lookin for a good deal on a paintjob

[quasar34]

alright guys, its getting to be about time to get my 89 trans am painted, and im looking for a shop that could possibly work some kinda deal out with me since i dont have too much cash but want a nice job done.. im planning on ordering a ram air 2 hood, and a new spoiler since my rubber one is cracked... i dont know much about body work but i'd be down to sand the car down before it went in for paint to cut down on the cost of prepwork.. the bodys pretty damn straight, except for one or two small dings on my door.. im lookin to get it painted a nice bright white, maybe something like ford's artic white.. also, i want to replace my ttop bar while im at it since theres some rust forming on it and install new weatherstripping all around, except for the hatch.. would i be better off installing the new ttop bar and leave the weatherstripping for the body shop guys? also, im guessing i'd be better off installing the new hood so it latches and whatnot, and leaving the aligning the gaps better to the shop. same thing with the spoiler, i guess my best bet would be to take the old spoiler off, test fit the new one and leave it off the car so the guys can spray it seperate and install it..i really dont care how long it takes to get done, as long as it's done right and i can get the car back by the time summer comes along.. im not lookin to spend 3 grand on a showcar paintjob, but im comfortable in the $1,000-$1,500 range for a well done job, not a maaco job, otherwise id take it there..anyone?

[chrisfrom nj]

go to chris collision in west orange see how much he wants for a paint job he did a good job on my uncles vette and the other cars he work on for me in the past

[Featherburner]

I don't want to burst your bubble but, $3000 doesn't come close for a showcar paint job. Paint and materials are expensive.

[1QWIKBIRD]

You are gonna have to do all of the disassembly, prep work and final assembly yourself in order to get a decent paint job done for that kinda money. You will have to fit and mount the hood and deck lid and do the prep work, but check with the painter before hand. Lots of guys won't spray over top of someone else's body work or if they do they won't guarantee anything. The top bar replacement could get really tricky when it comes time make sure the t-tops seal properly without using RTV. Before you do anything go to a few shops with the car and explain exactly what you are looking to have done, don't talk budget at first. Find out the price to do the job. Then ask what you can do to bring the price in line with your budget. Paint and body are expensive when done right, but if done improperly can ruin a car and be three or four times as expensive too fix. I'd be really careful with the whole t-top issue.

Order the hood from a quality manufacturer. The money you save on a cheap hood will only be spent three fold at the body shop in prep and finish trying to get it to fit and look good.

Good Luck.

Where are you located?

[quasar34]

i was planning on ordering the hood and spoiler from hawks thirdgen.. i guess i'll start checking some places out.. im in river edge (next to paramus)

[CALL911]

Paint jobs for cars go like this. If you want an "okay at best" job done where some dude out of high school sprays your car without removing panels, you're looking at around $3,000 or so.

For a top notch, perfectionists perfection, with removing all the panels and getting them from all angles, and not a flaw to be found, you are looking at around $10,000-$12,000.

And then there are places that do in between for an in between cost.

This is all of coarse with the shop doing all the work. If you plan on doing all, or some of the prep work, the price will go down drastically as most of the cost of a paint job is in the time invested with the prep work, not the actual paint or materials.

Absolute best place for the money in Jersey I have heard about, as well as have had experience with (they repaired, and painted my wifes bumper on our Civic), is Bill's Auto Body in Jobstown. Bill is a great guy to work with, and will do a near perfection job, and costs A TON less than anywhere else as his labor rates are much lower which he extends the savings on to you.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by Featherburner

I don't want to burst your bubble but, $3000 doesn't come close for a showcar paint job. Paint and materials are expensive.

I would disagree, paint and materials are cheap compared to the labor.

You want a good paint job there is a lot of time in the preperation of the body before it gets painted. You can put an "expensive" paint on a poorly prepared car and it will still look like crap. You put a "cheap" paint on a well prepared cr and it is going to look a whole lot better, may not last long though. Pretty much all the paint, paper and tape you would possibly need for a car is going to cost a lot less that $1,000, I would say more like 5-600 actually

[JohnG]

Originally Posted by scooter

I would disagree, paint and materials are cheap compared to the labor.

ditto.

