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The under 5K paint job thread

For what it's worth. I've restored 3 MG'S thru the years. Made friends with body shop owners that had issues with their cars. Sometimes they come to me as they know what I can do. Tell them your backround. As I know how to repair auto's. What's your field you are good at? How many ppl you know that can work on little british car you know of from bumper to bumper on issues? Also build custom kitchen cabinets. Best I have taken at national concours is 2nd place. That said. Teach me and I teach them. Trade you need this, I need that on a local shop. To this is my cost and your cost for materials, We each cover. That said.

With painting, one friend restored his MG, a rust bucket I wouldn't of bought in the 1st place. Used paint that cost $3,500 in supplys. Bought the best, clear coat. 5 stage paint.

His deal, fix the mechical issues, soup to nuts. Dang, pull the dash and don't label the wires? Re-connect to the wrong places? Splice in a bad thing? Overheating, clutch probs, electrical issues galore.

That said, On my car. Went for a 2 stage. Paint and hardener, no clear coat. I didn't want to over restore. Urethane. Paint at the time cost me around $900. Including a sandable primer-. a very good thing. Get to that later. So you know what he told me. Original paint, dull. But, sticks to the body. Just needs to be skuffed up, issues on paint that need to taken down to bare spots need to be painted with an etching primer 1st. On rusty spots, need to be re-placed with new metal. I'm good with a MIG welder to do this.

He has a friend that worked at a major body shop and did side jobs at my friends shop. Paid him seperate.

See how local shops work? You build a network on a biz, hire pp that are experts and give them access to the shop, they take care of you and you take care of them. Find them.

Once painted, he showed me how to wet sand. Water, rubber squegie. Loose the orange peal.
By the by, painted the door jam, the whole door including internal sides, under the hood plus edges, and the engine compartment. I wanted concours and I think, a 95 point car out of 100 points. When done.

Wet sanding, Anyone can do this. Really nice paint job when done. But, Look close on the paint. Looks like an orange peal? Bumpy. No clear coat.

I wet sanded the car 3X. 1,600 some grit at 1st. Water bucket, wet sand paper and a rubber squegie. Dip the sandpaper in the water, small spots around a 8x8. See some bumps? Keep sanding till they are gone. Squgie to see. See a dark spot? That's dirt under the paint, stop sanding that spot.

Do remember, the sanding includes the lower part of the car. Once done, paint looks like chit ->dull. Then needs to be buffed out with 1,600 grit polishing coumpound and going to a 3,200 coumpound.

Back to the sand-able primer-> 2 stage. Body work is ok. What a sandable primer does.
2 stage, puts on a orange peel primer. You use 1st. 1,600 grit dry sand paper to sand it down to a smothe Then wet sand.
 
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I was just given an estimate of 30k for paint...on an Arizona car that needs a trunk center section...and basicly a scuff and shoot.i tell him "I'm just looking to do a driver car here ...not a trailerqueen"
He said if I dont strip the whole car (floors and all) I wont guarantee the paint.WTF?

Also that quote had me completely removing the interior and engine/tranny.

Yes, there is a guy here that tells people it's $9,000 to paint it but everything else is extra. i.e. body work and materials.
 
A guy I work with bought a cop car that had peeling paint but was in good condition otherwise. It had no rust and the usual small dings/door dings. He came in and announced that it was getting repainted for $1,600.00, I thought it would be terrible but to my surprise it turned out really nice. They did a nice job masking, the smaller dings are still there, no jambs but it was repainted the original color so that is not a big deal. I'm sure painting it white helped. The shop is owned/operated by immigrants so labor is very low.
 
i do paint jobs , and you guys do the same prep work no mater what coating you place on the vehicle . so don't cheap out on the matl's . nasons paint are at best used car matl's . and if you can stay way from clear coating , just a peel job waiting to happen . i like dupont or ppg , the better the matl's the longer it lasts . the duster was ppg acr enamel with hardner , the 67 300 rag was ppg as well . but base coat clear top coat , and both were painted as completes all at once , no paint this and mask it off . and there both over twelve year old . and never cut n buff'd . just shot the wing for the duster a year or so back , it still matches nicely doesn't it
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I know a guy near Spokane Washington that will sand, block, and paint Inside and out for under 5k. I had him cut and buff, dent removal and under coat, it was 6k. Car is a 67 GTX tribute. Great driver quality. If you’re in that area message me and I’ll give you contact info and pics.
 
That's what I'm talkin' about right there!
 
Some positive reviews of MAACO on YT. If I had no experience, no other options, a super tight budget and a car I just could not stand the paint on I would go that route.
 
I do my own...just finished my sons Duster and probably have 2k in materials. I use ppg base clear, none of body stuff is cheap...a good roll of sticky back long board paper is expensive...but...do it yourself

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Well...maybe it's time to out source.all the big companies do it...maximizes profits.... I've been hearing some really good things about border town restoration. Quite a few reputable hot rod shops across the border building cars for major US designers. Could probably get a nut and bolt rotisserie restoration including Upholstery for under 10k.:popcorn:
 
I find it much more rewarding to do my own work. Problem is that once people saw my work on the R/T in my avatar I have been inundated with requests to work on their projects.
Hoping to finish the two projects I am working on for other people now so I can get back to my '68 GTX.
 
If we get our house packed up and I have time, I’m going to practice painting on my Porsche 944. I’ll be using Interlux Brightsides, marine boat paint. Single stage. I’m going to Roll and Tip it, with roller and paint brush. That’s my plan and I should have between December 15 and January 10, in theory. I’ll circle back to this and take lots of pictures.
 
Some positive reviews of MAACO on YT. If I had no experience, no other options, a super tight budget and a car I just could not stand the paint on I would go that route.
Way back in 1998, I had my then-wife's Cavalier painted BC/CC by them. I had scuffed, sanded, prepped the car before bringing it to them. They did a good job, but could have used a cut/buff, but out-of the box was a really nice OEM style paint job. Total cost was around $2,400.

I'm very tempted to take my 74 there to get it shot.
 
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.

68sprtsat383 What are you disagreeing with??? Not trashing my shop? LOL :D:D:D:D
 
Damn I accidentally hit the x again. I think I'm going to quit using my phone to access this site lol. Sorry I wasn't thrashing your shop.
 
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!
That's funny but true. I live in Central Florida and went through the same headache. I'm redoing a 1965 Dodge Coronet to a A990. I had a few ridiculous quotes. The body was in super nice condition After I prepped the body I went and got another quote of $5000 just to shoot the car with no gaurentee. So, I decided to shoot it myself single stage acrylic enamel Ruby red. There's so much info and tips painting your car. Well, I'm finished the paint and I'm quite pleased how it came out. Still gonna block and buff. The car is completely together and I'm ready to fire it up in the next couple days. Good luck.
 
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