I want it done right!

[Jerryl]

Side windows are commingout today.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Pulling the 1/4 window is the deal breaker on any car IMO.

It HAS to be pulled, glad they are doing it right.

What about the rear 1/4 extensions?

Show us a nose shot

BW

 

[Jerryl]

Pulling the 1/4 window is the deal breaker on any car IMO.

It HAS to be pulled, glad they are doing it right.

What about the rear 1/4 extensions?

Show us a nose shot

BW

They are pulling the bumper today and taking the bumper apart for paint.
They had about 3 cars lined up to finish and I do not want to puch them too hard and P**** the guys off (You know, walking the line ).
Heck, I told them I would help pull the bumper and fillers off, but they need to come off completely.

I think we'll leave the header panel on. Not the best option but it will be fine.
They are re-aligning the panel today. It is a bit off. They have a working antenna that will be replaced while they are aligning the fender.

Edit;
Next on the list is the complete interior cloth.
If only I could locate the dang OEM! AAARRGHH!

 

[GregInAtl]

"done right" is not stripping to bare metal necessarily. Thats a very different thing in my experiences (good friend owns a collision/custom paint shop). If you want that you want a complete paint job done right, the material should be removed to become flat and ready to be sealed and primed. Most shops use the existing paint as a "filler" for the low spots when blocking, and saves you money by doing so. To blast a car to bare metal, hammer out all imperfections, and try to go w/ no filler or poly-primer, will double and maybe even triple the cost. From what I see, I'd only request window/lock removal, and make sure the final sand is atleast 600 grit on a long block, then sealed, primed, wet blocked then painted.
Thats what I'd want. I expect $4k-5k "all overs" that are disassembled. To many people a full paint job is $1k, some its $20k... I agree with most of the replies, the main thing is communicate NOW what you expect and be sure the cost allows you to meet what you expect.

 

[gbsean]

Side windows are commingout today.

should of pulled the quarter windows before they primed...

 

[87natl]

should of pulled the quarter windows before they primed...

+1!!!!!!!

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

should of pulled the quarter windows before they primed...

Im sure they will smooth out that area, its just another step to be done.

BW

 

[gbsean]

just make sure they sand the surrounding area.....then re prime....if they leave an edge and apply the paint..it could lift that edge...what paint are they using....and do you know if they are using a 2k primer....hope they are not using laquer as a primer...seeing as they shot it on the shop floor it would lead me to believe they are....although ther are alot of 2k grey primers...and looking at later pictures it looks like they have a paint room and not a booth...

 

[Jerryl]

Guys,

Thanks for all the advice!

1/4 windows, front and back end disassembly is complete.
Sure, the 1/4 windows should have been removed first before primer.
But hindsight is always 20/20.

They are making good progress and I am satisfied thus far.
YES, they will remove the spolier thingy's as well.

 

[VadersV6]

I'm all for doing it right and removing bumpers and windows, but when the wire harnesses are left there with no tape or anything, and get primer all over them, it drives me nuts...just like that pic above. All that stuff got pulled off but the wire harness for the tail lights were left and covered in primer. Someone did that to my car. Look under my front bumper and all the harnesses are covered in primer and the other half are dried out from the oven. I look at other GN's and those wires are all nice and new looking, and the wires are actually retained by retaining clips...not just dangling there and bouncing around like an old tractor. Someone did a "repair" paint job on the passenger side of my car, (was a spray of the door but they had to match the quarter panel) and the mother ****ers didnt even prep the surface at all...I mean AT ALL so 1 year later the paint on that whole side of the car cracked open all over the place and the car looks like a sanford and sons piece of **** junker, and the car has already had too many paint jobs, so to do it right, Im going to have to strip all that paint off that whole side of the car. I have to do all this damn work to handle what would have taken an extra 5 ****ing minutes to do if the guy wasnt doing the job for probably 100 bucks and he was probably late for the roach coach and wanted to eat. Really pisses me the **** off.

 

[VadersV6]

Ok I just saw that final picture and at least the connectors got bundled up and wrapped. I see **** like that and I get sick...the same feeling I get when I look at that **** on my car.
I get invited to GN meets/cruises and always say no cause Im so embarrassed of my car. Massive cracks all over the place. Ive always driven really nice cars and this was a huge step back for me. The condition it was in when I got it was REALLY bad. I still remember coughing and choking from all the exhaust leaks and burning oil/oil smoke and the car stalling at toll booths and then wouldnt restart and Id have 5 cars behind me laying on their horns cause Im blocking traffic and the thing running on 4 cylinders...finally got everything mechanically working well and then the paint started cracking open. It was all waxed and shined up when I got it but in reality was totally ****ed up in so many ways.
Sorry this opened up a big wound for me. I got trapped in a car that I could no way sell for what I payed....not until Ive sunk about 5 grand into it....and thats never gunna happen.

 

[gbsean]

you get what you pay for....having done stuff for customers and friends..it just seems people want a "foose" type job for 4k...it just does not work that way...which is why i do not do it on the side anymore....for what you are paying and all that they are doing you are getting your moneys worth....if you want more you have to pay for it....Im sure that you will be very happy with job...do you have any before pictures....

 

[2badgn]

You can tape up all the wires next time u go to the shop.

I have a feeling that this GN is going to look mint when it's done.

Post up those before pics when the car had paint on it.

