$200 to weld in sub frame connectors?!?!?!

[12secondv6]

:axe:

So, I have the 96 Trans Am and it is sad.
I got UMI boxed sub frame connectors for Xmas.

Genie was off today and offered to take the T/A to get the sub frames installed. I called a local place and they quoted me $200?!?!?!?!

BS!!!

Anyone wanna install them for me? :wink:

[68pont455]

i know money is tight but that probably is not a bad price. most shops charge 60.00 to 80.00 hour labor now or maybe even a little more. there is a shop i have gone to and they charge 75.00 hour whether it is to weld a chassis or cut a sheet of aluminum. labor is expensive anywhere.

[12secondv6]

Really?
Damn.

When I got them installed on the bird, I also had a ran tech tq arm, poly tq arm mount, poly tranny mount and hall front shocks installed and I paid about $250.... granted.... this was several years ago.....

[GP99GT]

same place james? im gonna assume you called stage 1 but i dont know

[12secondv6]

Yup, i was shocked

[deadtrend1]

Figure any competent shop with a lift could do it. I did both my 96 and 86, but certain members seen the method I used on the 3rd gen to get it in the air.... LOL.

[firehawk1120]

Yeah but that was for v6 parts.... LMAO...:moon:


Really?
Damn.

When I got them installed on the bird, I also had a ran tech tq arm, poly tq arm mount, poly tranny mount and hall front shocks installed and I paid about $250.... granted.... this was several years ago.....

[Predator86]

Figure any competent shop with a lift could do it. I did both my 96 and 86, but certain members seen the method I used on the 3rd gen to get it in the air.... LOL.

would u mind sharing that method please:wink:

[deadtrend1]

would u mind sharing that method please:wink:

It involved 2 forklifts ... that is all .. :)

[Mike]

mufflex charged me i think 90 bucks for mine, they were doing other stuff too, but the itemized part of the bill said 85 or 90 for the subframes....

[Kat]

:eek: I welded the Spohn SFC's in my fathers 2000 Z28 in about an hour. I could see 200 for a thridgen, but not a 4th based off of their design.

[procamaroz28]

should be under 100 to weld in sfc

[WildBillyT]

Don't LT1 fuel lines run along the channel you install the SFC's in? Wouldn't that add to the price over a V6 or LS1 install?

[EchoMirage]

i wouldnt trust stage 1 anymore. they did such a horrible job on my headers, ill never go to them again. ESPECIALLY for welding. both O2 bungs they welded leak like sives. a 5yo with a stinger could have welded these better. not to mention they 'forgot' a band clamp...so that part also leaks.

[deadtrend1]

Don't LT1 fuel lines run along the channel you install the SFC's in? Wouldn't that add to the price over a V6 or LS1 install?

yea, I took rags, soaked them in water and put them around the lines near where i was welding, and kept switching them to keep the heat off the lines

[98tadriver]

bahhhh just return em and get bolt in SFCs for now, then weld them in the future. i had my bolt ins on the car for 2 years and they never came loose :) and this is me we're talking about

[deadtrend1]

......... and this is me we're talking about

hes got a point. At times I don't like this guy but hes got a point .... :mrgreen:

[Blacdout96]

I bought the bolt ins for my car, havent hada problem yet, and its nice incase I have to change up something, plus jsut like ron said, you an weld them in later down the line if you wish to.

[Featherburner]

i had my bolt ins on the car for 2 years and they never came loose :) and this is me we're talking aboutYeah...but if you baby a car the way you do, they'll never come loose.:rofl:

[JSPERFORMANCE]

I charge $180 to install 4th gen 2 point connectors. This includes, prepping and painting the surrounding floor. At my labor rate it equals 3 hours labor.. To do the job correctly it takes that long. The electric and rent has to get paid some how..

[JohnG]

$90 at Mufflex for me too...

prepping and painting the surrounding floor ? LOL !

no one cares what the underbody looks like, as it will get covered in road grime soon enough.

