# Am I getting screwed on price? **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [May 3, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974 "2011-05-03T15:30:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatecrasher3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gatecrasher3/32/5617_2.png) [@Gatecrasher3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gatecrasher3)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/1 "2011-05-03T15:30:37Z")
So I need to get some patch panels welded on my s13s frame rails, so my mechanic recommended I talk to the guy he uses for his frame/weld repairs. I talked to the guy on the phone, he seemed legit and he asked me to email some pics of my rails and the patch panels. I did, and he quoted me for $200 for each side, and that is after I agreed I would clean the area and get it ready to be welded. Is this price high, or is this just what it costs to have proper work done? ---
**Author:** ![S13counterpart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@S13counterpart](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/S13counterpart)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/2 "2011-05-03T16:30:45Z")
No you’re not getting screwed. Unless he can’t weld worth shit… It’s about what I would charge… ---
**Author:** ![odrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@odrum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/odrum)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/3 "2011-05-03T18:05:40Z")
If you know anyone that welds you could order these and buy your friend beer/dinner in exchange for his talents? [http://www.xcessivemanufacturing.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=172&step=4](http://www.xcessivemanufacturing.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=172&step=4) ---
**Author:** ![Gatecrasher3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gatecrasher3/32/5617_2.png) [@Gatecrasher3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gatecrasher3)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/4 "2011-05-04T06:02:46Z")
^ yaa those were the ones I am getting, pulling the trigger today. Some shops I contacted suggest I contact a fabricating shop and have then create new rails instead of buying the patch panels for $200 + shipping. Good idea? Thanks for the input. ---
**Author:** ![Markd1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Markd1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Markd1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/5 "2011-05-04T13:31:25Z")
yes go to a metal fab shop for sure, you will only spend about $100 for both sides… but you will have to make them a template out of cardboard with measurements… thats what I did and then bought a welder and taught my self … about $750 later I have a welder and know how to weld… oh and my rails are mint because I did em myself and cared about how good the job was plus I patched up some other places that needed attention… oh and when my exhaust hanger broke I fixed that too! moral: buy tools and learn how to do your own work and it will usually turn out better because you probably care more about the quality of the job. ---
**Author:** ![Gatecrasher3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gatecrasher3/32/5617_2.png) [@Gatecrasher3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gatecrasher3)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/6 "2011-05-04T13:40:23Z")
> [@Markd1](#): > > yes go to a metal fab shop for sure, you will only spend about $100 for both sides… but you will have to make them a template out of cardboard with measurements… > > thats what I did and then bought a welder and taught my self … about $750 later I have a welder and know how to weld… oh and my rails are mint because I did em myself and cared about how good the job was plus I patched up some other places that needed attention… oh and when my exhaust hanger broke I fixed that too! > > moral: buy tools and learn how to do your own work and it will usually turn out better because you probably care more about the quality of the job. good point ---
**Author:** ![Singh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@Singh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Singh)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/7 "2011-05-04T20:20:33Z")
> [@Markd1](#): > > yes go to a metal fab shop for sure, you will only spend about $100 for both sides… but you will have to make them a template out of cardboard with measurements… > > thats what I did and then bought a welder and taught my self … about $750 later I have a welder and know how to weld… oh and my rails are mint because I did em myself and cared about how good the job was plus I patched up some other places that needed attention… oh and when my exhaust hanger broke I fixed that too! > > moral: buy tools and learn how to do your own work and it will usually turn out better because you probably care more about the quality of the job. +1, it is pretty much what i live by. A lot of mechanics out there can’t be trusted. Plus these cars are old, with the amount of repairs and maintenance cost involved, its usually cheaper in the long run if you learn how to do it your self, and you buy all the necessary tools and learn how to use them correctly. ---
**Author:** ![S13counterpart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@S13counterpart](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/S13counterpart)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/8 "2011-05-05T05:12:15Z")
Buy a welder and your suddenly a welder!!! Wow!!! So if I buy a defibrillator, does that mean I’m a paramedic yo? ---
