lets hear some bodyshop horror storys

[Onalky87]

Ok a little update for u guys. When I removed the metal piece at the bottom of the windshield so I cud paint it I noticed that there was a crack, like under the windshield 3min towards the firewall.( says it was from someone racing it with slicks) So he has to fix it. So he has rockfords auto glass come take it out so it can be fixed and in the process breaks my windshield

 

[need boost]

He told me he'd have $1500 ish in paint and clear. IMO if he looks the car over like he did n gives a quote then he's obligated to do it for that much. I understand that sometimes ur gunna find hidden spots once it's down to bare metal but that's life

Thats life huh lol, Ok maybe you have superman xray vision to see under the paint and find that 20lbs of bondo that half of them bring to you but I don't. That is why it is called an estimate.

around the car scene for over 50 yrs, and have had my share of nice cars..Many of which were body work/paint deals.
I've YET to meet, work with, ONE SINGLE body guy that wasn't short on chlorine in the gene pool!
Some "truisms":
**The first false promise in your deal for 3 weeks is exactly that, 3 weeks!
**Secondly, ANY b/s that relies on collision work, is going to JERK U AROUND!
**Third, every one I've dealt with, always "finds" more work that needs to be done, redone. This allows a price increase, and reasoning behind missed completion dates.

Chuck, last time I checked I have more than enough chlorine in me, please do not clump everyone into one pool because you had bad experiences with some shops. Some of us do damn good work and take pride in it.

3 weeks is not enough time to do a BLACK CAR period unless you are running a shop with a lot of people.

collision work is the bread and butter for a paint shop, doing 1 resto job that will take you 6 months to do and make 8-10 grand will make you 16-20 grand a year. BEFORE taxes and materials. I know I can't live off that so sometimes you have to have a little patience if you are wanting it done nice at a decent price guys.

I'm with you. There is absolutely no reason it should cost $10-20k to paint a car a single color. I understand it takes a lot of time to block it and prep it...blah blah blah...and the materials are expensive...whatever. I could see it costing that much if there's a bunch of rust repair, new sheet metal etc, but not to strip it to bare metal and paint it.

First off I do agree with you so you guys know I am fair and have been on both sides of the fence ok, 10-20 grand is not what you want to spend on a driver , a garage queen maybe. Now with that being said do not expect a NICE paint job to be 2500 bucks either. Can I paint one for that ? Sure I can if you want cheap paint, cheap clear, no buff, sanded over and painted why hell yeah I can and could have it back to you in 2 weeks tops. NOW will you be happy with it, probably not.

I understand it takes a lot of time to block it and prep it...blah blah blah

obviously you have not done it, to get a black car done right it is a TON of work and you will block it MANY times to get it perfect.

and the materials are expensive...whatever

PLEASE go to a PPG store and price the paint, clear, hardners , reducers, sealer, primers, etc to go a job right, Not the cheap stuff, the real PPG line. You will be shocked at the price tag !

This is why I just do it on the side now, everyone wants cheap and flawless, that just doesn't work guys. Do your homework guys so you can see both sides of the fence as well is all I am asking. Sometimes it takes longer than planned but NOT years. Find another shop if it is taking them that long as you have been put on the back burner for sure. If it is only a few weeks extra try to have some patience

ps My soda blast guy charges me 1500-1800 alone to blast a car to bare metal, stripping car down is not cheap by itself guys.

 

[hiboom]

body shop

Ya I've heard allot of story's about cars at the body shop for years. But it's not like I told him to take his time. I told him I needed the car by spring ad he said 3 weeks

3 weeks is kind of unrealistic for the amount of work your having done I have a shop and have restored cars for 30 years unless he has a army working on it. then the material that being applied to the the car would not have proper drying time do to material shrinking etc.It would look great when you picked it up in 6 months when everything did dry and settle down you'll see every place that that was fixed on it.I would say the shop is probably tired of seeing you and hearing you complain about not getting the car done (I am in no way defending the shops action) so don't be surprised if they don't throw it together just to get it done.On a big job for it to be profitable for a shop they just try to work it in when they are slow.not devoting there full attention to it.they stay busy and it takes for ever for it to get done.the quick end and outs is were they make quick money so to them your's is less important.(takes longer for final pay day).I hope this works out for you.I've had people bring cars to me on trailers that have been setting in shops for 2 years in pieces asking if I would finish for them.Good Luck

 

[Onalky87]

Ya. He just found out that the floor pans r rotted so I just bought both full sides $420 shipped. I've come to turns I will not drive the car till next spring. Even thi I was suppost o have it for the while summer. I have 20miles on the car sense I bought it last oct

 

[st1nger]

body time

Now I must be mistaken and reading this thread wrong or maybe its a NY thing or east coast thing but out here in the wild west PC (except Cal) has run its course if it took beging to get one of my projects painted or it ran over on the time estimate by more than a couple of weeks Believe me my money would be in my hand my car at a new shop and the guys business would be the topic of every car guy and body shop in town and 100miles away I hope this guy is paying you for your time or this is one awesome paint job. I feel for you my ttype's body work is in progress and I am doing most of it . Here's a couple of pics ,car was stripped to bare metal, off frame, whole floor pan removed and replaced its just time and patience and alot of questions I encourage everyone to do some of the work the care give after that is totally different ATTACH]108595[/ATTACH]