Well, after some positive negotiations with a very kind insurance company, things are moving forward on the car.
Link is here in case you missed the drama:
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2290052674/m/2350074655
Very professional bodyshop agreed to take it on. So far...
1. Removed dent from quarter. INCREDIBLY small amount of surface skim only. Unreal work.
2. Stainless off, bumpers out, some glass, exhaust off (to get to rear) lights out, markers off, LOTS of pristine masking to areas not to be painted.
3. Called to say, "found some rust". Heart sinks. Go to inspect and he'd found TWO SQUARE INCHES of rust in two separate places (bottom of driver's door, rear corner and adjacent in lower quarter.) Cut it out, treated behind, welded anew. All done.
4. Prime coat on. Guide coats coming. They accidentally primed some of my wires - we caught it - but from now on, if it wasn't or isn't to be green again, no priming.
5. Gave me lots of stainless, plastic, rubber and glass bits to polish, get rechromed, replaced.
6. Called our buddy Jerry at PIMotorsports. Order for weatherstripping, window felts, trunk/hood seals coming.
7. Door handle hardware sent to be rechromed. Antenna chrome coming new. Stainless hardware where available.
8. Am taking my refreshed parts to the body shop today, picking up more 'to be cleaned' parts (bumpers, more).
9. They're spraying Eastwood rust converter, encapsulator today and tomorrow in the nooks and crannies that'll never (we hope) see daylight again.
To follow up, I decided to go 'base/clear' on my car. Much back and forth, pro and con, finally went with the 'better' modern solution.
I figured I'd conceded with radial tires, a modern battery, better brake pads, upgraded cooling... so why not? I cringe at what my 'originiality' brothers are going to say about this, but I've made my decision, so flail away.
Thanks again all. More to come.
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