cost of body

[washington72]

so i went to a body shop today to get a quote.... he said 18,000 body work and paint. I almost fell over, I dont think the body is all that bad... so im gonig to go gett a welder and learn to weld... any advice

[NW_Ryker]

When I had it done, it was 3,000 for rust repair on the bed corners and fenders and a new coat of paint. That doesn't seem too far out of reach if your going for a show truck.

[washington72]

im not going for show... I just want the rust gone and for it to look some what nice

[99-LS1-SS]

I bought a welder 2 days ago, so I guess we're in the same boat.

[NW_Ryker]

Then that price he gave you is crazy. Look around for someone to do it cheaper.
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[washington72]

macco... is the only cheap one

[99-LS1-SS]

My brother has done body work for the last 20+ years and that quote sounds like something he would say because he dislikes doing restoration work.

Personally, I don't think Macco would do a good job on your truck.

[washington72]

naw i dont want macco to do it... for 18000 I can try this body work thing out

[2fast55]

I've seen enough of maaco's work to know I wouldn't even want to work there, much less actually have them do any work for anyone I know. Rust repair is super time consuming and labor is expensive, so any decent shop is going to charge a LOT of money, but 18,000 sounds a little out there. If you get the metal work done yourself, just the final body work and paint shouldn't be too bad.

[washington72]

yeah.. . has anyone done rocker replacement.... what type of welder should i get?

[2fast55]

I'm in progress on mine right now with a cheap 110v flux core only box. It's kind of a pain, but it gets the job done. I really wish I had a proper mig machine so I could run solid core with gas and not have to clean up all the flux residue and excessive spatter. A tack/stitch mode should make sheetmetal welding a ton easier too. Whatever you end up doing, spend the money on an auto darkening helmet, even if it's just one of the cheap ones. The one I just got is saving me a ton of time.

[1949gmc]

Originally Posted by washington72

yeah.. . has anyone done rocker replacement.... what type of welder should i get?

something like this would be ideal:

Brand new, never used Miller Millermatic 211 MIG welder with Auto-set. Just put in the wire size your using and the material thickness and it sets the wire speed and heat for you. Also includes the MVP (Multi Voltage Plug) which makes it so the welder can run off of either 220 or 110. Includes regulator for gas. It comes with a spool of wire, too. $985. Please call (509)216-1900 or 891-0773



http://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/2325763150.html

[1949gmc]

heres a couple more:

Mig Wire Feed Welder - $695
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/tls/2339801085.html
I'm selling about 20 welders with prices starting at $495 to $1200 for Mig welders and $795 to $2500 on Tig welders. Brands are Miller, Lincoln, and Hobart.Also have gas cylinders for sale. Call 503-890-8919



Miller 130 Mig welder - $575 (Oregon City)
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/tls/2350401861.html
Miller 130 Mig welder, 110 volt, comes with cart, a bottle of gas, gauges and some wire, have some tips also, welds good, can weld with gas or flux core wire w/o gas

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by washington72

so i went to a body shop today to get a quote.... he said 18,000 body work and paint. I almost fell over, I dont think the body is all that bad... so im gonig to go gett a welder and learn to weld... any advice

18000 is pretty much why we do it ourselves seems to me that any one on this board will answer your questions, and if you're close to someone they will even come over and help you out...for the modest price of beer

paint is another story, but I take my panels to M double A co, about 100 a panel for 2 part primer

[71swb4x4]

One quote from one body shop? You definitely need to get more quotes. Would you only get one quote to paint a house?

[bouncytruck]

$18,000 buys you a complete, rust free truck. I'm all for learning to do it yourself.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

$18,000 buys you a complete, rust free truck. I'm all for learning to do it yourself.

good point, didn't think of that!!

[71swb4x4]

Get a decent brand-name MIG welder. Anything between a 140 and 210 would be fine.
Get gas, it's much easier to weld with gas.
And buy a high-quality helmet. You only get one set of eyes, and high-quality helmets are built so well you will forget you are wearing it.

[BlazinC5]

18K,,, Ouch. Did you ask what their payment plan was like? Did it include an arm and a leg? Sorry,, I just find that rediculous. I have always looked at doing anything and everything I can myself, Just because some dumb monkey gets hired on in a shop don't mean they are a good mechanic. I have seen plenty of the aftermath from said mechanics. The trial and error associated with learning on your own always has it's frustrations. I personaly have a little lincoln 100 set up with gas. Works off my 110V outlets just fine so long as you have a circut capable of 20 amps. 30amp is better. With patients I can weld 1/4 inch plate no problem. Norco on Trent has always been good to me and helpfull with any question I had, (cause I am not a welder)... I am going to be starting up soon on my blazer with the floor and rocker replacments. That is if I can ever get off this over time.. 6-12's don't leave much time for anything else. I have never done rockers either but hey.. I am going to give it a shot and research ALOT. Oh and BTW.

[AJs72K5]

$18k means he really didn't want your business. He was trying to scare you off. Not the first time I've heard of a body guy throwing out an outrageous quote for work they really didn't want to do.
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[washington72]

thats kind of what i was thinking too

[washington72]

here is one picture

[washington72]

here are some more

[BLUE THUNDER]

I can tell you from a professional pov. That $ quote is so you dont come back. There isn't a shop out there that would tie up a bay for two or three or even 6 months "fixing" trucks like ours. They could push 100-150 $2k jobs through that same bay on insurance jobs with WAY less work. Yup, he doesn't want to work on your truck. Sorry bro.

[Ridnhi]

18K is way to High, I agree that he didn't want the business. I took my blazer up to a shop about a year and a half ago with a bid of 4K with what looks to be the same work yours needs. They never finished it. I picked it up about a month ago and had another shop come look at it and he also gave me a bid of 4k to finish where the other guy left off. If your rig needs rocker boxes, lower quarter, inner and outer rocker panels, maybe a little work on the doors with a full paint job, then I would say in the 5k-6k range would be realistic. thats my 2 cents