Average cost of paint job

[RI-Matt]

Hey guys I know someone can help me with this so here goes.
I'm interested in having my GN painted, NOT concours quality but on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, I was thinking 8 and up. I drive the car occasionaly to local cruise nights and such.
The car needs to be stripped down, some bodywork done ( dents, door dings, waves...) and then painted. The door jams painted would be nice but not a must. I would/could remove mouldings, taillights, grill etc.....I would like it not to have a bunch of orange peel, so I guess wetsanding would be required.
So what do you think???
Can it be done for under say $5000


Matt

 

[MaxVO2]

******I don't know where you are located, but around here near Washington, DC, $5k for an 8 out of 10 paint job with jams done, and some bodywork is not likely unless you have a friend in the business. Not too many places around here do complete paint jobs anymore due to environmental restrictions and rules...

I guess a lot depends upon how picky you are. Black is probably the hardest color to make look good as it shows even minor imperfections. When it is done right, it looks like a mirror, but to get that kind of quality takes multiple coats, wet-sanding, and an enormous amount of prep work to get the body panels straight, etc... Obviously, the more prep work you do yourself, the more likely you will get your price range, and to the quality level you desire.

There are some guys in my area that have done some amazing paint jobs in their time, but if you added up all the hours it took them to get everything straight and prepped, before actual painting, most people would be surprised..Even on cars that were pretty straight to begin with.

If you have lacquer check on your hood or trunk, etc... that MUST be stripped to bare metal, or it WILL come back. It's a pain, and it takes time. Time costs money.

Good luck

Billy
Montgomery Village, MD

 

[turbo261977]

come to middletown ohio

we have many places that could fix u up with a 8 or 9 for under 5000 thats jams and all work if interested i can send u a couple of names including the local buick dealer here shawn can really paint

 

[JP87GN]

I do this for a living and if you find someone to do a quality job for $5K I would say thats a very fair deal. We would probably start at $8K and the price might go up if we uncover some previous work or rust. I would say you might save over $1K if you disassemble the car yourself, but if you sratch it in the build process it might cost you to fix it.

 

[sixnboost]

HOLY CRAP!!

You guys have got to be kidding! Around here $5K will get you the jams, wet sand and buff, and a definite 10. If you spend that much here on a paint job you could win any car show around.

My Dads 65' Malibu cost around $3K with quite a bit of extra body work and its midnight blue so its very close to black. It has won a few awards for best paint.

I guess a good paint job is about the only thing that is still a good deal here in Asheville.

Billy

 

[RI-Matt]

I live in Rhode Island
Everything in the Northeast is more expensive. I was talking to a guy the other night who had his vette stripped down and changed from white to black. He had estimates from $2500 all the way up to $22K He ended up doing it for $8K and it looks 9.5.

Sixnboost, Maybe I should bring it down to North Carolina.
Although right now it would cost me about $3K just in gas round trip


Matt

 

[sixnboost]

Yes the gas would definately be expensive and because this is the western part of NC (mountains) the hotel for you to stay in would be unbeilevable.

I could give ya a list of good painters from around here and you could rent a place for them to paint and sleep and be alot cheaper.

I should get my car painted before these guys around here find out how much everyone else in the country is charging for a quality paint job.

The worst thing about being in the south is everyone takes there sweet time when doing something like a paint job or engine rebuild.

This is why there are so many low mileage cars around here; You take a car to someone for paint or rebuild and you never see it again. I heard a story about a guy taking a car to have painted and the painter kept the car for around 12-15 YEARS!!

The last car I had painted was the 79 Z-28 in my sig and the first place I took it kept it for 3 months. When I went and got it to take to another shop it had became someones office! There was a phone book with phone, coffee cups and other items you would find on a desk all sitting on the hood! I was very

Anyways good luck and sorry for the rant.

Billy

 

[MaxVO2]

The worst thing about being in the south is everyone takes there sweet time when doing something like a paint job or engine rebuild.

This is why there are so many low mileage cars around here; You take a car to someone for paint or rebuild and you never see it again. I heard a story about a guy taking a car to have painted and the painter kept the car for around 12-15 YEARS!!

Anyways good luck and sorry for the rant.

*****Well, I'm sure after having kept the car for 12-15 years, the paint job was a 9.6 out of a 10 or even better, so it was worth it..

*****Also, do you get a loaner car when you have your car painted in NC??



Billy
Montgomery Village, MD