I've had quite a few daily-drivers that were given $300 Maaco paint jobs, which came out great & lasted for years. granted, those vehicles needed little or no bodywork -- but the sad truth is : when you pull in with a nice car, or especially an older muscle car, the owner sees $$$$ regardless of your needs/budget

[HardcoreZ28]

To do a paintjob right will cost you atleast $1,000 in good materials. And that's with minimal bodywork. The labor is where it gets expensive. For $5,000 you can probably get an excellent driver quality paintjob but if you're looking for a show quality job on something that needs little to no bodywork you'd be in the $8-9,000 range and anything requiring more bodywork would easily put you above $10,000.
You're on the right track though by offering to prep the body yourself, just be sure you do more good than harm.
If you'd like me to look at the car and give you a quote feel free to contact me.

[Featherburner]

Originally Posted by scooter

I would disagree, paint and materials are cheap compared to the labor.

You want a good paint job there is a lot of time in the preperation of the body before it gets painted. You can put an "expensive" paint on a poorly prepared car and it will still look like crap. You put a "cheap" paint on a well prepared cr and it is going to look a whole lot better, may not last long though. Pretty much all the paint, paper and tape you would possibly need for a car is going to cost a lot less that $1,000, I would say more like 5-600 actually

I don't disagree that the labor and prep cost a good amount but, your $500-600 for materials is low. HardcoreZ28 states $1000 for GOOD materials which is what I was thinking. 10 years ago a buddy of mine painted my 77 K20. The paint and materials alone were $600 at that time, his cost. Granted it was a full paint (inside of the;cab, fenders, bed, underside of the hood, everything) so, it took more paint than a car. But, the price on paint as with everything else has gone way up.

[HardcoreZ28]

Believe it or not primers are what get you these days. Epoxy primer, high build primer, etching primer....all expensive. You don't need them all depending on application obviously. Also the colors and clears have been going up in price thanks to government regulation and constant reformulation.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by Featherburner

I don't disagree that the labor and prep cost a good amount but, your $500-600 for materials is low. HardcoreZ28 states $1000 for GOOD materials which is what I was thinking. 10 years ago a buddy of mine painted my 77 K20. The paint and materials alone were $600 at that time, his cost. Granted it was a full paint (inside of the;cab, fenders, bed, underside of the hood, everything) so, it took more paint than a car. But, the price on paint as with everything else has gone way up.

Yeah, you are right. I went back and priced out the stuff I am going to need to do my car when I get to it and I am going to be spending a lot more than I said earlier. I wasnt thinking about sandpaper and tape and stuff either. I am probably going to wind up spending about $2,500 for all the supplies and I am going to be doing all the labor.

Either way $3,000 isnt going to get you very much, less a $1,500 job unless you bring it in all taped and ready to go

[JohnG]

here are the materials, and what they cost me, to paint my car:

QTY...PART #..............DESCRIPTION....price each...price total
1.......MMM 08578........Strip-calk, black.....$9.49.....$9.49
1.......PLA T-8.............Satin black............$5.90.....$5.90
1.......TRU 13-135........Design nipple..........$5.26.....$5.26
1.......NSN 421-20-4.....HZ-select, primer....$21.20...$21.20
2.......NSN 483-83-4.....HZ-select, primer activator...$32.25....$64.50
1.......MMM 32036........Job packed P600.....$4.10.....$4.10
1.......MMM 32022........Job packed 1200.....$6.28.....$6.28
1.......NSN 421-20-1.....HZ-select, primer....$67.25....$67.25
1.......EVC 839.............Chromalite, quart....$6.92......$6.92
4.......DUP HC-7600S4...Hyper cure clear, quart...$29.60....$118.40
1.......MAG M-0116.......Machine clnr...........$10.54....$10.54
1.......EVC 400.............Glaze putty-hz........$15.30....$15.30
1.......MUG D-12-2........Disp air filter...........$14.14....$14.14
2.......GRS 02002T........Gearson tack cloth...$0.63.....$1.26
1.......SMA 57-275........1.5 Diameter...........$7.07.....$7.07
1.......MUG SB-3...........Flexible sanding block...$14.80....$14.80
1.......MAG W-1000.......Polishing pad...........$15.21....$15.21
1.......MAG M-0216........Hitech cleaner.........$10.54....$10.54
1.......MAG M-0716........Sealer glaze............$10.54....$10.54
1.......DUP 7175S-1.......GI md temp-hz.........$34.51....$34.51
1.......DUP 7005S-4.......Chromaone activator..$37.02....$37.02
1.......DUP HC-760S4.....High temp act, red, quart...$36.56....$36.56
2.......DUP QMKM..........Dupont mix..............$68.55....$137.10

TOTAL -- $654

...yes, this assumes you have the other necessary equipment

which, of course, a body shop will have said equipment (alreay depreciated/paid for)

IMHO, the high prices for body/paintwork stem from one or more of the following:

1. they think of themselves as "artists", and want to be paid what (in their mind's fantasy) they think they're worth

2. they know you love your car, so they've got you by the balls, and know you will pay

3. Barret-Jackson

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by JohnG

here are the materials, and what they cost me, to paint my car

Could you break the prices down?

