Just thought I'd post a quick self help body work cost breakdown
for the folks out there deciding how to go with their project.
I started bodywork last spring and just came into check my E
mail, after wetsanding for several hours. One more coat of
primer is next, then the color coat, so time wise I am almost
done. It has taken about 200 hours of my part-time-weather
no-good-for-fishing efforts to get this far, over the course of
about 8 months. This is with the help of an air cut off tool,
and an air long board sander. My car, although a California
car and not that rusty, had all manor of dings and dents,
needed a new used hood, and considerable porta-power
hydraulic help (yea, I have one of those also) to make the
rear valance panel, and one of the front hood mounts return
to their normal positions.
Costs include:
2 gallons of fiberglass resin, several yards
of cloth, and many disposable paintbrushes: 80.00
POR 15, one quart 40.00
1 gallon bondo 12.00
many, many 36 grit long board sandpapers 20.00
wet sandpaper, 320, 360, and 400 grit 15.00
2 quarts of Dupont red oxide primer 44.00
2 gallons of Dupont thinner 28.00
1quart and a pint of Dupont red acrylic enamel 90.00
total: 329.00
(costs are approximate)
This amount of body work, and effort would probably cost
2 or 3K if done by a resonably competant body shop.
And does resonably competant describe my finished product?
Well, that is still to be seen, but I sure hope so.
I know who to take it back to and bitch at if its got flaws!
My goal is to match the quality and color of the original product.
Next is chrome getting re-chromed, and the interior kit,
so there is a long way to go with this. I am fortunate to
have a great engine, new tires, new top,
and the remainder of the drivetrain
and mechanical bits and pieces in resonable shape,
or I would never have started this thing.
The list has been the greatest solver of problems,
combined with the suppliers and others
(whom I got in contact with thru the list)
Just like to say thanks, so far
Jim
1967 pushrod 2L/5 spd
Chesapeake Va
|