Body Guys Lend me a Pricing Idea plz!!

[WigglesTheHoly]

Ok I will include some pics on this soon. But I'm needing to get an idea of how much money I will be looking to spend to get the rust taken out of my truck. I'm also needing to know what you would call a realistic price on getting a truck painted.

Here is the skinny,
Rust spots
behind rear wheels (going to need new patchs)
The Rockers are damn near toast
Cab Corners you can't see day light but they are rusted.

Any help with getting some loose numbers put together would help
I was also thinking that I could pick up the patch panels myself and take them with me and maybe save some dough

any suggestions are appreciated Thanks!

[RandyP]

Take this with a grain of salt, I'm from the collision repair side and we have never really even tried to do any restoration work except on our own cars. I do however tell most customers who want to provide their own parts, or who say they already have their own parts, "you're smart enough to buy the parts, you can put them on yourself". The money from selling parts is part of a shops profit basically, and you're trying to rob the shop of that. A restoration shop could be different, I really don't know.
Putting in patch panels and stuff is pretty much SWAG time, as there are real no guidelines or set times for it all. Some guesses though, educated guesses.

Won't guess on bedsides, really need to see that, I know it pays about 12 hours to replace a bedside though, complete panel.
Cab corners, if like normal and just rusted below, I'd guess 4 to 5 hours for each side.
Rockers, outers only, guessing 5 to 6 hours per side.

Our door rate is $45 a hour, so you can do the math. Real restoration shops though have a higher labor rate. You will be able to find a normal body shop though to do the work, they are out there, just have to find one at the right time that is 'hungry' and willing.

[Jonboy]

A decent body guy might be able to make some patches for the rust spots behind the rear wheels and in the cab corners, depending on how bad they are. The rockers are pretty inexpensive, and easier to replace than to patch.

My suggestion, if you have the time, would be to take a body class at Barton County. You might be able to do the paint work there, too. When I was there, John Smith taught it, and I shot my Mustang in the booth at his shop.

[WigglesTheHoly]

I've always wanted to try the body work but have never felt up to it. If Barton has a night class for body work I'd be all over it as for day classes they are out of the question due to my job. I'll try and get some pictures taken and posted as soon as I get home tonight around 5 5:30 central

[Jonboy]

The class I took was a night class. Keep in mind that was 15 years ago, though.

[WigglesTheHoly]

I'll definitely have to check into that thanks Jonboy

[WigglesTheHoly]

well seems like the site won't allow html in a reply so I'm going to have to post them a link to an offsite so that the pictures aren't too big i don't want to take the time to have to re size them

[WigglesTheHoly]

http://spoiledmilkpodcast.com/rustpage

Here is the link to my rust

~~~~~It will be back up soon my dumbass accidentally uploaded a file and it deleted everything in my sites filemanager. Running a backup on the server now.

[misternash2]

depending on the quality and how much rust (i did not look at your pics) you should be able to get a nice job for 2500-3500. not a show stopping job, but a nice driver. the fellow from the collision shop should not scare you off. i'll admit 10k paint jobs are out there, but if i put that much money in paint, i'd never drive it. anywhere. the resto guys will have a pot load of hours in the job, but won't get anywhere near 45 an hour. more like 15 an hour or so. again, depending. i do agree with finding one "hungry" and willing to do it. i'd focus on willing more than hungry. shady deals lurk around starving bodymen. i don't know why. i've seen several around here. also the collision shops will be hungry for your cash. lol

[russgt]

How do the floors look?

[WigglesTheHoly]

Floors Look Great

[RandyP]

15 a hour... there is just not really a response to that statement. Sounds like the tech who would pop rivet your panels in and brush the latex on and be done.

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

Originally Posted by RandyP

15 a hour... there is just not really a response to that statement. Sounds like the tech who would pop rivet your panels in and brush the latex on and be done.

I thought 45 was on the low side It all boils down to how you want the job done. You can have the patches slammed on and scabbed together fairly cheap. If you want somebody to take their time and repair the problem in a manner that will last 20 more years it will cost more. It just depends on what you want. I am one of the resto guys mentioned above. A proper repair should be seamless and not detectable. Good work always costs. Jay

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by Big Port Jimmy 6

A proper repair should be seamless and not detectable. Good work always costs. Jay

I second this especially the last part

[Jonboy]

I agree with that too, but the market will dictate the rate and the level of work. Obviously, there are a lot more body shops where I live (Dallas, TX) than where Wiggles is (Hoisington, KS). I would have a lot better chance to find decent quality work at a decent price than he might, and the market will dictate both. I grew up 10 miloes from where he is at, and I have been doing body and paint work for most of my life. That is why I offered the option I did, as it is probably the least costly, and might offer a chance to learn a skill.

[WigglesTheHoly]

I definitely agree there Jonboy I'm thinking about looking into those classes. But I have bigger news as well. I just found something i've been looking for. A 67 EL CAMINO i wanted a 66 but a 67 will do for now. So my squares are going to get put together and may be for sale soon.

[misternash2]

i'll agree to disagree. you'll never find a collision shop that will touch it but you're not comparing apples to apples. find a small shop with a decent reputation and i'll bet you can get it done relatively cheap. again, not a collision shop or a high end resto shop. for most people, it doesn't need to be perfect, just a nice driver. in my opinion.

edit: i'd definately say the top side of 3500 needing CC's, rockers, and wheelwells. that's a good amount of rust. and like i said earlier, pay attention to reputation. worth the extra money.

[misternash2]

honestly, these trucks aren't rare by any stretch of the imagination. if you're wanting a full restoration, why not buy one that's been in a barn? why start with one that needs that much work? not trying to be offensive to anyone, my truck is as rough as anyone else's, but if we kind of fix what we have. if we had more money, we'd have nicer things. i'd say that the guy that wants a restored 75 c10 isn't gonna start with one with very much rust. i know that there's guys spending big money. most of us arent. see my point? i'm really not trying to take away from what you do. there is a niche market for it. really though, i only make 30k a year. i'm not spending six months of wages on paint and body alone, and i'd bet most people would agree. otherwise there would be a lot more nice restos on the road. again, in my opinion.