Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: moparmojo]
#80314
06/26/08 10:59 PM
06/26/08 10:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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depends greatly on how you're currently set up.
do you have adequate air supply? welder? cutting and grinding tools? hammers? paint guns, and everything else I'm not thinking of.
I evaluated the cost of all the equipment I would need, and since I don't have a well equiped shop right now, I would be looking at spending 5-10K in equipment before I even started the job.
Then I'd have to learn how to use all that junk.
it makes sense for me to save my money and pay someone else to do my paint and bodywork for me, and have it done right the first time. it might not be cheaper in the end to pay someone, but it will be faster and a higher quality job in the end than what I could do on my own.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#80315
06/27/08 12:38 AM
06/27/08 12:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,854
Georgetown Ontario Canada
anlauto
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,854
Georgetown Ontario Canada
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More important then money or material things is the determenation to see the project though to the end. 90% of the cars I restore are projects people have given up on 
CHECK OUT MY NEW WEB SITE !
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: anlauto]
#80316
06/27/08 11:52 AM
06/27/08 11:52 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
master
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master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
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Quote:
More important then money or material things is the determenation to see the project though to the end.
90% of the cars I restore are projects people have given up on
A friend of mine has a '70 Charger project that is in limbo. I met him when he was asking questions about the Charger he had bought, on-line, sight unseen.
He bought the car wanting a project to work on, but he owned almost no tools and din't know much about MOPARs. The Charger was a 500 model 318/auto car that someone swaped in a stock mid '70 440/auto. The car had most of the parts, but everything needed work, and it had alot of hidden rust covered up by bad bodywork.
Anyhow, my friend went out and bought a bunch of tools. Wrench and socket sets, air compressor, spotweld cutters, cut off wheels, blast cabinet, mig welder, etc. Then he dissasembled the car and we had it media blasted to bare metal.
when we got it back it was obvious the car needed almost the entire back of the car replaced. The trunk, sail panels, rear quarters, even the tail panel had rust. Not to mention the pin holes in the roof, lower corners of the fenders and doors, etc.
So, my friend decides to order up all the replacement panels and install them, but he has never welded or done body work before...
Anyhow, after not much success he decides to have a professional bodyman do the metal work.
I'm not sure how exactly how much was spent, but I think easely over $10,000 on metal and body work just to get the car in primer.
While the car body was being repaired, we rebuilt the 440 with 9.5:1 pistons and a mild Hughes cam.
Then my friend got sent off to Iraq.
When he returned, he was having marrage problems, and may get a divorce, so he is afraid the may have to sell the car, but it is still an unpainted basket case that he has way more money into that what it is worth.
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: anlauto]
#80318
06/27/08 10:14 PM
06/27/08 10:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,322
sixbbl69
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,322
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Quote:
More important then money or material things is the determenation to see the project though to the end.
90% of the cars I restore are projects people have given up on
but then you paid someone to do your junk. that makes it easy to have determination. just write a check , sit back and wait for it to get done then tell us how hard it is to do all the work. 
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: sixbbl69]
#80319
06/27/08 10:18 PM
06/27/08 10:18 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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i see you live in missouri, do not and i mean DO NOT use THORPES CORVETTE AND BODY SHOP in O'Fallon, Illinois he the biggest thief in your state. he has had at least 12 full blown law suits in the last 3 years.hell put a lien on your car and extort money for huge horly labor rates. stay far ,far away 
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: ryangtogtx]
#80321
06/27/08 10:50 PM
06/27/08 10:50 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,123
Warrenton, VA
RoadRunnerJD
master
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master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,123
Warrenton, VA
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Quote:
Unless you're a master metal crafter I wouldn't attempt to replace panels on a convertible. There is a lot of measuring and aligning to do on a car without a roof. I am not familiar with their work, but you might want to consider US Car Tool's body in white program. $15K complete metal work. 
Here's some ramdom thoughts. You get what you pay for and sometimes not even that!!If it's a real musclecar convertible e-body, find someone with good references. If it's a clone, it won't hurt to do it yourself. You might learn something out of it... but it's an uphill battle and it's hard enough just doing the components and reassembling the car let alone doing the metal work too. Who is going to paint it? Painter's are fussy about painting someone else's work. Good luck with it! 
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: moparmojo]
#80323
06/28/08 12:17 AM
06/28/08 12:17 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,587
missouri, USA
moparmojo
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,587
missouri, USA
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Well I will answer a few. I do have a 2 stage compressor, a decent supply of tools, some automotive air tools n such, a new spray gun, and a decent size garage. I have a little night school body n paint experience (about a months worth) and already have my garage wired for that new 220 welder I have always wanted. I only have an hours worth of welding experience. Point is I am not afraid to try new things. And for the record I did help build my own house even though I would let the electician and plumber do the work even though I am not afraid to try. I have found a decent shop that seems reasonable. I think they were talking between $8000-$12000 to do all the metal work and that was with me providing the metal parts. I have looked into the body in white program, but when I checked it out, that price did not say it included primer coat. Not sure. Anyway, I just wondered if I bought the panels, what would I expect in other charges if I got that welder then went at it. I am basically on the fence. I see the pros of both sides. Just hoping some other people who do this regularly can chime in with their experience.
Last edited by moparmojo; 06/28/08 12:19 AM.
