Paint questions and input please
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 60
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From: Gainesville Florida
Paint questions and input please
I am at a cross roads with my girl. Come this February it will be 8 years. She has an old driver paint job most likely pushing 17-20 years old and I doubt it was a good one even then. The paint is layer on layer and has a few cracks in the paint. I had the nose repainted to get rid of the rock chips and paint cracks near the head lights. I documented that there was no damage when the paint was off.
Questions?
Is it time to take her back to the right color? Maroon instead or resale red
Anyone recommend any painters in Florida?
I am at a point in my life were the cars gets almost no use. ( 2 year old son and too many other hobbies). So will the cost of painting it be recouped if a good driver paint is applied. I think I could let her go, but am worried I won’t be able to get back into one down the road if values take off.
All the mechanicals are done. Only about 3K miles in the last 8 years and maybe 1k on the rebuilt motor.
NOM but heads are date correct and the block is a 66 L79 but with a blank pad. It runs like a top. Always fires right up and sound awesome.
Thanks guys. I read the forum the last 2 nights before posting this so let me know what ya think.
Questions?
Is it time to take her back to the right color? Maroon instead or resale red
Anyone recommend any painters in Florida?
I am at a point in my life were the cars gets almost no use. ( 2 year old son and too many other hobbies). So will the cost of painting it be recouped if a good driver paint is applied. I think I could let her go, but am worried I won’t be able to get back into one down the road if values take off.
All the mechanicals are done. Only about 3K miles in the last 8 years and maybe 1k on the rebuilt motor.
NOM but heads are date correct and the block is a 66 L79 but with a blank pad. It runs like a top. Always fires right up and sound awesome.
Thanks guys. I read the forum the last 2 nights before posting this so let me know what ya think.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
I had the same concern when I had other hobbies and when my daughter was two...except the Barrett-Jackson auctions were not on our cable provider in 2002. Now, my 65 Vette has gone up in value quite a bit since then. If you enjoy your time with the only midyear convertible you will ever own, then live it up. It will never happen again, because you probably won't be able to afford it later.
Paint it whatever color you want, because it's your Vette!
Paint it whatever color you want, because it's your Vette!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 6
From: Mission Viejo California
Unless you really need a place to throw some money away, why repaint it? You're not driving it that often and from the pictures it looks beautiful.
I think the Maroon is one of the more beautiful original colors so you wouldn't regret it. But I am one to think that cool old cars don't have to be nuts on perfect to be fun.
Just my personal opinion but I wouldn't repaint it at this time.
I think the Maroon is one of the more beautiful original colors so you wouldn't regret it. But I am one to think that cool old cars don't have to be nuts on perfect to be fun.
Just my personal opinion but I wouldn't repaint it at this time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
If that is your car in the photo, looks nice to me. I agree if you don't drive it much or take it to shows, leave it alone. To return it to the original color will be more expensive then resale red color it is now. Especially if you have to paint the jambs etc. Also, if you keep it red and don't need to strip it down to glass, you can sand and repaint depending on the mills of paint on the car now. You have lots of choices. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,354
Likes: 2,726
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
I agree with the others, KEEP it, it looks great! Enjoy it as you can because it will be a great common denominator for you and your son later in life. Here is a future thought. Your son will love to be picked up at school in that car. All the kids will notice. I experience this several times a year. 
Dennis
Dennis
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,347
Likes: 36
From: San Clemente CA
I agree with the others, KEEP it, it looks great! Enjoy it as you can because it will be a great common denominator for you and your son later in life. Here is a future thought. Your son will love to be picked up at school in that car. All the kids will notice. I experience this several times a year. Dennis
Dennis
Pick up my grandaughter ( 1st grade) in my 65 Vert and she has all the boys loving her!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 60
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From: Gainesville Florida
Thanks guys. You have been great.
The paint has a ton of flaws. I know every one by heart and I guess after washing it by hand for 8 years they bother me more than anyone else.
If it gets painted again it will have to be taken all the way down. It must have 4 paint jobs on top of the glass.
The paint has a ton of flaws. I know every one by heart and I guess after washing it by hand for 8 years they bother me more than anyone else.
If it gets painted again it will have to be taken all the way down. It must have 4 paint jobs on top of the glass.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 416
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I know you know every flaw - but it's still awwwful shiny in the picture. The first rock chip on a new paint job is going to hurt a lot more than the flaws that are already there. You know all those coats of paints help make it straighter.
Where in Florida are you?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 60
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From: Gainesville Florida
Not much around here to cruise to and not much of a Corvette club. We bought the car when we lived in Pensacola and were doing something Corvette related 1-2 times a month ( pre kid)..
