geez.... that's a mouthful. Have fun!

I tore into my Jaguar one sunny new years day figuring I'd have her ready for paint in 3 months. Took 2 years.

That is not said to discourage you... just a reminder that bodywork is not quick or easy if you want it to look right. Even with a professional paint job.

I used aircraft remover. VERY nasty stuff, but it took paint off like nothin' I've ever seen. But getting the paint off was the easy part. THen came rust issues, minor dents...etc, etc.

If I were you, I'd get a angle grinder and lots and lots of sanding discs of various grits, a compressor, some air tools (specifically, a d/a sander), a wire feed mig welder with gas, and lots of plain sand paper.

Thats about what I did, and I spent the year and a half prepping the body for paint... and there was still bodywork to be done when I took it in for paint...

Basically, I don't want to discourage you... but the money charged by body shops is often money well spent. Them folks know what they are doing, and they have the right tools. THey can do in an hour what took me a week.

If you want to give yourself an education, go for it! YOu can do everything with hand tools, but you gotta get it right if its gonna last... so you gotta be careful. If you just want a nice looking car that's going to last, I'd go spend the extra $2k and pay someone to do the bodywork.

Where in Colorado are you?

-Matt (also in Colorado)
Bunch of Volvos and a Jag and other junk.