sheet metal work ..is this price reasonable???

[chrisrx7]

I have a 66 convertible 6 cylinder, p/s, p/t , pony interior and console.

I needed inner rockers, both front torque boxes, both toe kick panels and both front frame rails. I also need floor pan repair. Not a full floor or anything. Just some patching.

I was told I would be charged by the hour ..35.00/hr.. I am now at 140 hours
(4900) and I have the drivers side torque , inner rocker and floorpan to go.
When I am done , it looks like I may have 5900 into this ...Is this fair

I am getting quality work but they seem "slow"..

I feel like i am at their mercy with all this..They would not give me estimate, just said they would keep track of the time.

Your thoughts??

PS: I got the car "very " cheap.

[slim]

Doesn't matter what you paid for the car. IMO you're getting off cheap. $35/hr is IMO a bargain now days, keep in mind that's the shop rate not what the individual gets. Today here the shop rate is $70 + depending on the shop.

Hourly charge is fine if you trust the place...I personally prefer to deal with people I trust.
Most here will probably say I'm nuts!!


Slim

[aolshove]

The rate sounds reasonable. Did the repair shop have to disassemble the car (seats, carpet, doors, etc) to do the work or did you deliver it prepared?

I was quoted $7500 (back in 2008) to do the exact same work you're having done by a very reputable local shop but that was after I had fully disassembled the car.

Your math confuses me a bit. How do you have 140 hours into it at $4900 with half complete and figure it'll be done in another $1000 (about 29 hours)? Surely they've done more in that 140 hours than just one side of pure sheet metal work?

If you CAN get done within $5900, I think it's fair for the work performed.

[buflash]

The rate seems like a deal. You may have grounds to question the hours. Seems a little strange that they've only gotten as far as they have, but it also depends on how they structure their work. For instance, 140 hours is roughly 3.5 weeks of work. Did one person work on it for 3.5 weeks straight? Or did they do some work on your car, go work on another car and then come back to yours? Reason being, the worker is going to be less productive if they have to keep changing projects because they have to get set up again each time and then get back into a rhythm.

If it were me, I probably wouldn't bother to question it because the hourly rate is so low. They may have their thumb on the scale a little bit, but I think you're paying the right price for quality work.

[chrisrx7]

let me clarify just a bit more ....sorry.. The passenger side is in ... the drivers side is "cut" out.It looks like the new metal has to be fit back in and welded. I am just guessing another week. (30-40 hrs) I may be off...I am not a sheet metal guy.

I brought the car over disassembled and clean.

I feel like the rate is GREAT but the time to do it is slowwwwww. It is one older guy doing it and to his credit...his work is very good quality.

. I know the rate is great but if it takes twice as long to do it ..am I getting a fair deal?? Maybe I am being to skeptical.

If you think this is fair...then I will try to just accept it, bite the bullet ,and live and learn . I was hoping a max of 4000.00 but I guess not.
I might be at 6000.00 That has been a wow factor for me.. This is why I am asking for your opinion...

thanks

[slim]

In principal I agree with all including myself! Ridiculous example. Have you bought or own a house? Let's say your house is valued at $150,000. Do you care how many hours were spent building that house?

Last year we had the roof replaced on our house. I got 3 bids/quotes/estimates and picked the highest. They had a great reputation and did a great job...I think we got a super deal!

Sounds like you're getting a good deal if they're doing good work.


Slim

[Bucket Lister]

If this shop also does collision work, the collision work on customers daily drivers comes first. Yours is rust restoration. They work on yours when they get a chance. Restoration work, if done properly, is inherently slow. Even in a resto only shop, major panel replacement/rust repair could take a month or more.

[Israel]

Buy a $500.00 hobart MIG set up from Tractor Supply and MIG away. I can't imagine paying a shop to do all of the work involved in bringing back an old Rustang!

[chrisrx7]

The shop never gave me a estimate/ball park on cost.They said they would not do it. .I had to guesstimate myself . I guessed at 4000.00 based on what info.I could gather. I will be at 6000.00 now.. I guess i just don't like a 50% deviation. ( 50% OF 4000.00= 2000)
If you think this is fair...then great...I am ok with it..

and the guy is working 40 hr week on my car .

[aolshove]

Just out of curiosity, is he using a rotisserie to do the work or is he doing it on jack stands?

[chrisrx7]

jack stands... he leveled it up and welded in rods to keep it straight.

The car is completely stripped except for the engine and tranny front end and rear end.
doors and top off...no interior

why??

[aolshove]

I could see where that would add some hours over having a rotisserie but might also be a factor in the lower hourly rate.

Also, I just re-read your original post, both front frame rails? Or do you mean the front floor supports (between the rails and the lower floor reinforcement boxes)?

[Franks68coupe]

What kind of shop is this? $35/ hour sounds cheap to me, time worked on it seems about fair (for an hourly charge)... you're getting a lot done.

[ScottsGT]

Tough call when you can't watch the clock. If the guy works on it all day, is he putting in an honest 8 hours work? Or are you paying for his smoke breaks? But keep in mind of the mindset of a bodyman. I know when I was doing it for a paycheck an insurance job would pay 8 hours, but I could get the work done in 4. There was 4 hours of gravy on top of my paycheck.
He may be clocking in and working on your car for 4 or 5 hours by just doing a little here and there all day and claiming 8 hours on the day.
But at $35 an hour, don't complain too much. It could be the going rate these days of over $75 per hour and up.
And did you remove items before the work started? transmission, engine, interior, etc..? Those are time killers that add up, and quick.

[OCHOHILL]

I am adding inner rockers and convertible seat pan to a coupe. I am also replacing the front subframe. I have the car on a rotisserie. I misjudge the amount of time it takes to reach a goal nearly every day I work on it. I do feel that your builder is a bit slow. That probably reflects the cost per hour. I would also bet it takes longer without a rotisserie. Plus, I am not dealing with much rust.

If the welds are good and the metal is tight, I would say you are getting a fair deal. I live in AZ. Builders here are scared of rust. I do not know of a shop that would have even taken on a job replacing those parts. The shops here can turn a faster dollar working on other projects.