Vo Tec Restore?

[4drbrnko]

I admire everyone on the board that is involved with personally restoring their cars, but I don't have some of the needed skills to acomplish the desired results. That and the fact I useually only get home a total of a month to a month and a half a year,it doesn't give me much time to work on the car.
So, that being said, on to the question:
I have heard of several people getting their cars retored by a Vo-Tec collee program.
Sounds a little odd, but I was thinking since the students are there to learn a trade and the instructors should be involved every step of the way it might be a possible route to getting bodywork or other portions of a restoration done at a fairly reasonable price?
Anyone heard of doing this?
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Jeff

[Ryan_AAR]

It would be ok for your wifes wrecked LHS, but not a classic Mopar.  I would strongly discourage you from taking anything hard to replace to a VoTec.  I wouldnt want some fresh green highschool kids tearing into my Cuda.
  We have a VoTec Program in the Town I live in.  The kids try real hard, and eventually get stuff done.  But Learn on your classic?  Not for me.  Besides they way the program works here you pay for supplies, and they usually have to do it over atleast once...  The money you save on labor is replaced with supplies.

Just my 2 cents

[Tropicalcats]

I went the Vo-Tec way years ago on a Pontiac van. It was trouble from the moment I drove the car in. Took twice long as a shop because it did not always fit into class time. The repair went back 3 times to get it right.

I personally would not trust my car in the hands of a novice. With the exception of myself. But I know I will take my time and look at all the details of the job to make sure it's done right. I'm not waiting for the bell to ring to go see that hot babe in History class. My hot babe is already at home with my daughter.

just my 2 cents

[Wrencher]

The vo-tech route would be okay for a beater, but I wouldn't let them work on a car I had an attachment to.  I theory, you are right that the instructor would be present at all times, directing the work.  But in a college I'm familar with the instructor sits in his air conditioned office while the students are working out in the shop, sometimes even in a different shop.  So there is little to no supervision.  I mean think about it, how responsible and careful were you when you were 18-19?

I guess the results would be better than not doing anything but don't count on how good the results would be.