I was just wondering how much it would cost to have a body shop do body work on a 71 chevelle. Lets say it needs new quarter panels, new floorpan, and mabey a doorskin and just basically straighten out the body and get it ready for painting. Even if you could let me know what it cost some of you would help me out. I just want an idea of what the damage to the 'ol bank account will be. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

Thanks a lot,
Ryan


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Ryan
1971 Chevelle SS
Nevada Silver & Black
Stripes
350ci Automatic
12-bolt 3.55 posi
Black Bucket Interior

Well- I spent 20K on my green machine.3 years and several million pieces of sand paper and a few cans of paint.just depends on how far you want to go. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Probably not what you want to hear - but I would suggest getting another car. You have just listed off ~ $5,000 of work, less if you only need a partial floor - and that doesn't include the paint job. Thing is that when you have rust like that it is always more extensive of a problem than you can "see".

Sorry man, I know you have visions of this '71 becoming a beautiful car once again.

Of course you could always do this work yourself (yes you can). Even after buying some of the specialized auto body shop equipment that such work requires, you would still have less cash outlay vs sending it to a body shop. Best part of all is that you get to keep the tools after the job is done. Check out the bodyshop and paint topic area on Team Chevelle.

Thomas

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"Bomber" '67 El Camino, Beater comes back to life.
Was 350/TH350 14.90 @ 93mph, 360,000+ miles on car.
Now 406 roller, 340rwhp, more hp coming, 3.08 gears.
Street radials, left in drive, 13.20 e.t.@108.35 mph.
8/1/01 added Plum Mist '67 to collection
ProCharger D-2R 468 under construction.

Ryan, take you car to a few places or make a couple of calls and prepare your bank account to be emptied http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif Do the words "bottomless pit" mean anything to you?

Mike

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The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/mikecronin_2000/Mikes_Homepage.html?977370826960
"" TARGET=_blank>my stuf</A>

Well there isn't that much rust but there might be some bondo or something. I just wondered what the price would be at worst. I actually have a firend that does body work and paint jobs and does a great job. He said he could do all body work and a paintjob for about $4000. Does that sound like a good price as long as its a good paintjob and bodywork??

Must be a good friend, If he can do it all and a decent quality job for that price, sounds like a heck-of-a-deal!! Most run-of-the-mill paint jobs (not show quality) are that much or more. I'd check around to a few shops for price comparisons, check references, and ask for pictures. Get a feel for what is avail in your area.

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'68 SS-396 (still workin' on it)
"Children in the back of the car can cause accidents,
accidents in the back of the car can cause children"
-2 Below Custom Automotive
Fbks, AK.

If he's puting 1/4's on ,floorpans, trunk work and blocking the body straight plus a pain job for 4K..... GO FOR IT .and if you can get it in writing.
He's a good freind for sure.

Come down south

I have gotten estimates from several shops with good reputations for similar work as yours for around 4000$. This includes 2 new quarters, new filler panel (behind rear window) new window channel at top of rear window, rust repair with patch panel on left fender, ding removal, Dent removal on right door, block sand, prime, jam, paint and buff For 4000$. I supply the quarters and deliver the car stripped of its interior and chrome.

The shop I'm looking at right now has produced several local show winning paint jobs and they are in the same price range. (Enterprise Alabama isnt exactly the hub of concours automobile restorations but the local shows attract over 100 very nice cars that would probably cost twice as much anywhere else)

My low estimate was 2000$ and the high was for 4500$. 7 estimates came in at the 3500$ to 4000$ range. The 2000$ estimate was way low and I discounted it as a valid estimate.

I'm in the Army and I tend to complain alot about the economically depressed areas that the Army generally stations me, but this can be a good thing for labor costs. (about 30 dollars an hour)

PS. I'm Not knocking Alabama. I requested to come here and I have absolutly no regrets.

Clark

I suggest checking out the base auto hobby shop. Mine is at an Air Force base, 20 stalls, 4 lifts, alignment rack, body work room and a paint booth. Might as well start learning to do it yourself.

When I complain about spending $50 to have the paint booth all weekend and using the shops guns it's with a big smile. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

The program is part of MWR (That's Morale, Recreation and Welfare for your boys and chicks in uniform, ARRouFF! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif

Very little rust...then I guess it just has a lot of dents? Seriously, the rust you can see is only the beginning...usually.

If the total is $4,000 including all paint and body work, how much of that is towards all the body parts and paint supplies? How many man hours of labor does he plan on putting into it to get the job done to a quality standard? That is a strong bid if you are confident that the quality is there and that no short cuts will be taken. I've seen new body panels put in place over a rusty or damaged understructure with no attempt to repair the under damage - they figure tha by the time it becomes a problem again, that someone else will be the car's owner.

Thomas

I've seen good quality paint laid over a body that was shorted in prep time - let's just say "more waves than in the ocean".

I must have seen this senario hundreds of times. Realisticly, you are most likely looking at from $15,000 to $20,000 (Maybe more)of work. If someone tells you he will do it for less than that, it will most likely never get done or if it does, you won't be happy with the work and a battle will erupt between you and your friend or shop. If you think about it, at the price you were quoted, your friend will end up working many hours for almost nothing. Believe me, this is not a pretty situation. It will get ugly. If you really want quality work that will last,you have to pay the price

Gordon VM
Restoration Motorsports

Your car's fine, don't ditch it for a minimal amount of rust like that. From what you describe it sounds normal. My car is really rusty, and I plan on learning bodywork and welding myself so I can do the repairs myself. Should save lots of money and it can't be that hard. After I get the hang of it, it might actually be fun cutting out and piecing in new panels after seeing it being rusty for so long. I also need to get a donor car to cut sheetmetal off of, the majority of what I need isn't offered in the aftermarket. I'm real picky about taking my time and fixing stuff to get it right, even if it seems like more effort than it's worth.
Anyway, enough about my project, good luck with yours, I agree around $10k would get you a decent fixup job. Even for being your friend, $4,000 is a bit low, he probably is just figuring in the paint and minimal bodywork not rust repair and what not.
But, remember when it comes to paint, you always get what you pay for. A cheap job and you get a sloppy job with runs, fisheyes and orangepeel. You really need to watch our for that if you go with a darker color or a metallic.

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino (http://www.dreamelectric.com)
Originally was & will be Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top (now black/black)
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Dual Exhaust
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear - Factory PS, PDB, PW, Tilt, A/C & More
My El Camino Home Page (http://www.dreamelectric.com/index.html)
Other Restorations -1969 Snowco Trailer (http://www.dreamelectric.com/Snowco.html) & 1967 Sears Custom 600 Tractor (http://www.dreamelectric.com/1967Sears.html)
Team Chevelle Member #995

DG

I dont think Ryan is in the military.

As for me, I use the Rucker Auto Craft shop frequently but I still prefer to farm out body work. I'd love to learn, but not on my car http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I'll retire in 3 years, maybe I'll have time then.

I think some of you would be quite amazed at what $4000 will get you where I'm at.

Clark