The pictures make it look nicer than it really is. Ther lower 1/4 has orange peal and up close it looks bad with lots of flaws here and there. From 10ft it looks OK. I lover the car and have done everything you can think of mechanical. Interior is very good but the seats are not the correct pattern. It really down to needing paint and the frame cleaned and painted to hold its own at your average local car show ( not the hard core vet only shows).
After talking with the wife we will wait for spring to decide to keep it or not and just go from there.
We got into racing at GVRW so most of my tinkering energy goes into that.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 2
From: Crownsville Md.
Thanks guys. You have been great.
The paint has a ton of flaws. I know every one by heart and I guess after washing it by hand for 8 years they bother me more than anyone else.
If it gets painted again it will have to be taken all the way down. It must have 4 paint jobs on top of the glass.
The paint has a ton of flaws. I know every one by heart and I guess after washing it by hand for 8 years they bother me more than anyone else.
If it gets painted again it will have to be taken all the way down. It must have 4 paint jobs on top of the glass.
spider cracks and dings everywhere. I'm in the process
of replacing the engine and wish I could afford a total
restoration, but I have 11 & 8 year old girls who take up
all of my free time. I'll get her painted one day.
Shemp
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 315
From: Scottsdale AZ
the most enjoyable cars dont have perfect paint
live care free, being obsessed with perfection is a downward spiral trap, enjoy the car, life is too short to worry. It wasnt perfect when some guy bought it new. If you did have it painted perfect then it would be just one more thing to worry about.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 60
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From: Gainesville Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
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From: Ocala FL
Well, I am not sure what is going on, but I can't see your picture or any of the pictures on CF.
But being in Gainesville, you are just up the road from me. If you want, a couple of us are going down to Old Town for the NCRS meet Friday if you want to run down. Bring your Corvette, it will give us a chance to look it over, size up what you have, and give you a real idea of what is needed.
If you don't want to drive it that far, you can park it in my garage and ride on down with us, and still give us the chance to look it over and give you some ideas.
Typically, you can be $3000 to $10,000 or more for painting one. However, you can get a respectable job if you have someone willing to help who has a place to paint and the tools to do it for much less. Right now my '68 is sitting there, so there is no offer to do anything like that for a few months at least. But it doesn't sound like you are in a real rush.
Email me if you are interested in going to the show.
But being in Gainesville, you are just up the road from me. If you want, a couple of us are going down to Old Town for the NCRS meet Friday if you want to run down. Bring your Corvette, it will give us a chance to look it over, size up what you have, and give you a real idea of what is needed.
If you don't want to drive it that far, you can park it in my garage and ride on down with us, and still give us the chance to look it over and give you some ideas.
Typically, you can be $3000 to $10,000 or more for painting one. However, you can get a respectable job if you have someone willing to help who has a place to paint and the tools to do it for much less. Right now my '68 is sitting there, so there is no offer to do anything like that for a few months at least. But it doesn't sound like you are in a real rush.
Email me if you are interested in going to the show.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville Florida
Well, I am not sure what is going on, but I can't see your picture or any of the pictures on CF.
But being in Gainesville, you are just up the road from me. If you want, a couple of us are going down to Old Town for the NCRS meet Friday if you want to run down. Bring your Corvette, it will give us a chance to look it over, size up what you have, and give you a real idea of what is needed.
If you don't want to drive it that far, you can park it in my garage and ride on down with us, and still give us the chance to look it over and give you some ideas.
Typically, you can be $3000 to $10,000 or more for painting one. However, you can get a respectable job if you have someone willing to help who has a place to paint and the tools to do it for much less. Right now my '68 is sitting there, so there is no offer to do anything like that for a few months at least. But it doesn't sound like you are in a real rush.
Email me if you are interested in going to the show.
But being in Gainesville, you are just up the road from me. If you want, a couple of us are going down to Old Town for the NCRS meet Friday if you want to run down. Bring your Corvette, it will give us a chance to look it over, size up what you have, and give you a real idea of what is needed.
If you don't want to drive it that far, you can park it in my garage and ride on down with us, and still give us the chance to look it over and give you some ideas.
Typically, you can be $3000 to $10,000 or more for painting one. However, you can get a respectable job if you have someone willing to help who has a place to paint and the tools to do it for much less. Right now my '68 is sitting there, so there is no offer to do anything like that for a few months at least. But it doesn't sound like you are in a real rush.
Email me if you are interested in going to the show.
Is there a local place you guys post?
I have a few images in my gallery here.
http://nationalhorsepower.com/forum/..._album&album=8
Yea I would get a kick out of meeting you guys so let me know if anything else is going on.
My buddies and I post here and most of the members are fome GV and Ocala. I come down there every week or 2 so I can wrench with my race buddies.