• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Going to the paint shop... what to beware of?

Rebel74

Well-Known Member
Local time
9:18 AM
Joined
Oct 27, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
27
Location
Texas
So the 74 SE is going to the paint and body shop Thursday. The guy there said he would be removing the bumpers and the glass. "If you're getting a paint job might as well do it right", right?

But I remember reading somewhere about how the windshields on the 74 SEs present some particular problems with removal/reinstalling. Maybe I am misremembering? Or maybe something about the window trim being particularly prone to being damaged/bent up/broken during the removal process?

Also, if the bumpers are coming off that would mean the bumper fillers are likely coming off as well. The guy said he didn't think the fillers would survive any kind of sanding/prepping. Unfortunately, it seems the fillers are basically either unobtainium or few and far between. And to do the "suck the bumpers in" trick I need 71-72 rear bumper brackets... which also appear to be made out of unobtainium at the moment.

So... any thing or things I need to especially mention to the paint guy? Special instructions, to prevent them causing unintended problems (like destroying the various parts made out of unobtainium)? Any tricks they need to be aware of that are specific to the 74 Charger SE?
 
Also, I can't seem to find a consistent image result when searching for "72 Charger rear bumper brackets", I've seen several different items all called that. Does anyone have a correct pic that shows what a proper 71-72 rear bumper bracket looks like? And, would it really be that hard to have a local welding shop fab a set up for me? Am I just dreaming?
 
What to be aware of ?? Finding that it will sit for months or even years before they work on it.
 
What to be aware of ?? Finding that it will sit for months or even years before they work on it.

Ha! The guy originally said 8 weeks. Today he said he could get a third helper and get it done in 3-4 weeks.
 
Stay on them. I worked a family run business and was working 12-16 hours a day.
Took my 67 Dart to a body shop and didn't really follow up.Just phone calls. "Oh yeah it coming along great". Went to see 6 months later
and found the car in the same spot where I parked it. My fault for no follow up.
 
I have a pair of 71-72 bumper brackets I will take a pic of for you tonight. On the 74 windshield trim they switched to aluminum in 74 from stainless so it is a lot easier to damage but you really have to try to do so.

Check in weekly. I got my 74 done in about 2 months and I stripped the car myself first.

Good luck!
 
Here are the rear brackets from my '72.

39518783994_dd303ce498_b.jpg


I had the unfortunate issue of having to rescue my car from a body shop (went out of business and stiffed a lot of people) and transfer it too another.

They were good at sending me photos of their progress and i would drop by there every few weeks (not really close to home) and talk with the owner.

I personally stripped my whole car down myself, was just the shell and had bought a set of casters to drop it off. Just keep in contact and try and ask the right questions, the more knowledgeable they see you are the better. Good luck with the resto.
 
Time!!

Were not getting any younger!
2017 -----------------------------------------------------------------------2021`

coming.JPG going 2.JPG
 
My guy said pay me when done,I'll get it done quicker. 5yrs, but original price was outstanding (?)
 
Disassemble it yourself. That way you know where the stuff goes and it won't get "lost".
Whenever someone else is working on your car just assume that things will not go well.
Things promised seldom get done completely/correctly.
It will always take longer than expected, they will have people quit/die and be short handed.
Do a thorough back round check on company. BBB, customer referrals, paint suppliers etc...
Do not pay ahead. Just a token deposit to give them incentive to get it done quickly. Make a lot of personal visits on progress.
 
Tell your painter to take photos of the steps. Not crappy pictures either. And you want copies of the pictures. Every step should be accounted for. I do it to save my ***. But also giving the customer assurance the job is being done properly.
 
Why would these shops want a project in their shop for years? Would think they would want to impose minimums on themselves to keep it moving. These cars cost money to set. They will learn that when the place catches fire and the insurance company denies the claim because the $30,000 shell was not noted in the policy.
I would have milestones with a set payment when they are met, and a guarantee of a minimum number of hours the car is worked on per month. One milestone would be media blasting. It is a big milestone and the shop has to put that money out. If they know the car owner will pay that bill when presented, it will get done sooner. Once the body is bare, have a meeting with the owner and a new estimate or game plan might be in order.
The shop of a mechanic friend had time cards for the cars in their shop. Bit of a pain to remember, but it kept the owner informed of how many hours each car had. Most times, they wouldn't charge for every hour, but at least they knew how much they were giving away when they reduced the total.
 
I just have trouble understanding why so many people have horror stories about old Mopars being in body shops for years, and getting parts lost, shops going outta business, etc. Body shops paint cars all day long, in and out, and done! But someone paying a super expensive price for a super expensive paint and body job gets to set for years at a time... WTF is the problem? I just can't see it. If it was my car, I would require a completion date, or I would yank the car if it wasn't done in a reasonable time. I guess that's why I have always done my own work.....
 
What should you beware of? Beware of the shop continually putting your car on the back burner as collision work keeps rolling in.
 
The 1973-74 Charger bumper fillers are available in reproduction. I see the corner pieces for front and rear are available at $195 for front corners and $195 for rear corners on eBay. I was able to purchase repro front and rear center bumper fillers also a couple of years ago. I was able to save all of my old ones by sanding lightly and giving several light coats of gray paint with a flex additive. They look great.
Terry W.
 
I just have trouble understanding why so many people have horror stories about old Mopars being in body shops for years, and getting parts lost, shops going outta business, etc. Body shops paint cars all day long, in and out, and done! But someone paying a super expensive price for a super expensive paint and body job gets to set for years at a time... WTF is the problem? I just can't see it. If it was my car, I would require a completion date, or I would yank the car if it wasn't done in a reasonable time. I guess that's why I have always done my own work.....

I worked at a restoration shop where the boss was not financially set for large long term jobs. A slummy, dark, dirty shop. He would take jobs on. He would collect the start money from the client. The client was on speed dial every two weeks to cough up more funds. In the mean time. The boss would have a young kid take apart the car. Who knows where the parts went. Then the car would sit for a lengthy time . Held as hostage. Mean time other cars are being dismantled or others worked on bit at a time. Most of these car client owners up here needed a payment plan , when they paid. A little more would get done. Pretty shady business. Most of the customers ended up pouring 30 g plus into cars to never see them finished. The boss sucked them dry. Needless to say alot of unfinished cars.
Not all restoration shops up here are like this. But then again most have closed there doors. I seen one 69 Charger , just about every piece of tin replaced. 50g in work. Customer had to pull the car unfinished. No money left over. Ive seen alot of crap go on. Over my 45 year career as a autobody ,paint tech.
 
What should you beware of? Beware of the shop continually putting your car on the back burner as collision work keeps rolling in.

THIS^^ As thats how most shops make there profit, collision work... In and Out. A classic sitting in there shop slated for 100's of hours labor is gonna be back burner work unless the shop is extremely slow or they don't do collision work. Thats been my experience talking with most of them.
 
Don't have to remove windshield or rear glass, only moldings. Bumpers and trim, yes.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top