Floor Panel Replacing Costs

[james.ed]

hi all,

poor old bertha is due her first MOT this march, fingers crossed for a smooth ride. whilst she's at her garage i was considering getting some extra work done (depending on necessity.. i'm a student for a few more months so if work can be held until i have a wage i'd be very happy).

one of the extras is replacing floor panels. I've got quite a bit of surface rust, some cracks where the seat hit the floor, generally beaten from years of people stomping in and out, and a few patch plates. the worst is behind the drivers and passengers, altho the front passengers could do with replacing as i fear a hollow sounding patch may be hiding troubles. I also want to get new carpets and not have them stained with rust from the floor (as has happened to the originals).

I know the panels are relativity cheap.. but i'm worried about the workmanship cost. it'd have to be a garage job as i have no welding experience and no time to learn until summer. how much would people expect to pay for a replacement (assuming a full panel replacement)? structurally my car seems in good shape so i would expect to have much trouble finding good to weld onto. It's a jobs that could probably wait but it'd be great to have a tidy floor.

Thanks

[LouiseM]

If you are on a limited budget I'd wait to see if there was any work required for the MOT first before thinking about extra work that might not be necessary as sometimes going for an MOT can work out more expensive than planned. Do the basic pre-MOT checks first though such as lights, tyres etc. Difficult to say without seeing some photos but if you do need a new floor labour costs vary depending on where in the country you are and it's always best to get a few estimates and garage recommendations before getting any work done. Sometimes what seems like a small patch of rot can turn into a lot worse once you start taking a good look at it Whereabouts are you? I've had labour charges of around £60 per hour in London and £40 outside the M25 so they do vary a lot!

[james.ed]

I'm hoping it'll be okay at the MOT. I've kept her serviced and no signs of serious rot (it seems to be just surface rust where the panels become indented and the old seals let in the rain!). I'm only interested in some costs for ideas.. just in case! if all goes well it might be something i get done anyway. I'd love to get new carpets and keep the rust free.

if the MOT turns up serious structural issues I should be covered by a chassis warranty (hopefully.. and before anyone asks.. the car's from charles ware and i know about a few questionable incidents.. but my experience has been good and i hope they keep it up!).

[james.ed]

oh.. based in bristol (home) so i use charles ware, but i also live in kingston, surrey, and i'm always around reigate. I'm a geographical mess!

[bmcecosse]

If it needs floors - it will likely need sills and possibly even the crossmember replacing........ So as Louise says -wait and see. It will be v expensive if you get the work done at Wares but Russel at RTG services (ex Wares employee I believe) seems to offer an excellent service in the Bristol area - although haven't heard from/about him just recently. So -wait for the MOT and if any chassis work required - rely on the chassis warranty to get it fixed. Then have Russel give the car a once over and I'm sure he will advise. I'm guessing floors will be ~£500 to do assuming no other problems but up to £1000 if sills/crossmember are required too....... and these are NOT my guesses for Wares doing the work ! I can't imagine what they will want.
See RTG here http://mog.myfreeforum.org/RTG_Services_about1791.html and here http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(rtg- ... 309365.htm

[james.ed]

I had a sill replaced at purchase on the passenger side, the drivers was ok. hopefully nothing serious will come up.. but i am prepared. the only worry is if the floor panel is to thin around the seat belt mount.. in which case it could fail but that would become a chasis problem i guess! anyway.. i'll see what happens at the mot and then work out my options. if its a case of patching to pass the mot i'd rather come to an arrangement and sort out a replacement panel.

[charlie_morris_minor]

if you are based near kingston you could always try chertsey minors, if you want an idea of what it might cost..i have had welding done by them and am very happy with the work they do..http://www.chertseyminors.co.uk/about.htm

[IanC]

Welding is a skill but don't be fooled into believing that the more someone charges the better quality work you are going to end up with. Some of the best welders I have known were farm mechanics and most of them self taught. If all you need is to get a floor panel welded into place it might be worth checking out a smaller local garage or a mobile welder. They won't have the overheads of a dealer or larger garage so should be more reasonably priced.

If you went the mobile welder route you could then source your own parts allowing you to hunt for the best qaulity/price that you can afford.

Another alternative would be to check out your local MM branch - there is probably some one there that has done this work before, knows how a Morris is put together and be happy to help out.

Before you ask no I am not a mobile welder and haven't yet been along to my own local branch!!!

Slightly off topic, did you say you are at Kingston? Not at the uni there by anychance??

Ian

[james.ed]

i'm at university college london, but i live a stones throw from kingston university (by the assembly rooms and wagon and horses in surbiton). i should get along to my local branch meetings but i always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time!

thanks for the help everyone.. i'll give chertsey a call and get a rough price so i know what to expect. i think it'll be a case of.. if everythings okay at the MOT i'll get some extra work done. if something else needs doing it'll be postponed until more money is found!

[RTGSERVICES1]

If it needs floors - it will likely need sills and possibly even the crossmember replacing........ So as Louise says -wait and see. It will be v expensive if you get the work done at Wares but Russel at RTG services (ex Wares employee I believe) seems to offer an excellent service in the Bristol area - although haven't heard from/about him just recently. So -wait for the MOT and if any chassis work required - rely on the chassis warranty to get it fixed. Then have Russel give the car a once over and I'm sure he will advise. I'm guessing floors will be ~£500 to do assuming no other problems but up to £1000 if sills/crossmember are required too....... and these are NOT my guesses for Wares doing the work ! I can't imagine what they will want.
See RTG here http://mog.myfreeforum.org/RTG_Services_about1791.html and here http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(rtg- ... 309365.htm

I am still alive, just been out of action for the last four months following an operation on my back to have a disc removed, one to many engine lifts!
Im now just getting back to work, and I have job coming up to completely replace a floor seals and crossmember, the panels alone come to nearly £400 so not a cheap job to do, and when considering the car in question was brought recently from ebay with a full mot it was a bit of a shock for the owner too!

[bmcecosse]

Glad to hear you are still around mate! That back OP sounds Painful.......I used to have a lot of trouble with my back - mostly caused by bending low over Mini and Minor engines........ I'm a bit more careful now - bend the knees etc..... But I can still shovel ~ 3 tons of coal a day..........