Reply to "My Pantera Got Wrecked"

Another thought on the gas tank. If you decide to go ahead with the body work without pulling the tank, be SURE to go to the body shop before the work is started and tell the most intelligent looking adult employee that they CANNOT drill that panel and use hammer pullers to pull out the dent. Inform them that the GAS TANK is on the other side of that panel and you DO NOT want holes drilled in it.
As a matter of fact...go to each employee one at a time and inform them individually.
I had lots of minor damage under my chassis from misplaced jacks. I had it all repaired before I took my car to the body shop. I specifically and pointedly told this to the body shop manager and showed him where to jack the car and where not to. I came into the shop to check on my car and one of their fine employees had put two jacks under the drivers side to tip the car up on two wheels to make working on the rocker panel easier for him. You guessed it...he stuck the jacks right on the repaired areas and crushed them. It was clear that this was not the first time or place that this had been done by them.
I pulled the car out of that body shop immideately and took it elsewhere. I was so pissed I didn't even ask them to repair the damage.
Of course the point is...trust no one. Be a pain in their ass. No matter how competent they might seem, monitor their work.
Mooso