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: moparmojo]
#80324
06/28/08 06:05 PM
06/28/08 06:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,209
NYC
MRVCODE
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,209
NYC
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Quote:
Well I will answer a few. I do have a 2 stage compressor, a decent supply of tools, some automotive air tools n such, a new spray gun, and a decent size garage. I have a little night school body n paint experience (about a months worth) and already have my garage wired for that new 220 welder I have always wanted. I only have an hours worth of welding experience. Point is I am not afraid to try new things. And for the record I did help build my own house even though I would let the electician and plumber do the work even though I am not afraid to try. I have found a decent shop that seems reasonable. I think they were talking between $8000-$12000 to do all the metal work and that was with me providing the metal parts. I have looked into the body in white program, but when I checked it out, that price did not say it included primer coat. Not sure. Anyway, I just wondered if I bought the panels, what would I expect in other charges if I got that welder then went at it. I am basically on the fence. I see the pros of both sides. Just hoping some other people who do this regularly can chime in with their experience.
IMO I think your nuts. Do it once and do it right. Leave it to the pros, in the end you will forget about how much you could have saved and all you think is "I'm glad I didn't do it myself".
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: Mike Mancini]
#80326
06/28/08 11:34 PM
06/28/08 11:34 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,711
USA
ECS
David Walden
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David Walden
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,711
USA
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Quote:
The last thing you want to do is cut the car apart...
What do you mean Mike? Cut it apart? If I had it to do over I would have loaded dynamite in each exhaust pipe of my car and lit the wicks! 
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: Mike Mancini]
#80327
06/29/08 09:44 AM
06/29/08 09:44 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,836
Florida
mopar346
Let me tell ya about fat chicks!
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Let me tell ya about fat chicks!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,836
Florida
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"Experience is key." Very true, but now we have to ask the age old question "how do you get experience if no one will give you a chance?" Here in lies the problem, you can't get the experience unless you jump on it. Careful planning and the proper research will give you an upper hand. I would start on a lesser car, buy a /6 Dart or even a 4 door and go to cutting and welding. Sure ya'll invest some time and money, but better to waste money on a lesser car than waste a car because you screwed it up beyond repair - and it can happen. Save a good Dart body and someone will buy it for a decent price when you're done.
Careful, your character's showing!
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: Mike Mancini]
#80329
06/29/08 04:56 PM
06/29/08 04:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,587
missouri, USA
moparmojo
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,587
missouri, USA
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Thanks Mike, on the one hand I agree completely, but then again I've seen works of art come out of the joe average garage. And maybe to some extent some of those cars may have even been nicer in the long run. I certainly understand the idea of the work on a (don't shoot me people) but, a lesser car. Only problem is, I don't have any. I only have 2 muscle cars...a 70 challenger conv. and a 70 Charger. Both are the exact cars I have always wanted. If having the work done was cheaper, I don't think it would be as big of an issue as it is. So on the one hand do I want to wait a year for a shop to do it and get charged a good amount for the work, or try to tackle it myself as budget allows, at my pace, learning as I go, and probably take 2 or 3 times longer. I have already reserved myself to thinking I would not attempt any work til I bought the majority of the needed parts/peices upfront. This is why I was asking what the associated costs are to doing it yourself. Assume my local shop would do if for say average of $10,000 (read prev post)plus my say $5000 for sheet metal parts, that would be $15,000. So what would it cost me to do it if I bought the sheet metal and everything else. $5000 plus ?????? I mean if it were to cost me say another 8grand, then I don't think it would be worth me tackling. It is just tough coughing up that kind of money, when I don't make much to begin with. And just out of curiousity, I have never really dealt with a shop before. How do people normally pay for that kind of work? Upfront, cash, credit, at the end????
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: moparmojo]
#80331
06/29/08 05:42 PM
06/29/08 05:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 628
Mass
Mike Mancini
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 628
Mass
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You really need to ask yourself what your expectations are in the long run. Are you looking for a show stopper or a nice driver?
If you decide to tackle the metal work yourself are you tig welding or mig welding? Are you familiar with the effects of heat on metal? Do you plan on handling the body work and paint yourself? If not, have you located a shop that is willing to pick up where you left off?
There are many questions to be answered.
If you are considering a professional shop, most good shops are going to charge on a time and materials basis, in reality this means the cost is open. Whatever it takes it takes.
As far as billing, different shops have different policies. My shop bills on a weekly basis.
If you decide to have the work done professionally, just do your homework, get references, talk to past customers etc. There are many crooks in this business that will mislead you just to take your money. Even if you get estimates, beware of the "t&m" clause. I've heard of other shops quoting 15K for metal work and then finals bills in the 50K range because the car was so bad when they stripped it.
Back to my original question, if you are going to be happy with whatever the outcome is if you try your hand in metal work, then go for it. But remember, there will be obstacles and there will be frustrations. Are you willing to deal with that. Only you can answer that.
Experience does come from practice but at what risk? If you tackle the job yourself, the best advice I can offer is plan your work and work your plan.
I guess I am done rambling now.
Mike
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Re: cost of restoration?
[Re: ECS]
#80332
06/29/08 05:53 PM
06/29/08 05:53 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 628
Mass
Mike Mancini
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 628
Mass
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Quote:
Quote:
The last thing you want to do is cut the car apart...
What do you mean Mike? Cut it apart? If I had it to do over I would have loaded dynamite in each exhaust pipe of my car and lit the wicks!
I'm still laughing.... what did I mean?.... picture this, you receive a phone call inquiring about completing restoration of a six pack superbird, only to arrive at the gentlmans house to find an original 60,000 mile, original paint, limelight six pack 4spd bird with the roof skin cut off, the 1/4's cut off, the trunk floor cut out and the front floors cut out and on and on. He figured it would be easier to knock the dents out with the panels off, you can't acces them from behind whith them installed ya' know. My jaw it the floor. True story.
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on here for a year then go out and do it all over again.my last 69 b-body project took me a year to do. thats taking it down to a bare shell.i know a year is a long time but i only worked on it 6 weeks total. the rest of the time i sit in a chair looking at how rust free the body is. 