I searched but didn't find what I was looking for. What does a floorpan replacement cost if done through a bodyshop? I plan on doing it myself but wanted to see what the cost/benefit was to doing it myself. I figure cost of MIG, replacement panels and such would be around $1500 and at the end of the day you have a new welder. I estimate that the body shop would charge at least double that cost to cut out and weld in new floor/trunk panels. comments?
You went from floor pan only cost to now include the trunk panels. Are you refering to the drop off panels on either side of the gas tank? These are very time consuming with all the spot welds at the rear 1/4 panel, at the inner wheel well and at the rear frame rail. What exactly are you looking to do?
You can do it a lot cheaper than that yourself unless you're going to buy a fairly expensive welder. $600.00 can get you a good welder that will be all you'll ever need to work on your car. You can get one for less than that if you want a 110 unit and they do just fine. I know because I have one myself. Right off hand I can't tell you the price of the panels but they are cheap unless you want the full panel. The gas and wire doesn't cost much either.
I am figuring $750 for welder set up (the $600 Lincoln 175 does not include a gas bottle). We can say option a) full floorpan replacement option b) full floorpan plus trunk. Full floorpans run about $500 so that is where I came up with $1500 (also need cut-off tools, grinder, helmet, etc.) Have a 220V line installed for the welder already. I don't even have a car yet. I just wanted a comparison for what a body shop charges to do the work. What would a bodyshop charge for a full floorpan replacement? What about floorpan and trunk? I would make a very rough estimate of about 40 hours of work for the body shop. How close is that? I plan on doing the work myself. Curious how much money I would be saving is all. Thanks!
the cost for a body shop to replace floors is probibly closer to 25 or 30 hours...ive done a 68 vert, that was falling in on itself in a little over 60. this included inner rockers, floor pans(two piece), seat risers,and frame rail patches.this also included r & i interior, remove engine and trans (gives you a lot more room to work)and fabricating a spreader to jack the door jambs back into alignment
Im going to guess they will charge you close to 40 hours of labor. Bodywork here is about $40/hr and then add in your parts. So I would guestimate your cost to be about $1800 for parts and labor
Then buy a car that doesn't need new floors. You'll save money and time that way, plus if the floor is gone then most likely the cowl is too and you probably don't want to have to repair that. Buy the best car you can afford and you will save money in the long run.