[maroman88]

$90 at Mufflex for me too...

prepping and painting the surrounding floor ? LOL !

no one cares what the underbody looks like, as it will get covered in road grime soon enough.

i care, all this road salt on exposed metal underneath a car is asking for rot, ask me how i know?

[Savage_Messiah]

i care, all this road salt on exposed metal underneath a car is asking for rot, ask me how i know?


.........

How do you know???

[JohnG]

i care, all this road salt on exposed metal underneath a car is asking for rot, ask me how i know?

then you'd have to "prep & paint" the entire underbody, not just where the SFC's were welded in...

[Teds89IROC]

then you'd have to "prep & paint" the entire underbody, not just where the SFC's were welded in...


when you weld you have to grind down the surrounding areas to bare metal then after it's welded you have to paint the exposed metal so it doesn't rust.

[misterjuice]

I'll gorilla glue it on for you for 20 bucks.

[Frosty]

when you weld you have to grind down the surrounding areas to bare metal then after it's welded you have to paint the exposed metal so it doesn't rust.

What he said.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

$90 at Mufflex for me too...

prepping and painting the surrounding floor ? LOL !

no one cares what the underbody looks like, as it will get covered in road grime soon enough.


I guess you only brush your four front teeth since noone ever sees the rest..

There is a difference between a job done, and a job done right.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

when you weld you have to grind down the surrounding areas to bare metal then after it's welded you have to paint the exposed metal so it doesn't rust.

To cover up the welds would be the bare minimum in my opinion.

I usually go a little bit further and paint the area of the floor that is above the connector and about 1' away from the connector itself.

[sinistr]

why not just spend a little more , and buy a decent welder .. just an opinion . i would much rather buy the tools and do it myself , you get more personal gratification out of being able to do it myself. and if you need to weld other stuff down the road you can handle it yourself ..

[Saitin]

why not just spend a little more , and buy a decent welder .. just an opinion . i would much rather buy the tools and do it myself , you get more personal gratification out of being able to do it myself. and if you need to weld other stuff down the road you can handle it yourself ..

I agree but some people don't have
A. room or
B. a place to do it at hence me in an apartment doing all my work at a buddies place.

[WildBillyT]

why not just spend a little more , and buy a decent welder .. just an opinion . i would much rather buy the tools and do it myself , you get more personal gratification out of being able to do it myself. and if you need to weld other stuff down the road you can handle it yourself ..

Someone more experinced can chime in, but:

Depending on the thickness of the connector you will only get full penetration with a 220v 30A welder. The 115V little guys you see at home depot will have a tough time with thick stuff.

[Kat]

Someone more experinced can chime in, but:

Depending on the thickness of the connector you will only get full penetration with a 220v 30A welder. The 115V little guys you see at home depot will have a tough time with thick stuff.

Not really... I have this.. Click here (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100093231) ... and it works great up to about .1875" with .025 wire and with the C25 mix for the gas. After that, you'll have to use atleast .035 wire and go a bit slower up to .250". If you are constantally welding .250" I'd step up to a 220v model. For most of what us hobbist do, that link above will be more than you'll ever need.

Most companies use .1875's thick plates anyways to weld to. Which isn't no big deal to weld to at all.

****.. I'm used to talking thousandths at work.. .1875 = 3/16" .250 = 1/4"

[JohnG]

I guess you only brush your four front teeth since noone ever sees the rest..

There is a difference between a job done, and a job done right.

sigh...

you got a good point there :-P

still, it almost always comes down to cost vs. benefit -- do I spend the extra $90 for something that will look good in the short term... or do I see myself selling the car 3 yrs. down the road, then that $90 feels much better in my pocket.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

It is easier to sell a car that doesn't have a rotted out undercarriage.

[Teds89IROC]

To cover up the welds would be the bare minimum in my opinion.

I usually go a little bit further and paint the area of the floor that is above the connector and about 1' away from the connector itself.

well yea, I'm anal about stuff like that on my car, that's why when I get the SFC's welded the whole floor pan is getting repainted :lol: but I know what you're saying; make sure everything looks good and will last.