Help, Body shop charges: Seem right ?

[nick68]

I found a body man. He will do the skim coats, sand smooth, epoxy prime, filler prime,sealer and topcoat with base coat /clear coat and buff. He wants $12,500  @ 75.00 a hour.  Does this seems average ?

I need to sand to bare metal and yank the engine. Seems kinda hign but, what do I know.  What do you all think

[dutch]

that is a lot of money per hour... 

[Moparal]

Is he pulling the engine and sanding it all to bare metal?  Is he doing a rotissery or just the fenders on up? How about inside the car?   No metal replacement?

[73Chally]

Where are you located?  Some shops charge $50/hr, others $100/hr.  Does that also include a wet sand after paint?  All things considered it's not an outrageous price.  I've seen higher and I've seen lower.  Have you seen their work before?  What materials do they use?  Lots of factors go into that price.  Have you gotten quotes from other shops?  The bottom line is, if you can't find a lower price, then you either have to do it yourself, or pay their price.

[torredcuda]

Seems way high to me but rates vary depending on where you live.A local Mopar shop I know charges $45/hr and does great work.If you figure $3500 for materials(on the high side IMO) then he has 120 hrs labor.

[E-Body Products]

If he is just priming and blocking and painting, this seems high.  If it is complete metal work and resto, go for it.

Daniel

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Seems high too me , somewhere around $50(ish) sounds about right....

[73Chally]

The shop rate is what it is.  As mentioned before, that will vary greatly depending on location.  You're not going to change that unless you find a cheaper shop.  The main question is what is he getting for the $12K?

[nick68]

let me see if I can break down the charges.

Paint and materials : 1846.00
The following hours include body filler, sanding smooth and then epoxy prime, then fill rpimer, then sealer, then base/coat clear cota, and buffing of entire car.

hood 3 hrs.
front fenders 6
doors 12
1/4's 6
deck lid 3
tail panel 2
dutchman 1
remove and re-mount doors, fenders etc. 15
epoxy prime 10
filler prime 25
sealer 8
basecoat/clear coat 28
buffing 24

He is not painting underside, but he is painting interior trunk, jambs ect.

Work I am doing is sanding  down to bare metal entire car except undercarriage. This will include engine bay after I pull engine.

I am located In Delaware

[73Chally]

I can't vouch for the specific hours, but the guy did a really good job of breaking everything out for you.  Have you gotten any other prices, or is this the only shop that you are familiar with?

[Bullitt-]

First off get some references for similar jobs he's done, check them out. 
Always get a signed contract as to what work for what money is to be done & get a delivery date...I've read to many sob stories of cost over runs & these things taking years to complete or never complete.

 Anywhere near NE Ohio?   Give fishin a shot http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=60025.0    I've seen his work & you can't beat it. 

[nick68]

The guy had a couple of projects going. One was a 67 charger that he painted and was assembling for a customer. It looked very good. he has a nice spray booth and his own computer paint mixing sytem. Don;t know what it is called , but he had racks of paints cans that all got stirred with a flip of a switch.

he seems capable, just the price kinda floored me. I asked if i could help cut costs by doing the body work myself , but he said no, he wanted bare metal, Can't really blame him tho'

[ChallengerGary]

That's Tony - He did the Cuda Guy Project.  Read that thread and I am sure you will see he's worth it...

[E-Body Products]

Are you referencing Tony Angelino of T/A?  If you are, I know why it is at this price.  Their was a yellow AAR at a meet this spring that he did.  He had it on display prior to assembly and it was perfect...

[nick68]

Not Tony, But I will look him up, thnx