Estimate for BodyWork - 69 Camaro
 

I am just getting some estimates and have no idea if this is a fair cost. Can someone please review this and comment?
Thanks I really appreciate it!

Supplies needed:
etch primer fiberglass rust treatment
reducer body filler seam sealer
body filler, primer, and hardener welding gas and wire fiberglass
sandpaper cutting/griding wheels
Total for supplies= $1000

Estimated cost without mini tub kit
Remove old quarters and install new quarter panels, both sides
$1600
Patch panels on both front fenders, and take out dents
$700
Rust repair on both doors, sand down and take out dents
$600
Cut out existing rust and patches, and install new floor sections
$800
Fix rust on roof and delete metal nubs
$500
Patch passenger side rocker
$200
Patch spot on driver’s side toe pan
$150
Patch rear shock tower
$150
Total, including all dent removal
$4700
Total with supplies
$5700

I will be somewhere around $2000 additional to install the mini tub kit if you choose that route

There were two additional options:
Epoxy primer the car
$600
Clean off undercarriage and apply undercoating where applicable
$300

where are you located?

Seems fair from what I've seen, but then again what do I know. :headscratch:

I'm located in Ofallon, MO about an hour from St. Louis, MO.

I would be double check with them on how they are doing the rust repairs. I noticed they had fiberglass mat on the supply list so are the cutting the rust out and patching it with fiberglass? You want your patches done in metal so you don't have more problems down the road. Just my .02

You supplying the panels or is that included in your cost for replacement?

I had most of that work done a couple years ago here in Texas. I can probably find my quote.

William

No it does not include the panels, I already have the floor pan, need Quarters and wheelhouses-reg. or mini-tubs.

That seems about right then. Think i had close to 7k in metal work w/ minitub and not including panels. Very similar work to what you had done.

William

quarter replacement time sounds light. For the cost of rust repair I would replace the roof skin. you can buy good used oem fenders and doors cheaper than your repair estimates. Furthermore, there should be no fiberglass in any estimate for fixing a camaro, its not a corvette. I would seek another shop to do the work if they plan to fiberglass anything.

I would agree with Mike NO fiberglass. allowed.
that is how they did it in the 80's

I also would have the car stripped first, then epoxy prime then do your body work. I would not put an etching primer on it as some times it can cause problems with what is applied over it. The adhesion of epoxy is great if put on a properly preped surface. SPI epoxy has been working great for me!

I will check on the fiberglass, I agree that that should not be used. The roof labor is to grind down all the studs from the vinyl roof trim and smooth out. The fender repair is high when you can buy new AMD fenders for that price, maybe he would rather and that's why he priced the repair so high.

I'd say depends on the condition and if the existing are OEM. Mine fit really well so I opted to repair the front fenders over replacing them. Wasn't expensive at all for that work.

Yes it is all original hasn't been driven since 1980! I added a GM Cowl hood and it fits perfect with the fenders. That's why I asked him to bid it with repairing them.

Mine were similar and were fixed perfect. The patch goes just under the body line down the side.

Worked well for mine.

I think $2000 for the mini tubs should be half that. Seems high to me.

Fred's Fabrication
 

I used Fred's Fabrication in Cuba, MO on Route 66. It's about an hour and 30 min. from you. He does great work. I can provide pics if needed. He is worth going over and visiting.

That would be great. I will definitely check them out and get an estimate.

Looks like a fun project you're getting ready to pull the trigger on!! Very cool!!

I admire the way you are doing your homework to gain a clear understanding of what you are getting into financially.

Projects are actually a series of trade off decisions. Very few people in the real world can afford to just drop a car off at a shop with an open check book.

You are doing a nice job of getting an understanding of the repair options and their associated costs. That homework will serve you well and help you make good trade off decisions that fit your needs.

All too often, we hear stories of people who have had to bail out of their projects because they could not afford to finish them or because it ended up being a poor financial decision for them to invest the amount of money it would take to build the dream car they see in their minds.

The best advice I could offer is to also make sure you and whatever shop you select look at estimates the same way.

For instance, as an extreme example, if you look at estimates as maximum potential costs and the shop you select looks at them as in the ball park or within 50% of maximum potential costs you could quickly find yourself at odds.

The time to explore each others' views on estimates is BEFORE emotions or disputes are involved, not after. We all think and plan better when we are using our intellect and not driven by our emotions.

As we read through all the build threads we see multiple examples of when the scope of the project changes and / or hidden damage shows up. Few projects do not suffer from those things to some degree or another.

We're all human. Our temptation is to just get our projects moving and to hope everything will go smoothly.

The smartest way to plan your project might be to assume things will pop up and to supplement your estimates with discussing how things outside the estimates will be handled..... BEFORE they happen..... because they will.

Good Luck!! Looks like you have a great start!!