For those of you who have done a minitub on a HT or sedan, can you give me an estimate of the number of hours to complete the job? Assume the wheels are off and the gas tank and rear seat are already removed. Include time for layout, cutting the tub out, trimming, filling the gap, and welding/grinding. If two guys are required for part of it add that time.
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
JT56 is in the process presently, maybe he will chime in soon. I have done the tubs in three different varieties, a hotrod version on a 69 El Camino, adding the strip on several tri-5's and the new floor/trunk floor/wider stock units. Which way are you interested in? My assumption would be the cut and strip (2-5/8") which I find very tedious and time consuming relative to finish/appearance.Originally Posted by chevynut
Nick, I'd like to know the hours for both methods if you can estimate them. The tradeoff obviously is the cost of the new wider tub if the originals are good versus the added welding. This would assume the existing floors are used.
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
The big variable here is with the "cut and add the strip" method is whether the welds are to be ground flush for a nicer look. For a commercial job, I don't see where anyone comes out with that method. On the other hand, for a DIY'er on a budget, it makes some sense.
The "cut and add the strip" method requires making 4 each 8' long welds to do the strips on both sides, plus 2 more welds on the trunk floor. That alone is some serious time. Plus grinding if you do that. The repro wide tubs require about half the welding. The trunk floor welds would be the same.
I did this to my 55 a long time ago. It wasn't all that difficult but it did take a lot of time, and I made no attempt to keep track of it. Came out nice. This was before the repro wide tubs were available, though I still could have used "normal" repro tubs (but didn't).
Looking through my records it's about 35 hours to cut and paste and thirty using the new wide tubs.
About the sane to report as Rick, plus it took a couple evenings to cut and weld the back seat.
Can you estimate the time?
Nick, you only saved 5 hours with the new wide tubs? Seems like they decrease the welds by around 1/3 or 10 hours. Anyhow, that give me an idea of the time involved. I thought it was pretty significant since I did the "fill the gap" on the front half of my tubs.
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
I won't venture a guess, except that I can't disagree a whole lot with Nick's numbers. Also that was one of my first projects with a mig welder and sheet metal, so add rookie time.
There in, lies the issue with anyone's numbers. Effort to Complete is proportional to the need for completion. Doing it as a DIY to gain personal satisfaction versus paying to have it done and completing it to another's satisfaction can be a wide channel in the river and varies by how much it just rained.
My first tub job was in 1975 on my 1968 Camaro (cut and paste for 12" tires) - the number of completions since then and today, I have no idea.
I can tell you this the right side took half the time as left, however, If I had done it first the time would have been reversed.
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