Help ! Should I cut my car in half??

[Tropicalcats]

Well not quite in half but heres the story.

I have been debateing for some time on have my car dipped or media blasted. Dipped allows me to have the car e-coated for a lifetime of rust free worries. Media blasting allows me to get most of the outer part of the shell but all the hidden areas will remain untouched.

I talked today with the guy doing my body work and he has long been an advocate of dipping, problem being dipping and e-coating will run me around 5k. My body guy has found someone who will e-coat for much less but his tank will only hold a frame 9 foot 5 inches. My body guy suggest that we cut the car in the front dip it e-coat it and put it back togeather. I have no doubt about his welding skills and he says it would come out stronger than original. As I say I trust he can do the job and you will not be able to tell he did it.

Should I let him do it?? How much does it comprimise the cars integrity?
 So not so much cut in half but a little off the front

[Alaskan_TA]

Personally, with a recomendation like that - I would be looking for a new body guy. 

[wagesofsin]

Personally, with a recomendation like that - I would be looking for a new body guy. 

um yeaaaa...   
if it were going to be a race car, id say, your not done cutting yet?
it will come out stronger(at the welded parts anyways)
but to take a perfectly sound structure and alter it(and trust me, it will be altered)
thats a no-no.
is your guy familiar with chassis geometry? if hes not a chassis builder, walk away from the idea.
find someone with a proper sized tank.
theres lots of folks who dip full size cars.
im sure you can find someone able to accomodate it. if not, best of luck in any decision you make. id love to hear how that works out for ya.

[RusTy/SE]

Personally, with a recomendation like that - I would be looking for a new body guy. 

 

[71chally416]

 

[Challenger6pak]

I would RUN from your body guy.  How bad is the car?  Post some pics.

[brads70]

I think I'd cut him in half and dip him first before I'd let him do that to my car, but that's just me.......

[dutch]

best weld is no weld.... 

[ntstlgl1970]

that sounds very weird to me, find someone else or maybe you two were 

[BruteForce]

Without a jig it seems to me that it would be very hard to get it welded back together straight. I'd pass on that option.

[Purple73Cuda]

I would look for someone with a bigger tank. I would also consider finding a new bodyman.

[elitecustombody]

time and $$ wasted on cutting & welding could be spent on e-coating with big enough tank .  /thread

[bb71challenger]

That is the worst idea I have ever heard of. I would be so pissed to have a beautifully painted car crabbing down the road because it was put back together wrong. I agree with the others, he is nucking futs.

[426HEMI]

That is the worst idea I have ever heard of. I would be so pissed to have a beautifully painted car crabbing down the road because it was put back together wrong. I agree with the others, he is nucking futs.

If you dont have to do it then dont.  I would never recommend anyone cutting there car in half if it does not need all of the parts replaced.  Walk away and figure something else out on making it to where it wont rust.  I have been doing body work for over 30 years and that is why I said anything about this.  Walk if not run away from the guy.

[purple1]

Don't walk away from this body guy. RUN!!! I can't believe he wouldn't suggest finding a larger tank somewhere else before cutting a car in half.

Unless you want to end up with a trailer... 

Dave