Frank

 

[Jerryl]

Ok I just saw that final picture and at least the connectors got bundled up and wrapped. I see **** like that and I get sick...the same feeling I get when I look at that **** on my car.
I get invited to GN meets/cruises and always say no cause Im so embarrassed of my car. Massive cracks all over the place. Ive always driven really nice cars and this was a huge step back for me. The condition it was in when I got it was REALLY bad. I still remember coughing and choking from all the exhaust leaks and burning oil/oil smoke and the car stalling at toll booths and then wouldnt restart and Id have 5 cars behind me laying on their horns cause Im blocking traffic and the thing running on 4 cylinders...finally got everything mechanically working well and then the paint started cracking open. It was all waxed and shined up when I got it but in reality was totally ****ed up in so many ways.
Sorry this opened up a big wound for me. I got trapped in a car that I could no way sell for what I payed....not until Ive sunk about 5 grand into it....and thats never gunna happen.

I feel for you brother.
Good observation on the wiring, and belief me, they are not going to prime the wiring harness. I am picky as Hell, but anyone can only be as picky as the budget will allow.

PS:
Sounds like we bought about the same car??? :frown:
Keep your face towards the sun and you will never see your shadow!

 

[gnxtc2]

My friend used to own a body shop. He still does it for selected people.

I seen him to paint job on a GN. He had everything off the the body, just the shell remained. The fenders, doors, all exterior trim/panels came off, hood and trunk came off. He painted everything by the piece.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[GNBeswick]

Now maybe this will sound like a stupid question, but the front fiberglass piece.....why didnt they primer that? Did they already paint it and then put it on?

 

[Pablo]

Ok I just saw that final picture and at least the connectors got bundled up and wrapped. I see **** like that and I get sick...the same feeling I get when I look at that **** on my car.
I get invited to GN meets/cruises and always say no cause Im so embarrassed of my car. Massive cracks all over the place. Ive always driven really nice cars and this was a huge step back for me. The condition it was in when I got it was REALLY bad. I still remember coughing and choking from all the exhaust leaks and burning oil/oil smoke and the car stalling at toll booths and then wouldnt restart and Id have 5 cars behind me laying on their horns cause Im blocking traffic and the thing running on 4 cylinders...finally got everything mechanically working well and then the paint started cracking open. It was all waxed and shined up when I got it but in reality was totally ****ed up in so many ways.
Sorry this opened up a big wound for me. I got trapped in a car that I could no way sell for what I payed....not until Ive sunk about 5 grand into it....and thats never gunna happen.

Wow

Chill out man it's not the end of the world!

I can almost guarantee that my paint is one of the worst of the turbo buicks in So Cal and I have no problem going to meets. It's whats under the hood that counts the most in my book. Being able to smoke 90% of the nice looking TR's in this area gives me the last laugh. You really look dumb when your 5000 dollar paint job car gets creamed. So I suggest looking at the bright side and start modding your car instead. Or just enjoy the decent performance it likely has already (if it is in good tune)These things got famous for their performance, looks a distant second.

 

[86NYGN]

Just had my 86 GN done in Nov. I am the original owner so I knew what the car was and what needed to be done to it. I had some rust so I knew it wouldn't be cheap. All rust removed and patched with metal, all the body bushings replaced(rusted) all glass,doors,trunk,spoiler etc removed and painted, new bumper fillers painted and installed, new grill and other odds and ends. Entire underbody,frame and inside trunk sealed with a Rustoleum sealer. Painted and wet sanded by hand. Great job and alot of work. Cost was $7300 but the body shop earned their money so I have no complaints.

 

[LBNJWE4]

I'm all for doing it right and removing bumpers and windows, but when the wire harnesses are left there with no tape or anything, and get primer all over them, it drives me nuts...just like that pic above. All that stuff got pulled off but the wire harness for the tail lights were left and covered in primer. Someone did that to my car. Look under my front bumper and all the harnesses are covered in primer and the other half are dried out from the oven. I look at other GN's and those wires are all nice and new looking, and the wires are actually retained by retaining clips...not just dangling there and bouncing around like an old tractor. Someone did a "repair" paint job on the passenger side of my car, (was a spray of the door but they had to match the quarter panel) and the mother ****ers didnt even prep the surface at all...I mean AT ALL so 1 year later the paint on that whole side of the car cracked open all over the place and the car looks like a sanford and sons piece of **** junker, and the car has already had too many paint jobs, so to do it right, Im going to have to strip all that paint off that whole side of the car. I have to do all this damn work to handle what would have taken an extra 5 ****ing minutes to do if the guy wasnt doing the job for probably 100 bucks and he was probably late for the roach coach and wanted to eat. Really pisses me the **** off.

I'm in the same boat, my car was mint when I bought it in 1990, by '92 the rear quarter started cracking under the window, I had a fender bender so I replaced the fender myself, new GM, and had a friend of a friend paint the fender and quarter for a couple hundred bucks. Now the whole car is cracking and the fender and repainted quarter are the worst out of all of the panels. I am hoping to have mine done next winter, concentrating on the mechanical this year. But, right now it seems like I am taking one step forward and two steps back with every repair. I am also planning on replacing my roof. It has an aftermarket moonroof that is a POS, and i would like to return it to original hardtop. Brian from Gbodyparts has one, so if anybody is traveling from Brian's to the NJ area and has enough room for a roof, let me know and I can purchase it from him.

 

[Jerryl]

More pics.
So far it looks GOOD!
The guys even painted and under the hood.
I bought the painters each a bottle of champagne and delivered that to them.

Happy and Properous 2008 everyone!