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Expert Profile: William Forster

Expertise:  22 year veteran, 2 years of vocational training. A.S.E. certified Master collision repair/refinish technician. I-CAR certified. 17 yrs. GM experience. I can answer most questions related to automotive body repairs, ranging from small scratch repairs all the way up to the most extensive collision repairs. I can expertly advise people on what to expect from their body shop experience, right down to what self repairs should, and should not, be done. Lastly, I can advise tricks and tips for classic car restoration, such as lead repairs. SORRY, I DO NOT DO ONLINE ESTIMATES OR GIVE PARTS PRICES!! BE PREPARED FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER- NOT THE ONE YOU WANT TO HEAR. I won't B.S. you, or sugar coat answers. Just plain, hard facts.
1983-85 vocational school training 1992 PPG certified refinish technician/ 1994-1996 Chevrolet certified Journeyman technician 1997-present ASE certified Master collision repair/refinish technician/estimator. 1998 I-car structural repair certification
Past/Present clients
Just about every major insurance company in NW Ohio

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Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:  Most bodymen make under 40,000. a year. We are paid by the job, not by the hour. We're usually paid no overtime, yet almost all are required to work over 40 hours. We tend to get 6 paid holidays a year. It's a dirty, stressful job, requiring at least 20,000 dollars worth of tools that we purchase out of our own pockets. There is no gold watch at the end, either.
What do you like about this subject?  I enjoy taking peoples wrecked cars and returning them back to the owner, in a better shape than the were in before being wrecked. Nothing is more satisfying than hearing them say "Wow, you cant tell it was wrecked!"
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?  I hope to learn 1 thing every day untill my time comes to put down the paint gun, and let the next generation take over. Hopefully, I can guide a few of these young people to be caring, professional technicians.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject  Insurance companies insist upon using used, welded panels from salvage vehicles, such as quarter panels and unibody structure. These parts are almost always damaged. (90% of these parts come from vehicles that were totaled out by an insurance company.) The parts are difficult to remove from the donor car, and they usually contain rust, undercoat, and seam sealers that interfere with welding.

This expert has elected not to be rated

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Recent Answers from William Forster
2008-08-30  about a 1973 chevy Yes, it will fit, but I doubt it will pull around a heavy vehicle like the old Chevy 3/4 tons- especially if it's a 4 wheel drive. The swap will require a LOT of modification- an electric fuel pump FOR...
2008-08-27  When is more base coat needed in a cut through Bob, you're going about this all wrong. Use a grey scotch brite, don't use sandpaper. You are too agressively sanding the panel back down, resulting in cut throughs. At this point, I think you will have...
2008-08-26  Driver door 92 Astro Van The door needs hinge pins and bushings installed, then it will likely need the door bet a bit to finish the job. I'm sure you have realized by now that it has welded hinges. This requires special tools...
2008-08-24  1999 Cadillac Escalade, Passenger Door does not seal. The door has been caught by the wind and sprung a bit, or it needs pins and bushings. Pins and bushings are relatively cheap, but need professionally installed. If the door has been hyper extended- bentpushed...
2008-08-23  Driver door Tim, the door has been left go too long with an alignment problem. I bet if you look around the door latch and upper hinge you will find additional cracking of the sheet metal. I've seen this many times...
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