well I just got told today that pretty much the whole passenger side floor pan needs replacing as its got three large rust spots. to me they look like long rusty cracks rather than big round holes, prob around 8-10 inches long. I was quoted 800 bucks, does this sound fair???

yes - ish

A couple of 10" cracks will soon drop a seat on the ground
Definitely time to get it fixed

The biggest problem i see is low quality floor pans
The new ones are thin compared to decent german ones

Biggest problem i have had is the pathetic welds they do on the seat runners
Ask them to seam weld them down

I have torn a seat off with a lazy 1600 accelerating

Also once it is finished give it a soaking in rust proof paint on the top and thick sound deadner pain on the bottom

Doesnt take muck of a stone throw to get rust going on a new pan

you dont know any welders near you who could do a ccash job for lot less, or you get a grinder and a few cutting discs and cut out the crap if you only want anice job and not a sshow winning inish after you have cut out the rot go to a wrecker and get an old bonnet and cut out the bits you need than find a exhaust guy and ask him if he would do a cash job off the books
good luck and remember cash talks

yes I do know a welder but he hasn't welded cars before, will this matter or is all welding pretty standard?? it doesnt have to look wonderful as long as its strong and done properly, people dont usually look under my car he he.

As i said - the new pans are pretty thin and it is easy to blow pretty big holes in the new pan

It sounds fair for a good job. Don't be too dissapointed if it is found that the metal the new replacement pan has to weld to has rust holes too.

I will tell you a story for what it is worth,

I had a Mercedes a few years ago that needed a few rust spots around the bonnet, boot and roof fixing and a respray.

I was quoted between $3000 and $8500 to fix the job, from 4 different workshops, I went with the workshop that was able to show me 2 other cars in pictures they had repaired, rust proofed, cut and wielded etc...

The point of my story is you need to go on experience from the shop, if you don't know them from a bar of soap you need to see what they have done beforehand, be confidence they are not just taking you for a ride, are going to do a proper job and fix the job first time.


There are too many cowboys out there that shouldn't be allowed near cars.


Make sure you are not dealing with one.

one of the benefits of being a part of a car club is you can talk to people, get feedback from others, who have had good and bad experiences with workshops, body shops etc..

where abouts are you??

if you know a welder ask him for an idea of costs and when you cut out the old cut a bigger hole than you think you need because the welding for a bit is pretty much the same as for a big bit good luck

thanks for all your advice guys, its a big help, i am worried bout being taken for a ride because thats why my car is in this shape now, i spent 10k on it a few years ago and was taken for a ride by a cowboy and now my poor car seems to be falling apart.

ive even thought bout just getting rid of the car but it would break my heart to after all the hard work I have put into it over the years.

I will make sure I do my homework and ask to see stuff they have already done.

Im south of the city, at st marys (near edwardstown).