Cost to remove Strosek rockers

[lsf911]

I have an 83 SC that a previous owner took good care of (27 years) but he did a few things I would like to change eventually.

One of those things is removing the Strosek rocker panels. Unfortunately, putting those on required cutting a small section of the front rear quarter panel out. The part that has the torsion bar holes. I have acquired some new pieces of sheet metal to replace these. But of course they need to be welded in.

My questions are:

1) Can a body shop blend in the paint across the bottom of my car if the panels are removed? I really don't want to paint the entire car (it doesn't need it), just the bottom section to match.

2) Any idea what a reputable body shop would charge to do this type of job?

I just would like a "guesstimate" on what I would need to save up to get this job done. I don't want to take it to a shop and be shocked and not prepared to financially do it.

A picture to see what I am talking about.

Thanks!

[David McLaughlin]

Can it be blended? Yes but the entire quarter will probably get new clear. Price? No clue really but I wouldn't be suprised with a few thousand per side.

[lsf911]

Yikes! That seems pricey.

Thanks for the response.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by lsf911

Yikes! That seems pricey.

Thanks for the response.

They should start looking better any time now

[lsf911]

Yes, now that you mention it, they are looking better!

Seriously, do you agree with David's price estimate? I am not doubting him but hoping he is on the high side.

[JJ 911SC]

You should ask on the Paint & Bodywork Discussion Forum - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

My only experience was back in 2006, I needed a paint/blend in for a rear quarter panel on my Odyssey that I scratch within a month of getting the van.
No body work involved and it cost me 1K. So throw in the "Porsche" factor and it won't be cheap.

Remember that you don't see those rocker when you drive

[962porsche]

question 1 : you would not be paint the hole car you would have to paint the QTR's , doors and the fenders .
after the body work is done and primed the color gets blended out then the entire panels get cleared .

question 2 : i have said this time after time shop labor rates differ from not just shop to shop but state to state and even the areas in the state . take CT in the north part of the state the insurance CO's pay about 5 dollars less then they do down in the south part of the state . the reason is cost of over head to run a shop .
dave's price is just about right for the area he is in mass. and for the run of the mill car like a honda . now because it's a porsche and you will pice the car apart after it's finished all customers pay more for that then add in the fact it's a dark color car and the year . your really looking at some were in the 12K plus range to do the body and paint work on the two sides of the car .
if you think is alot no not at all the labor hours and material cost for top grade products will be in the 2K range . then i'm sure you want the parts taken off the car like the belt molding door handle , tail lamps ,head lamps , remove and listall the QTR glass , R and I the bumpers , then R and I the engine lid , the wing is in the way to do a proper job the spray the QTR's and the rest of the trim from the sides .
then again there is the types of shops that would be more than happy to mask off every thing and save you a **** load of money but you get what you pay for . hell some think macco paint jobs are just fine for there cars . but there are reasons why places like macco do jobs for the price they do . then there are the shops that will just cut the wires for you door mirrors if your happy with that type of work there are many shops that will do that type of work for you at good prices .



question #3

[lsf911]

962porsche,

The procedure you describe is not blending to me. That's a total repaint of the two sides of the car. I can see where that will cost lots of dollars.

I was hoping that "blending" meant that new paint could be blended up the sides but not even up to the door handles. If that could be done, it really isn't much paint and there is no removal of any parts.

[962porsche]

the last thing you want is to blend the clear coat down the hole sides of a black car . 1 how long will a blend of that last ? if you ever buff the car years for now you will end up buffing off the blend then you will see the bug ass blend lines down the sides of the car . 2 the headeach of doing a blend like that is not in any way worth it on a black car .
you do the job once and do it right the 1st time .
in my old shops we never did any blends we always cleared the hole panel . the reason is year from now who is the one that will have to pay again to repair it the right way ?
you the car owner or me the shop owner ? a top coat blend will always come back . ALWAYS even if it's 10 years later it will come back .
then by the time the new panel is welded in and the body work is done and primed and you then sand seal and base it out your 1/2 way up the side of the panel any way . no one in there right mind will ever do a blend down two sides of a car 1/2 way up the panels on a dark colored car .

[lsf911]

Thanks for your input 962porsche.

You are correct, if I can't do it right, I should just leave it alone.

I was hoping it wasn't so involved because I really wanted to remove the rocker panels.

[lsf911]

Finally got the strosek rockers removed by a local restoration shop this week. I am very happy with the results. He did a good job.

I left the rocker holes along the bottom just in case I wanted to put the original rocker panels back on, but i like it without it at the moment. Can anyone tell me what they used to plug these holes?