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The under 5K paint job thread

YY1

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The "Who pays 10K for a paint job" thread got me thinking.

There have GOT to be resources for us folks that don't want or need a concours quality paint job.

Let's use the power of the internet to share info about who does good driver quality work and where.

As stated elsewhere, my car needs about 8 quarter sized or less shopping cart dings, one very small sideswipe (3/8 inch by 3/16th deep) and has the very beginnings of pitting on the rear windshield channel corners.

I do not need the engine compartment painted.

I was quoted $4500 by Trim Tech in Winter Haven FL, but the guy almost insisted on using base/clear, and would not use the Nason's Full-Cryll II I already had done the engine bay with.

Shops and guys in their garage are both welcome.

I'm also looking for the prep work, which as we know will greatly affect the quality and durability of the paint.

Major bonus to anyone who can name a place in central FL!
 
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Good thread idea, I'll be following this :thumbsup:. No paint work needed on our car yet, but when that time comes I'll be able to offer some feedback for the North NJ area.
 
I needed 3 gallons of base clear to paint mine given everything on car got painted including inside and bottom. Just the paint was $5300. The cost of this hobby has passed me by. This is my last restoration for sure.
 
Our car is at the paint shop. Complete paint job including engine bay. PPG GG1 base clear materials will be about 2100.00 Can.
 
I couldn't get a shop to give me the time of day to scuff and repaint my 62 Belvedere. One shop said the starting price was $12k without even looking at it.

I have heard that Maaco can give good results as long as you do all the prep. Might even be worth it to ask one of their painters if they do side jobs, you supply the paint. Figure they paint all day long and know how to do it as well as anyone.

I ended up painting both of my cars in my garage. Single stage was my favorite to do, material for 2k urethane and epoxy primer was about $500. Supplies...add in another $500 and countless hours of my own labor.
 
The body man has done many restorations and mega valuable rare cars. I worked with him on my body. The painter has worked with him for about 10 years. Yes it was ready for blocking, sanding and painting.
 
Again, this is a resource thread for UNDER 5K good driver quality paint and minor body work.

Let's keep the "I paid $400,000 for mine" comments out.

For reference I paid about $245 for a gallon and a quart of the Nason's paint and the reducer and hardener.

My engine bay (and fender tops) has held up extremely well since 2015.

My brother painted his entire 66 Satellite with this same brand and line of paint and it came out great and held up equally as well.
 
I spent between $3,500 and $4,000 on materials for my 70 duster when I did it. It turned out pretty damn nice which was beyond driver for sure, but with all the labor involved, there was no way you'd be under $10,000. At $30 how rate/hr. which seems low to begin with that leaves you $6000 left in labor which equates to 200 hours of labor. I was into it for way more than that time wise. I guess if you are looking for a scuff and shoot and you get what you get its fine, but there's no way you are getting a dent free nice paint job for under 5k. It just isn't cost effective for anyone to say sure I'll take that job. Now don't get me wrong, I did my 78 Power Wagon for $200 worth of single stage black as a 10 footer and scuffed it and shot it, but I by no means thought it'd be mint or close to perfect with all the little dents. I just wanted a shiny truck that rid of the mint green faded factory worn paint that looked good from 5-10' away.
 
If I can find a shop that would do it for $4500, I'm pretty sure there are others out there.

There have been some pretty good looking cars sitting outside that shop including a 73/74 Roadrunner.
That's the reason I stopped in to ask.
 
I should add this car needed almost no metal work at all being from Arizona and stored inside. I did two quarter sized patches on the quarters in the lower area and that is it. I guess it all comes down to is the guy just masking windows and such and shooting it, or is he just wheeling it in the booth and pulling the trigger on the squirt gun. There are so many different circumstances out there, there's no way to say this is a quality job at 5K, when each car is completely different and holds its own unique "hidden treasures". Base claer will also knock the price up quite a bit over a single stage job. Also colors can determine cost too. I've shot red's that are $400-$500 a gallon for the cheapest brand out there and white and black will be a bargain color for sure.
 
My car was in good shape to begin with but the paint was tired. I had a local guy do mine at a cost of 7 large but keep in mind that I did not need the engine compartment done and this was not a full blown resto where you paint the under side. They did a super great job but for the 7 grand, he had it for 8 months. That was part of the deal, if I wanted him to devote someone to it, it would have been a lot more but if he could work on it a little every day he could make it happen for the 7.
Honestly man I don't see getting a good job done for under 5 unless as mentioned, the car goes in paint ready, at least around me you can't.
The biggest problem is that most shops don't want to do all overs because they make a lot more money fixing the fender benders paid for by the insurance companies. Before I had mine done, I checked with a bunch of them and most weren't even interested in quoting it.
Good Luck!
 
this is why i am looking at a wrap for the car. if you can make the body look good and the block sand your car smooth the wrap will look as good if not as good as paint for about 2500 to 3200 and almost any color. what you think of that. they can even do your striping in the wrap no paint lines.
 
I'm not talking about cutting and patching metal either.

There are some survivor or near survivor cars out there that just need paint and maybe a few parking lot dings taken care of.

We see them from time to time on this board.
 
I developed a look years ago I called "high school"; inspired by an old picture I found ....... it consisted of multi color body panels and primer spots, like a kid working on his rod in shop class; but road worthy...... much cooler than clearing over rust, IMHO

My first car was a 67 Chevelle and I bought 1 gallon of Imron for around $125 which was a lot for a High School kid. After we painted it my buddies just laughed and always said paint is fine, but primer is finer :thumbsup:
 
We have been checking prices for material and there just off the wall. Paint has skyrocketed and like was said red is out of the question.

91r/t < if your painting any on the side, my '68 will need a final block and spray this spring ..were going to do the body which doesn't need rust repair,then strip and prime it. If your not doing any and know of someone here, get back to me.
 
91r/t < if your painting any on the side, my '68 will need a final block and spray this spring ..were going to do the body which doesn't need rust repair,then strip and prime it. If your not doing any and know of someone here, get back to me.

I can't do much side work as my shop is storage for my stuff come winter. I yank everything outside when I spray and then put the cars back on nice days from May until November. It is a circus act, but it's the only way I can paint something and not trash all my stuff in the shop. Will keep my ears peeled for sure.
 
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