Hi,
I have a 69 Chevelle SS 396. I am getting ready to have the bodywork done and I'm looking for good people to give me a ballpark estimate.
This is for bodywork alone, no paint yet.

Hood: patches of surface rust, no filler or rot. Good condition.
Surface rust damage= 5% of panel.

Decklid: no rust or rot, needs straightened, not bent but factory filler was disturbed, lower rear to the left of lock. Good condition. Disturbed area= 15% of panel.

Roof: no rust or rot even around windows. Excellent condition.

Drivers door: no rust or rot. Good condition.

Passenger door: no rot, minor rust where mirror goes. Average condition. Rot damage= 1% of surface area of door skin.

Drivers front fender: Rot behind wheel opening, wheel opening itself is clean. Average condition. Rot damage= 5% of panel.

Passenger front fender: Same as drivers side. Average condition.
Rot damage= 5% of panel.

Drivers 1/4 panel : wheel opening rot , typical rust behind openning. Above wheel openning along bodyline factory filler was messed with and must be straightened. Average condition. Rot damage= 15% of panel.

Passenger 1/4 panel: Same as drivers side. Below average condition.
Rot damage= 15% of panel.

Front header (nose) panel: minor surface rust, subtle buldge next to body/hood line must be pounded out. Good condition. Surface rust damage= 2% of panel.

Both rocker panels are in excellent condtion.
Frame, floors, and trunk; no rust or rot. Excellent condition.
The car has the factory red lacquer and it seems that someone sprayed a sealer primer over top of it. Door jams are in excellent condition.
The car as a whole is a very, very, solid Arizona car except for the places mentioned. I do realise that it is difficult to give an accurate estimate on bodywork without actually seeing a body. I would however appreciate a ballpark figure for the work that I have listed here so that I no what will be required financially on my part. Thank you for your time.

Lou, first to get a fair estimate I would say you need the car stripped then you will know the exact% of real damage that needs done. Media blasting on the outside will run around $600-700 to do the outside. My guess is your probably in the $7500 to$8500 or so for complete paint and body if it were in my shop. Most places that do these old cars are time and materials. I dont do paint jobs though, only on our full restos. I am sure there are other shops out there that do good work that may give you a lower price. Like I said thats a guess, but I would strip it to see exactly where your at. You would be surprised at how many cars look good before blasting.

------------------
Micky Hale Restorations
69 L-89 Chevelle
68 Biscayne 427/425
34 Plymouth Drag Car
ACES #134
www.mickyhale.com (http://www.mickyhale.com)

Micky brings up a good point about having the car stripped. You don't know for sure what's hiding underneath. Are you planning on doing any of the work yourself? Also keep in mind that most regular body shops won't warranty ANY rust work. That's why many guys opt to do the work themselves to asure it's done correctly or pay the price of a professional resoration shop such as Micky's. It may sound like alot of money, but when you consider the time put into the work and the liability of warranting rust repair. With a true SS car, I wouldn't skimp as the body is the most important appearing work you have with a classic. It's also the most expensive!

------------------
Triple Black 69 SS 396

Just curious, what is the factory filler you refer to ? In 69, they used lead at the pillar seams, but that was about it.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pipeman:
Just curious, what is the factory filler you refer to ? In 69, they used lead at the pillar seams, but that was about it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It may have not been called 'filler', but I was told by someone on Team Chevelle that the flourescent very bright green stuff under my paint (red lacquer) was stuff that the factory used to reveal high spots on the panels before final paint.
Also, I work at G.M. and inquired about this and in some cases they even used this stuff to 'fill' minor low spots. And I was told that it was actually a very thich spray filler (not unlike primer).

[This message has been edited by Lou Merrell (edited 02-14-2001).]

I got an education when I had my 70 done. What I thought were insignificant door dings cost more (time/labor) than a single big dent. I consider body work an art. If you have ever tried to straighten a panel yourself you would get a feel for what it takes.

------------------
Steve Strasemeier (70SS 396, Fathom Blue/White Stripes)
My 70SS (http://www.members.home.com/txss/sshome.htm)