I'm always glad to help any way I can, without compromising family & friends obligations...but I've never been one to take money. To my mind, when money comes into the equation help becomes obligation and complications all to frequently follow.
At the tech college which I attend, my weld instructor welcomes student projects. I believe the auto body repair students are allowed to work on their own stuff. The auto body shop also accepts outside customer projects, but those are restricted to newer model cars, because rust repair is so time consuming. As for their liability, I attended classes there, in a wheelchair, for a time.
'Twas a challenge, to be sure. Their campus isn't perfectly handicapped accessible; but with determination, I got anywhere I needed to be.
If you go part time, and skip the core classes, just take the shop classes, it becomes exceptionally inexpensive, compared to equipment rental, or professional labor rates.
As example, I'm contemplating some custom headers: if I go through with it, then I'll cut-and-piece them together at the house, tacking them together. Then, I'll take them to class, and do all the welding using the school's weld supplies, and get class credit.
Maybe your local tech schools don't operate as such, but I would talk with the school's instructors personally, before I wrote it off completely.
I like this thread and support your bucket list dream. When looking at a whole project it can seem undoable but when broken into pieces it is amazing what progress can be made. I think reaching out to any hot rod organizations near you with what you have shared with us here, and offering cad drawings or ideas in exchange for some help here or there is a great way to get some experienced hands and new supportive friends in your life. I barter and trade stuff with friends that have skills i do not have. It takes more time, but costs nothing but my time. I look forward to following this thread. I'm wondering if you explained your specific situation to the once custom frame shop/ now standard shop, if the would be willing to do your project anyway, it can't hurt to ask. Anyway, welcome here and keep posting and keep the dream alive!
I wish the local vocational school was an option...it's less than a half mile away. I've talked to administrators twice. When I tried to get into some kind of a welding course, I was told that they do not have the capacity to take "hobby students"...they only take students in degree or certification programs. When I tried to to get handicap adaptation work done on my Cougar, I was told that they do not do outside work. And I've never seen work-in-progress looking cars around to hint that they even do work on student's cars.
Something I need to look into is the local hot rod community. To be honest I do not even know if there is any formal organizations. I didn't even know of the existence of the local shop that I want to check out for the frame, until a few months ago.
The guy I originally planned on doing my custom frame is really backed up and overworked. I'd not want to add to that via playing the disabled sympathy card. He has agreed to do a shortened version of his standard frame...and I may still end up having him do that, if I can't get my custom frame done locally for a price I can afford. Regardless, there is still a good chance of me giving him some business for spindle & brake components, among other things. He's a great guy and I'd like to steer him business without adding too much to his overload.
TOutside work and degree program are the key terms.
So, enroll in their silly degree program, and take the appropriate classes.
Anyway, it was just a thought. Sorry if it's just not an option.
You'll be amazed what you can find on Google...
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