Considering my location of West Central Minnesota, does anyone have a guesstimate of what it would cost to have 2 quarter/patch panels welded in (assuming the panels and maybe rear outer wheelhousings were supplied)?

Is this a project that could be done by a novice? Have access to wire feed welder, and someone who knows how to use it. Are any special tools required? How much time would it take, on average?

Oh man...I TOTALLY LUCKED OUT and found an left NOS quarter panel, I have never welded in a panel in my life when I started my project, but this thing went in SWEET, the guy who painted my car couldn't believe how perfect it went in. But the problem is not everyone can find an NOS, the new repops aren't that great since I had to replace my right quarter with a newly stamped one. BUt my 1 cent (not good enough for 2) is to replace as little as you can. I can't tell you how expensive it would be to have someone do it, just make sure whatever you cut out of your replacement patch is the same size as the piece need replaced graemlins/clonk.gif been there...get a big magnet or those vise-grips with the really big jaws and clamp it flush, if you cant use the vise grips...thats where the magnet comes in. tack it in first and stitch weld it about 1/4 - 1/2" at a time every 2 inches or so..after I made a stich I cooled it with a wet rag, and suprizingly there were some instances I didn't get a warp! (the other instances I was desperate) WHEW... as for time, it took me 2 days to put one quarter on, 1 day for lining and tacking it in and another for finish welding it all in and a WEEK to put those stupid trunk filler pans in.
I really hope that shed some light on whats involved. I probably missed something somewhere (eek) but I hope not.
Good Luck!!
Zach