Just Got and "Estimate" for Paint

[bluec10]

I've been doing some planning for my '69 GMC project. Went to the body shop last night for an estimate. He told me that he'd charge around $4000 CDN (subtract 20% for US$) for a simple paint job including molding removal and basic rust repair. He estimated $7000-8000 for what he called "frame-off" - basically panel removal and paing.

Is this a good price?

Are body shops typically this ambiguous about prices? I'm nervous about bringing him the vehicle with this kind of a blank cheque approach.

[dylan1970]

I paid about $3500 CDN just for the body work and the time for the guy to paint it. I had to pay for the paint myself. After all was complete, I think I was around the $4200 mark. I'm pretty satisfied with the job this guy did because there hasn't been any "orange peel", chipping, or bubbling of the paint. Hope this helps you with your decision.

[StingRay]

I would expect at least 8 grand for any really good paint job that involved disassembly of the large components of the vehicle ( with you doing all of the basic stuff), prepping,a really good paint job including jambs and basic reassembly of the large stuff. Paint materials are expensive. The amount of time to take stuff apart, prep it all, fix everything that's wrong with a typical body (NOT including rust) adjusting all of the gaps and then painting and reassembly is enormously time consuming. Try doing it yourself some time and it gives a whole new perspective on price quotes from bodyshops. Take a look at 72superbb's truck. I betcha that paint and body is costing Curtis 20k or more and that's with a bunch of NOS body parts to start with. 4k sounds low. Get references, find out what kind of materials he plans on using and how long it's going to take. Get it all in writing too.

[Alex Hayley]

I have seen quotes for more than that. Here is a faq that gave me a couple of ideas of dealing with body shops.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=124745

[ChevyDude]

I paid $4000 USD.

[stllookn]

Don't just call his references. Go see the cars he has painted and ask about the work that he did and the price. Do at least three references to make sure you feel comfortable with them all. Ask them how they would have approached the job differently too. Drive your truck and have them compare their vehicle to yours before the project to get a sense of how much he had to do on their vehicle before paint. Just my 0.02.

[Kas68c10]

thats about average I think, really depends on how much rust there is.....

[moneyguru]

When I purchased my trick the PO had already repaired the body and painted it. Well the doors wouldn't align due to improperly installed rockers, and the paint job was poor.

So I paid Dennis at American Body (in business for 20+ years) $700 to have improperly installed rocker panels replaced and the doors properly hung.

He then charged me $2500 to remove the doors, fenders, bed, glass. straighten any little dings on the body, sand and prep and paint the truck. This included all paint and misc. materials.

Here is a pic

[chickenwing]

Originally Posted by stllookn

Don't just call his references. Go see the cars he has painted and ask about the work that he did and the price. Do at least three references to make sure you feel comfortable with them all. Ask them how they would have approached the job differently too. Drive your truck and have them compare their vehicle to yours before the project to get a sense of how much he had to do on their vehicle before paint. Just my 0.02.

This is really good advice. I paid $3300 U.S.. Could have gotten a better end line product if I knew then what I know now. Here is a thread I started when I was feeling nervous... Maybe it will help. Martinsr's post is REAL GOOD. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=124456

[67chevemall]

I paid $2000 CND for my first job at a body shop! It lasted two years before
ALOT of problems came through the paint. The rear roll pan still makes me sick.
But I redid all the body work myself and primered it. It looks real good now.
Now I'm praticeing how to paint.
Save the $ and learn how to diy You would be amazed at what you can do.
As for the final paint there are diy garages you can rent for $100 for the bay.
Get it on a Saturday night and you can leave it there till Monday morning
IN the bay!
Cheers
Good Luck.

[mocwon]

Sounds low to me compared to top quality jobs around this part of TX. Some significant factors on the materials side of the price equation are what color paint (yellows, reds, silvers and black are quite high); metallic or pearl which add cost, base coat clear coat or single stage. You can always negotiate the price. I believe the most imporatnt part of any paint and body work is this... whatever you decide to do get it in writing and be sure to include everything that's important to you.

[rays68]

I have a 79 blazer that is at the paint shop right now and they gave me an estimate of 3768.17 this is a friend of the family that has done plenty of cars for us to take it down to the metal remove fenders doors top hood paint everything and put it back together oh forgot to mention cut and replace lots of body rot with new metal. I also decided to change the color from burgundy to black so they said the price will go up just alittle bit since they will have to do the firewall and inside the truck. I wasnt going to do the inside because it still looks really nice but since I changed the color now I have to.

[72MARIO]

I paid 2800 for material and labour just to have it sprayed. I did all the prep. It's a perfect show truck. He said for him to do the complete job to the extent I have gone I would be looking around $50,000 Cdn. I have at least 2000 hours in the body. + all the material.

Mario

[5150]

After reading these posts I'm SO lucky to have my truck down at NADC and only having to pay for materials. I could have never afforded that much for a paint job.

[72MARIO]

I dont think many of us can afford a good paint job. That's why i had to do all the prep work myself.

[special-K]

This is the most expensive part of restoration.And,the difference between a fine ride and one that`s all one color for a while.The price sounded ok,then I saw with rust repair.Sounds cheap,which isn`t always good.It`s best to find a shop that regularly works on old stuff.Not "gravytrain",bolt-on,late-model,insurance work.These guys don`t usually have the right attitude.All paint jobs start off looking good(hopefully).There`s nothing worse than getting a project carefully completed,just to have some slob ruin it for you.I wouldn`t pay 10 cents for that!It`s best to gather "more than enough"money for paint/body work and have an "open-checkbook" attitude(in your mind).That`s why so many trucks never end up painted.

[Low69CST]

You get what you pay for with a paint job. Those prices sound realistic to me. My dad has run a paint shop for years (not so much now, he also works full time). Just for some advice you could ask to see some of his other vehicles he's painted. I'm sure he's done someone's street rod or "show car".

[GMC AMI]

Thanks for the info. I guess I will not complain about the 2000 I spent on this paint and new panel replacement even when the guy did not put it back together.

[1971Stepside]

I priced mine at three different shops. 10 to 15K to have her done the way I want. That includes paint and materials. These shops all had national show winners under their belt and had several cars/trucks in magazines. This is why I am still waiting to have it painted!! And I thought the Ram Jet 502 was expensive....

[bluec10]

Wow, thanks for all your advice guys. My truck has very little rust, so this is part of the reason for the low price. I want beautiful paint soooo......

I think what I'm going to do is get an estimate from a local soda blaster to remove the paint from the key parts of the truck. I'll prime and do some sanding. The body is in outstanding condition, so I think that even though I'm new to body work, I'll be able to manage.

The big trade-off is time. When I come up with the cash to do the job I'd like to just do it rather than taking forever to do it myself. My last project was apart in the garage for years. I'm not excited about doing it again.

[phlegm]

I have been shopping too, I found a person that does pretty good work for what I think is decent money.

he said he would repair any dings he found (i know of 2 -5 around the truck.
Repair the Rocker
Repair the holes where the camper shell has been bolted on
sand out the bed and any rust he can find on the body while scuffing.
Prime the entire vehicle for paint match, Base and Clear in PPG.

thats the exterior, interior wise he is going to do the bottom of the door jams and touch up the insides of the doors where the normal wear is down to primer.

All I have to do is remove the trim, he wants 3,100. O and I was referred to him by my neighbor.

Not to Hijack your post, but does this sound like a good deal to you guys?

[special-K]

Sounds good to me for both of you.