I fully understand that this is a how long a piece of string type question. But assuming the surrounding metal is sound {which I know mine isnt}, and this is the ony work needed how much would a pro charge for the following.. Remove, weld and prep metal enough that rust kept out. At this stage not interested in respray to high standard as I know I want to do much more than just one step. And how many hours should that take... And would schofields be best for panels? TIA @davidoft would appreciate your input as well as seen so many posts of yours. Dm if you prefer
All depends where you take it. All I can give you is an example of ours which is a 1972 (or 1977) panel van converted to a Super Viking. Some 8yrs ago we took the van to a garage/restorer in Castle Donington and they quoted us to restore the van to as new condition £42,000 (split screen samba busses were cheaper to buy at the time) We then went to see a chap in Chesterfield who welded in the new (complete) front wheel arches on both sides (I had purchased them some years earlier) , fitted the new cab doors (I had purchased a few months earlier), got some new hinges/bushes made for the hinges as the ones on the new doors were incompatible, welded in a new bottom half panel on the sliding door as well as some other holes, took out all the windows and filled/flatted the entire van, removed the pop up roof and resprayed it all. That cost me £3,500 I took the van back to him last month as there was some rust showing on most panels/joints and damage from someone putting to long a screw in behind a panel inside and we agreed to have it resprayed again (not the pop top) and in the process he welded the bottom of the B post and took a roof hinge to be braised as it was cracked. That just cost me £2,000 and he has stated that all the roof hinges need replacing and painting and will sort it (free of charge) when I get them. If you or anyone else wants Andy’ number I am more than willing to share it (if having your van repaired/restored in Chesterfield is okay with you) Schofields panels are excellent too.
Parts : £600 minimum if you want the decent parts and providing the seat belt anchorage is excellent and the inner wheel tub, A post lower section and B posts are good. Time wise providing everything goes well and no other parts need replaced / repaired, £600 ( £300 per side ) plus any VAT thatmight be added so not much change from £1500 for a proper professional job. Plus extra for paint and prep.. and more again for the additional repairs yours may require ..
£300 a side, how many hours and at what rate ? I usually say 3 days labour a pair including some extra welding, £25 an hour is £600, but not many professional body shop / restorers work for much under £45 these days which is closer to £1300, there’s a bit of skill involved in front arches, I’ve seem plenty put on wrong/ split apart cut in half to make them fit, get somewhere that knows how to do them well, are your cab doors good ? Ps I have some genuine arches in classifieds
What @davidoft said. I always quote 3 days to do both arches, and all the surrounding areas. And I usually end up taking longer, and wishing I had quoted more Once you get a wheel arch off, even if it didn't look too bad to start with, you can guarantee you will need to do a shed load of repairs before you can think about fitting the arch.
I was quoted £950 for both front arches replaced and painted. Looked great when they came back. But then I drove off with my wheel clamp still on (“*#@&*!”) and the chunk that came off the paint revealed...filler. B’stards has just welded the existing arches then bodged the rest. Claimed that when the quote said ‘replace front arches’ that’s what they did. On the bright side, no rust has reappeared!
It was an ideal world senario which is never the case on the piles of crap.. I did mention that prep and paint would be extra and more still if the tubs / door posts needed repaired . Oh and zero scene tax. Price could easy double and some .. based on 10 hours per side at £30 per hour .. then add additional hours for secondary repairs ..
And do you travel to woking... My cab doors are apparently in excellent condition. So probably riddled with rust.
Well Jules - I should’ve read your post on Friday, as I went through Chesterfield yesterday to the Peaks. If Andy is still around, I would be grateful for his details please. Many thanks, Phil
3 days is fair for both sides assuming minimal A/B pillar, cab floor and front wheel housing repairs. Plus paint obvs
