holden7896

Does anyone have an idea I what it would cost to have someone do a body off restoration on the frame?

MakoShark72

Not sure what you are asking...?

"Body off" restoration means removing the body from the frame, yet you ask "body off restoration on the frame"???

OR...

Do you mean having someone remove the body and having that someone restore "the frame"??

Very confusing...

holden7896

I mean taking the body off and restoring the frame

sweeet76

I don't know what a resto would run, I guess depending on what needs to be repaired but I guess an unexpected expense would be the fact it would take up two car stalls because of the car being in 2 seperate areas. Most shop owners I know are always complaining about lack of space.

holden7896

I just wanna take care of the surface rust and make the frame look new again

jesse10886

ball park guess $7-12k you are talking about removing the body cutting,torching,welding,sandbalsting, painting, repairing a 30-40 year old frame then remounting the body to it most likely have to remove the engine trans diff ect very expensive to have someone else do it

Alan 71

Hi h,
I think most people who would go through the work of removing the body and making the frame "look new again", would also restore the running gear at the same time.
A serious, labor intensive, $$$, undertaking.
Regards
Alan

BBCorv70

I've seen a rolling chassis at a local Corvette shop, frame sandblasted, a skim coat of filler applied to take up the pits, etc. Shop owner told me the fellow had over $20K into it. No body in sight, this was just the chassis....

holden7896

I'd probably drop a new engine in too

BBCorv70

new engine? Do you have the original? Curious... Sounds like a lot of money to invest in restoration if it's a NOM.

Easy Mike

Do you need a new engine? Why not rebuild what you have?

Do you have access to a sandblaster? You could clean up your own frame with the body on and save a lot of money.

79L48

If I separated the frame from the body and brought it to my local sandblaster and powder coater, he said between 500 and 700 bucks to blast and coat it. This makes broad assumptions about the condition of the frame and therefore the likelihood of unforeseen problems. He just did my wheels and they look great, so I consider his work high quality.

Indiancreek

If you aren't going to do any of the work yourself, it will be expensive. I'd guess most of the folks doing it are doing the majority of the work. Ask Willcox, he'd have an idea. While apart I'd deal with the trailing arms, half shafts, brakes, front suspention and whatever cooling and engine mods you like.

RobRace10

Don't forget the fuel and hard brake lines while you have the body off.

Zoix

Do it yourself. Like this $$$$$$$$$$$$
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holden7896

I don't have a sandblaster. I can do some of it with the frame on? And i do have the original engine but converted it from crossfire injection to carbureted. And I don't NEED a new engine but I want more horse power.

brent319

I tore my car down and got the frame sandblasted and powdercoated for about $350. It is a lot of work and you will spend way more then that because once you have it apart, you will start to fix/replace everything. While you have the body off.... you might as well..._____
Good luck,
-brent

Easy Mike

Yes. Quite a lot, actually.

Sunstroked

To have someone do it for you would probably be real pricey. A friend had a corvette shop do some work on his C2 and was charged $77 per hr. it involved lifting the body to re shim it, and a 4 wheel alignment total was $1400.
And I would venture to say most shops will charge by the hr as well.
I'm in the final stage of my frame detail. I have about $800 in powdercoat, and another $3k in suspension, trans and diff overhaul. Every nut and bolt, line, bearing and seal has been replaced or refurbished. Engine was another $5k (overhauled the original engine, and doubled the hp.)and I'm still not done buying accessories.
My labor is free. What I'm getting at is it better be a special car to pay somebody to do the work.

Grumpy 427

I did mine myself, took the body off the frame. did everything except paint. Cost me $24K on top of what i paid for the car.