Welding

[muzzy]

How much would it roughly cost for a bodyshop to weld arch repair panels and new sills on?

On the other hand how hard is it to do the above at home, i can weld but ive only ever had to do smaller jobs as it was a garage i worked at as opposed to a bodyshop!

[bmw156]

well i got told about 35 for a small patch about the size of a tennis ball, just one size

but just phone up and ask

[muzzy]

im sure ive heard something like £600 for a full rear quarter either side not including paint before, but i've possibly made that up.

[AlexW]

Best way is to make 3calls, each to differant body shops, gives u an average, dont be shy and just ask them. As for welding at home, im presuming you can weld already and have a welder?

[bmw156]

yeh i say just phoned, if your shy whats the worst that can happen

ring ring
hey how much would it cost to weld blah blah onto a nova blah blah

come with price

ok thanks ill think about it byeeeeeeeeeeee
or choke at the price and hang up
:thumb:

[muzzy]

Best way is to make 3calls, each to differant body shops, gives u an average, dont be shy and just ask them. As for welding at home, im presuming you can weld already and have a welder?

Yeh i can weld to MOT standard and ive got a decent welder.

Would prefer to do it myself but on the other hand dont want to get out of my depth.

[bmw156]

i would say go for it lad, just work methodically and slowely and you seem as if you have you rhead screwed on. what about do one, like the sill that your not going to notice much and then if you **** it up you know to go to the garage lol

[Welsh Dan]

ade taught himself to weld, then a few months later did a good job at replacing the arches on his daily driver, so if you're already able to weld you don't stand to lose much by trying yourself.

[muzzy]

Just thought that i have a spare shell and with the price of sills not being that much i could just practice on that and if it ends up terrible put the other one on a trailer to the bodyshop lol

[andymac]

if your planning on welding sills and they need welded up the rear quarters get the pros to do it as if you use the wrong heat in the welds it can warp the rear quarters and they will need all replacing. this coming from someone having welding experience. if you need it done in places that arent seen do it yourself and save a few boob the welds dont need to look pretty just solid and strong enough to pass the mot.:thumb:

[muzzy]

My welds are neat but ive only ever done seam welding and MOT patching, never done body work and the fact that it is so easy to warp that was worrying me.

The sills arent definetly needing replaced but its just in case, arches definetly need done but ill give the bodyshops a ring on Monday to try get some prices for the work, although ive been told alot of the bodyshops around here arent interested in that type of work as they are all into insurance jobs.
One place even told someone to "buy a newer car"

[brainsnova]

go for it mate and do it yourself sills are easy and arches just need proper allignment and the weld usaully pulls the metal in so you can fill it back to where it should be :thumb:

[muzzy]

Ill just have to call the bodyshops find out prices and start practicing, if the practicing goes bad ill just have to bite the bullet and stick it in to get done professionally

[andymac]

Ill just have to call the bodyshops find out prices and start practicing, if the practicing goes bad ill just have to bite the bullet and stick it in to get done professionally

what i would do is weld the sills your self and get the body shops to weld around where the panels need done cause it wont be a big job for them and take little time and will save you a few bob in the mean time. you get best of both

[rallycraig]

its not hard to do, i taught myself to weld nearly 15 years ago, (on a nova!) over the years i've done sills, arches, quarters, turrets, inner wings, roof skins, plus built 4 nova rally cars, restored a talbot sunbeam, a mk2 escort and looking to start my mk1 escort soon. The easist way to weld the sill is to plug weld it (simular to spot welding, unless you have access to a spot welder?) when the old sill is removed and all areas cleaned up, drill the sill lips about every inch or so, clamp it to the car, and basicly weld through the holes, then when done you can grind off any untidy spots. same applies to the arch repair panel, to get a flush fit with the rest of the panel, the repair panel will need joggling so it sits behind the quarter. drill the quarter panel and weld through each hole
http://www.toolsbypost.com/product.php?id=3792&category=602&tools_session=9c4d138d6298f7c65f4ab5ffba360e02
if you were local to derby i would prob charge around £350 to remove and fit the panels (providing no other repair work was needed) dont include paint or filling though.

[marc08]

i will do them for 70 quid

[scoobynova]

weld it yourself mate im a panel beater try to limit distortion n the quarter panels by welding say an inch then let it cool down and weld else where an inch this should reduce distortion just take your time practice on an old scrap piece

[muzzy]

I got a quote through a mate who works at a bodyshop here and he said they would be after £370 + VAT per side for the arches, not sure if thats a good price as i will be phoning around another few tomorrow.

Would like to do it myself so im going to have a practice on my spare shell before it goes away to scrap and see how it turns out