where to send Deere B hood and grille for restoration?

[carterbeauford]

who does the best/most reasonable bodywork on two cylinder sheetmetal?

take a look at my hood and grilles, they need some professional help to be a part of my show quality restoration

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/hovisimo2/Deere%20B/

local fab shop wouldn't touch the grilles and I don't want to pay an autobody shop $80 an hour to finish the hood. I'd like to crate everything and ship it to someone who knows what they are doing.
 

[B-maniac]

Probably not what you want to hear but you might as well know the truth , The grills are junk and the hood's full of bondo so who knows what's underneath. You can buy new reproductions and have them painted for less than repairing these or very good used originals off a parts tractor good way to go. Lot of them being parted with good metal. I've done this for a living for over 35 yrs and I wouldn't touch them unless there were no other alternatives and it would be very expensive , lot of hours to make them right. Find some good repairable used ones , you will be a lot happier.RB
 

[carterbeauford]

I was weighing the cost against buying professionally reconditioned so I might just do that.

will a 1940 hand start B hood fit a 1941 electric start? I am about ready to buy another parts tractor.
 

[B-maniac]

Hopefully someone more knowlegable on that subject than I will post on but seems to me '39/'40 are the same and '41 on up are all the same. I'm thinking that '39/'40 may not have been available with lights/elect start so needed no battery and later ones did and battery was under hood ahead of dash panel and required different configuration???? Again , not sure but some will know.
 

[carterbeauford]

what's a good source for reproduction sheetmetal? I have seen grilles but never a reproduction styled hood.
 

[B-maniac]

Detwillers for new. Mc Grews in Indiana used to have reconditioned originals in primer , don't know how straight they are. I, personally, will never buy sheet metal parts without seeing them in person. Photos never show the waves and small imperfections. If they aren't perfect then someone has to fix them at a cost and should be allowed for in price. Good luck getting compensation from anyone after you get them shipped to you. Hate to be so negative but it's that kind of market. Buyer be ware. I'm very fussy , straight is straight and not is NOT , no room for grey area when paying these kind of prices. Sellers are NOT fussy and will not hessitate to tell you you are too fussy or "what do ya expect" when you complain. Just do your homework , paying a good body/paint man is NOT cheap.
 

[carterbeauford]

I know what you mean, I painted my hood and it looks fine from 5ft away and would look great in pictures to an unsuspecting buyer.

I think I will bite the bullet and wait until I can afford new sheetmetal, I have a lot of money tied up in the restoration as it is. the hood was cut but perfectly straight until I knocked it over and bent it, after I had the patch welded in and tried to straighten it, it hasn't been right since.
 

[GordoSD]

"someone who knows what they are doing" is smart enough to know to charge $80 an hour.
You want a professional perfect job for nothing.
Spend a thousand hours working sheet metal, preping body panels for paint, and painting sheet metal and then do it yourself.
 

[carterbeauford]

[El Toro]

Here are your pictures. Find another body shop
and see what they say. Get a price from them.
It won't be cheap with the price of good quality paint, thinner, hardener and primer plus labor. Hal
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[El Toro]

Take the grilles to a sheetmetal shop and see what they want for making new grilles. I had a fan shroud made at local AC shop that made duct work. They made an exact copy. Cost was $10.00 dollars. Hal
 

[sflem849]

 

[Bodyman]

Carter, I have been in the business for over 40 years. Build or buy your own shop, AND THEN when a guy like you brings in junk parts (prior cobble job) and then wants you to cut the shop rate from $80 down to $30 and also at that price wants Expo quality work. Perhaps you should buy a finished show unit and realize the bargain that lies within "Professional, Dependable body repair and refinishing" Sorry to rant but I have seen your senario and it never does "ANYONE" any good.
 

[SweetFeet]

Check here on YT to see if they sell any.

Husband bought an unstyled one quite a few years ago from someplace in Iowa called Guyers for $250 (but not sure how to spell it - so not finding them on the web).

Steiners shows an unstyled one for $205 (link below).

Also check FordsonHouse or just google: Reproduction John Deere B hood... looks like there are some on ebay too. Didn't look, but you may even run across someone there who is selling reproduction hoods.

*Also, may want to post this question on the John Deere forum.
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