger vehicles and suv's and trucks may run slighly more and motorcycles slightly less)  and will gain you much, much more than that on the sale of your vehicle.  That $100 dollars can get you up to $300 to $500 on your sale!  A small price to pay for a 3x return on your investment! 

Peeling clear coats are a little more expensive to repair. Depending on the age of your vehicle, repairing the clear coat is one way of drastically improving the bottom line on a newer vehicle.  LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop's certified painters can repair your clear coat without having to paint the whole vehicle!  Our 100% color matching system and experienced professionals will strip off the peeled areas and blend the newly painted areas to accurately match even the most sun-faded paint job!

Interior detailing is also important.  Make sure your vehicle's interior looks "inviting"!  You know yourself how much better you feel when driving your car right after your give it a good interior vacuuming and cleaning.  Your potential buyer feels the same!  Professional detailing can save you a lot of time and really improve the look of your vehicle's interior.  Most detail packages include shampooing of carpets and upholstery and the application of leather or vinyl dressing to give your interior that "brand new" look!  Don't forget the little things like floor mats, ash trays, cigarette lighters and any other little items that might be missing or just need attention!  Missing door lock knobs and window handle knobs or levers are a serious turn-off!  Check out the ads right here on this page for links to our favorite car care products, accessories, and the suppliers that will give you the best prices if you want to do it yourself!

Motorcycle owners!  Check out our complete cycle detailing packages!  Whether you're selling your bike or just want to make her scream "look at me" at that weekend rally or poker run, LDJ's detail pro's will make her shine so bright you're gonna need shades! Bring your vehicle to us for a professional evaluation of how we can help you get the most money from the sale of your car, truck, suv, or motorcycle!  The estimte is free! Check out our newest coupons and deals on our listing at Merchant Circle and save even more money on all of our services!

Good Luck and Happy Selling!

Larry and Dee
LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop
Gibsonton, FL

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LDJ Announces the Delay of Proposed Merger Indefinitely

Larry Blackman announced today that the proposed merger between LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical and Denney's Auto Body has been posponed indefinitely.  According to Mr. Blackman, "We (the individual owner's of the existing businesses) have some irreconsilable differences right now.  We are just not seeing eye to eye on some things and that will make it impossible to move forward at this time.  We wish Pat (Denney) all the luck in his business and we'll continue to work with them (Denney's Auto).  It's just not the right time to move forward with any joining of our businesses at this time." 

Moving forward, LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical has opened a new location, also located in Gibsonton, FL.  The new site, located at 10915 East Bay Rd., Gibsonton, FL, will provide all types of automotive services including auto body and collision repair and painting, mechanical repairs, and a new interior and exterior detailing service center.  The detailing service center is a new service at LDJ and offers complete professional detailing services at extremely reasonable rates.  Boasting professional machine buffing, glazing and machine waxing, the full service exterior package claims to be able to "restore the original factory luster to dull, oxidized paint and eliminate the need for repainting vehicles that have simply lost their sheen due to sun fading, fine swirls and scratches and simple oxidation."  The average price for a medium sized sedan exterior detail package starts at around $100.00.  A real savings over the average cost of a total repaint which has an industry average of starting around $1,000.00 or more!  Dee Blackman, Larry Blackman's wife and manager of the new facility says the package is designed for people who are selling their vehicles or who simply want to improve the overall look of their vehicle.  "Our full exterior car detail package offers owner's a way to seriously improve the look of their vehicle without the cost of re-painting.  We use all professional quality products right down to the Carnuba wax and that will help protect the newly restored finish for quite some time.  Owner's can expect the service to last for approximately a year and the service can be repeated many times without the need for re-painting.  "It's a great way for owner's to protect their vehicle's paint and keep the car looking new.  And also a great way to add value to the car when selling the vehicle." Blackman said.

Other new services at the faciltiy include the addition of "custom accessories".  LDJ is now affiliated with several accessory suppliers and offers all kinds of custom accessories from complete interiors to chrome accessories for motorcycles and cruisers.  "We offer deep discounts to our accessory customers on the purchase and installation of all our new accessories."  "You can find links to our new affiliates at our newest blog page and website, LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck and Motorcycle News."  You can also find us at http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/LDJ.Auto.Body.and.Custom.Shop.813-644-4497 Here, you'll find a complete description of everything available at LDJ.

LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop truly is a "one stop shop for everything automotive" just like the motto implies.  You can reach Larry and Dee Blackman at the main phone number, (813) 644-4497.  LDJ is open Monday thru Friday, 9:00 AM till 4:30 PM and also open on weekends.  Sunday appointments are also available, but, call ahead as the weekend slots fill up fast! 

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