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Autobody

Lead Teacher
Mr. George Champoux

Mr. Lou DeSessa
Mr. Craig Sankey

View Curriculum Frameworks
Structural Analysis
Non-Structural Analysis
Mech. & Elec. Components
Plastics and Adhesives
Painting and Refinishing

The Pathfinder Auto Body Repair Shop is a fully equipped service collision and refinishing training facility. The shop functions basically like a normal repair shop servicing customers and municipalities with real world jobs. You can download a PDF of a work request form below. (Work Request forms are also available at the school.)

Download
Work Request form


Structural Analysis & Damage Repair

Students will learn:

Frame Inspection and Repair:

  • Diagnosis and Measuring
  • Frame anchoring devices
  • Repairing: mash, sag, sideways twist, and diamond damage
  • Remove and replace damaged frame members
  • Restore corrosion protection
  • Identify misaligned or damaged steering, suspension and power-train components which can cause vibration, steering and wheel alignment problems.

Unibody Inspection, Measurement and Repair:

  • Diagnosis and measuring of unibody length, width, and height damage
  • Proper anchoring
  • Multiple pull repair unibody damage
  • Mig welding
  • Plasma Cutting

Non-Structural Analysis & Damage Repair

Students will learn to:

  • Review a damage report to determine an appropriate course of action
  • Determine the extent of direct and indirect damage to outer body panels
  • Inspect, remove, replace, and align: hoods, hinges, doors, deck lids, fenders, bumpers, headers, and other damaged panels
  • Repair rough, out of contour damage to the surface of the body panels using the appropriate body tools
  • Cutting out damaged sections of sheet metal body panels and welding in replacement panels
  • Metal finishing and body filling
  • Inspect and align moveable glass

Mechanical & Electrical Components

Students will learn:

  • Suspension and steering components and wheel alignment angles as they apply to a collision
  • How to test electrical circuits using a Digital Voltammeter
  • Safe disposal of batteries and acid
  • Replace mechanical and electrical components that might be damaged in a collision

Inspect and replace brake lines, hoses, and brake components which might be damaged in a collision

Identify and comply with environmental concerns relating to refrigerants and coolants

Recycle and store refrigerants in accordance with EPA regulations

Identify and replace damaged A/C and cooling system components

Identify and replace damaged drive train, fuel, exhaust, and intake components

Identify and repair the various passenger restraint systems

Plastics & Adhesives

Students will learn to:

  • Identify the various types of plastics
  • Repair plastics using "airless plastic welding"
  • Repair plastics using urethane or epoxy adhesives.
  • Prepare plastic for refinishing


Painting & Refinishing

Students will learn to:

  • Identify and take necessary precautions with hazardous operations and materials according to federal, state and local regulations
  • Identify personal health and safety issues according to "OSHA" guidelines and the "Right to know" act
  • Select and use NIOSH approved respirators
  • Select and use proper personal safety equipments for painting/refinishing and sanding (gloves, suits, hoods, eye and ear protection)
  • Prepare the paint surface
  • Use and clean spray guns and related equipment
  • Paint mixing, matching and applying
  • Paint defects, cause and cures
  • Final detail and pre-delivery