I need to get my subframe connectors welded in and had a shop quote me at 2.5 hours ($200 bucks). Is this a reasonable cost or should I look elsewhere? These guys apparently specialize in Mustangs and Corvettes.

 

2.5 hours to weld two subfame connectors? That must be with an hour lunch break? There is virtually zero prep time involved. If your rails are clean then all they have to do is put them on, clamp them then weld. That should take less than 30 minutes for each one. I would look for another welding shop.

 

What are they doing? They may be stripping back carpet to prevent fires. Not really necessary, but in this litigation era, not unheard of.

Anyplace you look, make sure they properly load the chassis as it would be sitting on all four tires.

 

yae ive seen people weld it to the flore bords to. i dont kno if that is nessicary tho is there any point in that?

 

no...

 

Floor boards? No. I have seen people weld subframes to the rockers to stabilize the center of the connector. The reason to remove the carpet is that the rear subframe becomes hot and is within 9 meters of 'flammable' carpet. Or so I was told by a shop (paraphrased a little).

 

maybe they are preping the old metal by sanding it down to get a good weld ,ask them their game plan

 

Well, maybe it depends on what kind of subs you're having welded on. If it's the Competition Engineering bolt-ons (that lots of folks like to weld on), that requires mounting them through the front eye bolt of the rear leaf springs (they come with a longer eyebolt), which basically requires pulling off both sides of the rear suspension...and we all know the horror stories of removing eye bolts. =) On some of the more stubborn eyebolts, 2.5 hours would be very generous timeframe, hehe.

 

I had a TCP subframe kit (stage 1 and stage 2) welded in and they charged $200 - this kit welds to the front and rear frame rails and has a butterfly unit that bolts into both sides and provides cross-vehicle support in addition to the front-rear support (much more/better than some of the sub-frame kits I have seen that weld to the floor and a frame rail, etc. I had both sides welded in and they drilled the holes through the frame rails and installed the middle butterfly unit as well. It took the guy a couple of hours to do it all - at this shop they charge $55/hr for frame work. If you have one of the subframe units that bolt in and weld on 1 side, this should be alot cheaper - surely not more than $100 - the cost should really be considered in the context of the work performed on the car - I can't tell what type of unit you are talking about.

Also, part of my $200 cost subsidized the guy giving me a great deal on welding in a complete new frame rail - he only charged me $500 to replace a complete frame rail from the torque box to the radiator support and this included putting it on the frame machine and squaring the frame. I paid $700 for the whole project - subframe and frame rail (2 other folks quoted me $1000 for the frame rail alone).

One thing to consider, as the guy told me, there is a certain "plumbers fee" associated with doing any job - plumber charges you a certain amount to just come out and write up an invoice. And body shops that specialize will have a higher "plumber's fee". If I hadn't had the frame issue to deal with, I would have just used a mig welder and called it a day

 

I was very lucky to have a friend that is an excellent welder. He put in 2 floor pan pieces up front, repaired a huge crack in my frame rail, welded all sorts of other cracks in my wheels wells, and is putting my subframe connectors on soon. All for $350. But i was very lucky, especially him being able to line my cracked rail back up. But for some connectors, I wouldnt think it would take much at all. Maybe an hour for the weld on type.