[JohnG]

done...

prices are from March 2005, but I can't imagine inflation would drive them up that much

[1QWIKBIRD]

Originally Posted by JohnG

here are the materials, and what they cost me, to paint my car:

QTY...PART #..............DESCRIPTION....price each...price total
1.......MMM 08578........Strip-calk, black.....$9.49.....$9.49
1.......PLA T-8.............Satin black............$5.90.....$5.90
1.......TRU 13-135........Design nipple..........$5.26.....$5.26
1.......NSN 421-20-4.....HZ-select, primer....$21.20...$21.20
2.......NSN 483-83-4.....HZ-select, primer activator...$32.25....$64.50
1.......MMM 32036........Job packed P600.....$4.10.....$4.10
1.......MMM 32022........Job packed 1200.....$6.28.....$6.28
1.......NSN 421-20-1.....HZ-select, primer....$67.25....$67.25
1.......EVC 839.............Chromalite, quart....$6.92......$6.92
4.......DUP HC-7600S4...Hyper cure clear, quart...$29.60....$118.40
1.......MAG M-0116.......Machine clnr...........$10.54....$10.54
1.......EVC 400.............Glaze putty-hz........$15.30....$15.30
1.......MUG D-12-2........Disp air filter...........$14.14....$14.14
2.......GRS 02002T........Gearson tack cloth...$0.63.....$1.26
1.......SMA 57-275........1.5 Diameter...........$7.07.....$7.07
1.......MUG SB-3...........Flexible sanding block...$14.80....$14.80
1.......MAG W-1000.......Polishing pad...........$15.21....$15.21
1.......MAG M-0216........Hitech cleaner.........$10.54....$10.54
1.......MAG M-0716........Sealer glaze............$10.54....$10.54
1.......DUP 7175S-1.......GI md temp-hz.........$34.51....$34.51
1.......DUP 7005S-4.......Chromaone activator..$37.02....$37.02
1.......DUP HC-760S4.....High temp act, red, quart...$36.56....$36.56
2.......DUP QMKM..........Dupont mix..............$68.55....$137.10

TOTAL -- $654

...yes, this assumes you have the other necessary equipment

which, of course, a body shop will have said equipment (alreay depreciated/paid for)

IMHO, the high prices for body/paintwork stem from one or more of the following:

1. they think of themselves as "artists", and want to be paid what (in their mind's fantasy) they think they're worth

2. they know you love your car, so they've got you by the balls, and know you will pay

3. Barret-Jackson

I agree with the above to a point, but all that "depreciated equipment" (guns, driers, paint mixers, booths, frame equipement), EPA regs, cost money, rent, power, wages.......good help isn't easy to find and harder to keep.

I would love to get a show quality paint job for 1500 or even 3000 but it isn't realistic. Anyone looking for quality work has more than a passing interest, so yeah they got ya. If it bothers you go to MAACO. Barret Jackson has blown everthing out of proportion, a 69 Camaro with a tree growing through the floor and roof is worth $5000 if it has a title. You can either choose to deal with it, learn to do everything yourself and hope you have the skills to do it at an acceptable level or get out of the hobby altogether. Not taking shots, it just the current state of affairs.

I think the better measure of a body shop isn't always the bottom line, but rather their ability to come in on time and on the quoted price. It you tell me 8 months to paint the car and XXXX.XX dollars and you deliver, that's all you can ask for. The shops that keep your car for two years, then tell you its gonna take 50% more than originally quoted are the ones that give the industry a bad name. Not to mention the guys who want perfection and drop the car off only to realize halfway through that they really can't afford it, so who eats it? The shop owner. You and I pay for that clown because the shop ower has got to make it up somewhere.

Its much easier to do good work with an open ended time frame and a blank check. Who can afford that?

A good body/paint guy is worth every penny. How many cars have you seen at a show that look great from 3 or 5 ft, but then you look a little closer and its flawed, something wasn't masked properly or buffed out or whatever. It ruins the whole car and the fix ain't cheap or easy. It's like the hot chick who has green, crooked ass teeth....no good.

Chris