**Author:** ![Luis240sx](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luis240sx/32/5530_2.png) [@Luis240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Luis240sx)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/9 "2011-05-05T05:39:39Z")
according to these ppls logic i guess that doest, doesnt it 😉 lol ---
**Author:** ![240racer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/240racer/32/5682_2.png) [@240racer](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/240racer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/10 "2011-05-05T05:41:03Z")
^ You would obviously have to practice, and thick steal like frame rails is an easy weld. I am in no way a pro welder, but I did work at a metal shop one summer, and stuff like that isnt rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![blackmagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@blackmagic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blackmagic)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/11 "2011-05-05T07:16:21Z")
thick metel is easier to weld, thick to thin as in this case is not, and overhead…definately not for beginners ---
**Author:** ![m\_wolfenden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@m\_wolfenden](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/m_wolfenden)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 8:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/12 "2011-05-05T08:25:04Z")
fill frame rails with spray foam…shave…cover with tar…DONE ---
**Author:** ![blackmagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@blackmagic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blackmagic)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 9:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/13 "2011-05-05T09:33:59Z")
> [@m\_wolfenden](#): > > fill frame rails with spray foam…shave…cover with tar…DONE one of the stupidest things ever said (except for the DONE part because that’s what you would be if you ever crashed) ---
**Author:** ![Gatecrasher3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gatecrasher3/32/5617_2.png) [@Gatecrasher3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gatecrasher3)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/14 "2011-05-05T13:23:18Z")
I already ordered the patch panel so that is done. The guy in Oregon whose selling the patch panels said that Ontario is where half of his orders come from, got rust? Once they are installed i will put up some pics. ---
**Author:** ![Maverick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Maverick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Maverick)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/15 "2011-05-05T18:35:24Z")
To those who say just buy a welder and go at it two things… A) I hope you are practicing cause unlike a mechanic who goes through training in this kinda stuff and who has to pass tests and exams before they are licensed, you guys are beginners and are putting your life in your own hands as soon as you pick up that whip. B) Mechanics only do shotty jobs for 3 reasons (mainly). No time and underpaid, assholes by nature, not enough experience. To solve this, take it to somebody who knows what they are doing, give them enough time to get it done at a pace that they can work comfortably at, and pay them what it is worth to you. You pay 150 for frame repair, you get 150 repaired. You pay 400, you get 400. I’m not flaming just saying its not all black and white as some are trying to say. But i would definitely suggest grabbin a welder and messing around with it if you have time and money. Good experience and loads of fun. Just remember that the work you do is your responsibility to do it right or you are dead. ---
**Author:** ![m\_wolfenden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@m\_wolfenden](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/m_wolfenden)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/16 "2011-05-05T19:14:54Z")
in all seriousness though dont the rockers do a lot more than the frames in 240’s… and i actually did write off a 240 with spray foamed rail essentially and the brand new bmw was in worse shape than me ---
**Author:** ![d1kingz1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/d1kingz1/32/5607_2.png) [@d1kingz1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/d1kingz1)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/17 "2011-05-05T19:38:07Z")
Learning to weld isn’t mandatory to become a licensed mechanic. If a mechanic can weld it’s because he/she took it upon them self to learn. ---
**Author:** ![jugahdor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jugahdor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jugahdor)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/18 "2011-05-15T10:18:12Z")
hey did you end up getting that frame/??? how long did/would it take to come in?? ---
**Author:** ![Wongger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/41988e/32.png) [@Wongger](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Wongger)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/19 "2011-05-15T14:33:14Z")
> [@Maverick](#): > > You pay 150 for frame repair, you get 150 repaired. You pay 400, you get 400. I dont think this is true. People whos work is cheap (as in money) are not always terrible. Same goes with high prices, its not always the best. ---
**Author:** ![Maverick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Maverick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Maverick)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974/20 "2011-05-15T16:10:08Z")
^^ was just a general rule of thumb. I only charge peanuts for family when i charge full price for customers with the same work. I’ve just found that if you pay well and don’t hassle the guy, you usually get a good job done. 'Cept those fuckin crooks out there. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/am-i-getting-screwed-on-price/211974.md?page=2)