Frame disassemble appraisal
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
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From: charlotte N.C
Frame disassemble appraisal
The past three days I have spent lifting a body 77 vette. Finally got everything disconnected and the owner should be coming out Sunday to pick it up. 
Now he wants me to do frame and suspension work on it. I have three vettes of my own so my time is hard to come by plus school, clubs, and sports also take up a lot of time. I don't want to take on someone else’s project but money is necessity for my own cars. So instead of doing all of the work, I thought I would just remove everything on the frame including engine until it is down to the bare frame. From there I would give him back the parts for him to have it sand blasted then reassembled. How much should I charge to disassemble the frame?
Now he wants me to do frame and suspension work on it. I have three vettes of my own so my time is hard to come by plus school, clubs, and sports also take up a lot of time. I don't want to take on someone else’s project but money is necessity for my own cars. So instead of doing all of the work, I thought I would just remove everything on the frame including engine until it is down to the bare frame. From there I would give him back the parts for him to have it sand blasted then reassembled. How much should I charge to disassemble the frame?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Midlothian VA
Race Director
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From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: charlotte N.C
See the way I work is I earn more money if I charge per job. For exaple if I would have charge $20 an hour for lifting the body I would have only ended up with $280 because it only took 14 hours. Instead of doing hourly I charge per job and got $750 for lifting the body. So what do you think would be a good flat fee for the job?
So what do you think would be a good flat fee for the job?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
For exaple if I would have charge $20 an hour
I was charging $20. hr 10 years ago and was still losing money in the big picture when you consider it eats up ALL your spare time. If he wants it done he will pay.
Have him compare prices if he balks
As above I would do T&M, you never know what you will run into on a 30+ year old car...keep a log of your hrs and what was done.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: charlotte N.C
Well then lifting the body would be almost $54 an hour. No one you knowingly pay that for a 17 year old kid to work on their car. I know what I am doing since I have done this one my 68 but I am not even close to being at the professionally level/pay. If no one knows a flat fee, than how many hours do you think it will take? I don't completely remember how hours it took me.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
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From: North Easton Mass
See the way I work is I earn more money if I charge per job. For exaple if I would have charge $20 an hour for lifting the body I would have only ended up with $280 because it only took 14 hours. Instead of doing hourly I charge per job and got $750 for lifting the body. So what do you think would be a good flat fee for the job?
So what do you think would be a good flat fee for the job?
Rick B.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
From: Dunellen New Jersey
Helicopter.lol.I just dissasembled my frame and almost everybolt was a challenge and I got tools.Charge by the hour as someone noted,you'll never know what you'll get into.Keep his number when he wants to sell all his parts when he gets disinterested.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 297
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Corvette disassembly
Sorry to change the subject, but what kind of aircraft is shown hanging from the ceiling in the photo? It looks like a Piper Cub maybe. I fly a ultralite aircraft near Charlotte and one of my friends has 4 Piper Cubs.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
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From: charlotte N.C
That’s pretty good how you can tell that by only seeing the wheels. It is a 1943 J-3 cub that my dad is putting together. We own a hanger down in rock hill where I am training for my solo in our friend’s super cub. Insurance won't let me fly the super cub for my solo so I am going to have to rent a nose dragger. What type of ultra light do you have?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: Racine Wisconsin
The J3 landing gear are one of a kind. Teenager or not, you obviously have skills (body lift, pilot, etc.) that should be appropriately compensated. Good luck with your solo and the C3 project. C3's and airplanes, can life get any better?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
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From: charlotte N.C
Thanks 7T3C3TTZ07
I would like to say that everything I know I have learned by myself but really everything I know is credited to my father. He is teaching me how to fly. Without his knowlege, tools, and hanger I would never be near corvettes and aviation. Life can't get better than this.
I would like to say that everything I know I have learned by myself but really everything I know is credited to my father. He is teaching me how to fly. Without his knowlege, tools, and hanger I would never be near corvettes and aviation. Life can't get better than this.