Cost of welding sills (2024)

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longwalks1 Posts: 3,783 Forumite

16 June 2017 at 4:15PM in Motoring

Been offered an older Ford Escort (1990 model) and it needs both sills welding/replacing, any ideas what this would cost? Are we talking £100, £300, £500 or more please?

Have no idea as never had welding done before, both sills are with the car, they just need fitting

debtdebt Posts: 949 Forumite

16 June 2017 at 4:18PM

Unless the car is for free, I wouldn't touch it.
Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite

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16 June 2017 at 4:54PM

It's a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question. It depends if it's just the sills or whether it needs more patching for the sills to be welded to. I haven't welded cars for a long time, but when I used to do it there was always more to do than just change the panel.
Also how much the garage charges per hour.
Offhand I'd have said the higher end of the figures you give, but you might be lucky.
As already said unless it's free (or very cheap) I wouldn't even look at it.
Once they start to rust there's no stopping it without a lot of work.
Lorian Posts: 5,897 Forumite

16 June 2017 at 5:09PM

debtdebt wrote: »
Unless the car is for free, I wouldn't touch it.
Maybe not even if free
EdGasketTheSecond Posts: 2,558 Forumite

16 June 2017 at 7:16PM

If the rust has gone into the floor panel and rear arch (near suspension mounts) then it could be several hundred. If it is just sills only then maybe £120. Depends where you go.
societys_child Posts: 7,110 Forumite

16 June 2017 at 7:31PM

If you can do it yourself, why not.
If you have to pay someone else, depends how much you like 1990 Ford Escorts . . .
longwalks1 Posts: 3,783 Forumite

17 June 2017 at 11:49AM

debtdebt wrote: »
Unless the car is for free, I wouldn't touch it.
It is very cheap for obvious reasons, and the '90 spec RS Turbos are only going up in value, especially low mileage cars
Crabman Posts: 9,943 Forumite

17 June 2017 at 12:46PM

For rear sills on both sides on my previous car I was quoted both £400 by a bodyshop and £100 by a one man operation (the latter was used and it passed the MOT re-test). You'd be best asking for local recommendations as only you know what you consider the vehicle to be worth.
forgotmyname Posts: 32,741 Forumite

17 June 2017 at 1:35PM

Buy yourself a welder?
Once you get those sills off don't expect much floor to be left either.
I did a floorpan on an old fiesta, guy said it failed on a hole just big enough to put your finger through.
Out with the flap wheel and most of the floor fell out.. Only had a 2' square of steel with me and had to get more...

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Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite

17 June 2017 at 1:45PM

forgotmyname wrote: »
Buy yourself a welder?
Once you get those sills off don't expect much floor to be left either.
I did a floorpan on an old fiesta, guy said it failed on a hole just big enough to put your finger through.
Out with the flap wheel and most of the floor fell out.. Only had a 2' square of steel with me and had to get more...
It's great isn't it? You start out with a bit of rust on a rear wheel arch, and end up jacking up the steering wheel and fitting a new car to it! :rotfl:
Seriously, if the car is an RS turbo, and is worth repairing, then it's worth repairing properly with proper repair panels welded in by somebody who understands about restoration and future rustproofing as far as poss, rather than sticking patches on to get through an MOT.

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