[Jerry H.]

If you can build a house, and you have fair mechanical skills and have replaced an engine before, you can tackle this. If this job were mine and the core support needed replacing and the engine compartment needed detailing and you described, I would break down the whole front end.

Of course you need a little help from a friend, your wife, or teenager with the hood and maybe the fenders, etc. Start by removing the hood, fenders, bumper, inner fenders, grills, etc. Take pics, bag all fasterners, and mark & label them. When you get to the point where you have just the engine setting in the frame then the choice is yours. It is according to how far you want to go. You can do a pretty good job with the engine still in the car, but if you prefer, pull the engine, put it on a stand and detail it there. Make sure everything is super clean. I prefer to take the inner fenders an core support out to a commerical sandblaster and have them done (Of course do them yourself if you have the equipment) Its just faster and not as messy and usually doesn't cost very much. Just be sure to have them do them in very fine sand. When you get them back just prime, sand and paint.

The quality of your 'detail' job with be in just that, the details. All your fasteners needed to be replated. Every little bracket, clamp, etc needs attention. (Painted, replated, etc.) All the wiring needs cleaned or replaced as necessary. EVERY item needs attention. The Power Brake booster needs replating, NOT painting. The master cylinder needs painting. You get the idea.

There are probably some shops in your area that would do this, but probably not to the degree that you may like unless you pay big $$$. You might check at cruise nights or shows with other owners at to who did their work. It could be that they did it theirselves and they might take it on as a side job.