Empty Nest
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 8
From: Miami FL
Empty Nest
Well, she’s off for new paint. It has been an adventure getting to this point. This started with the idea I would just ‘prep’ the car for paint. Obviously to save a few bucks but to also have the satisfaction of doing a lot of the work. Well, it was more than I ever planned for but worth it. I stripped the paint, replaced the body mounts, repaired damaged headlight buckets, and spent countless hours aligning all the doors and panels. I also did countless fiberglass repairs (and this is on a car that I thought was in pretty good shape). This included larger projects like redoing the inner fender lips and the hood/fender height gap and a never-ending small repairs.
I have to thank the members of this forum. This place is a wealth of information and I always feel I can ask for help if I get into trouble. I’ve never done these kinds of repairs but this place gives me the confidence to really get into trouble.
I’m not out of the woods by a long shot because I still have a pile of parts to put together. …so expect to hear from me again.
Joe
I have to thank the members of this forum. This place is a wealth of information and I always feel I can ask for help if I get into trouble. I’ve never done these kinds of repairs but this place gives me the confidence to really get into trouble.
I’m not out of the woods by a long shot because I still have a pile of parts to put together. …so expect to hear from me again.
Joe
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 8
From: Miami FL
She's going to stay her original color... Laguna blue. I love that color
The interior is bright blue / white. I did all this azz backwards as the interior (including the dash and cluster) is all done. I spent a lot of time pulling it back and wrapping it in heavy plastic. I decide not to remove it so I hope it survives. The tires are Michelin Symmetry, I like them and will probably replace them with the same thing.
The painter is close to my home so I intend to visit often and take a lot iof pics. I'm told 3 or 4 weeks... I'll be patient
The interior is bright blue / white. I did all this azz backwards as the interior (including the dash and cluster) is all done. I spent a lot of time pulling it back and wrapping it in heavy plastic. I decide not to remove it so I hope it survives. The tires are Michelin Symmetry, I like them and will probably replace them with the same thing.
The painter is close to my home so I intend to visit often and take a lot iof pics. I'm told 3 or 4 weeks... I'll be patient
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 8
From: Miami FL
I've been working every weekend since February 
I did chemical stripping (Aircraft Stripper) and it was messy but not too bad. Took about a month and went through 2 gal of stripper, 2+ gal of lacquer thinner and 2 bottles of softscrub. The paint on the car was not original and did not want to come off without a fight. Stripped the doors, hood and deck lid off the car. You have no idea how many nooks and corners these cars have until you try to remove all the paint. I'm in no hurry to ever do that project again
I did chemical stripping (Aircraft Stripper) and it was messy but not too bad. Took about a month and went through 2 gal of stripper, 2+ gal of lacquer thinner and 2 bottles of softscrub. The paint on the car was not original and did not want to come off without a fight. Stripped the doors, hood and deck lid off the car. You have no idea how many nooks and corners these cars have until you try to remove all the paint. I'm in no hurry to ever do that project again
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 228
Likes: 8
From: northern Virginia
Can't wait to see the finished product.
Since the standard answer for a price on a paint job is $10K, would you mind sharing how much you will pay since you did so much of the work already?
Since the standard answer for a price on a paint job is $10K, would you mind sharing how much you will pay since you did so much of the work already?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,073
Likes: 414
From: Maine
A lot
So about $7,000 for a good job if you don't need a lot of body work and filling. I did not do any work .
Jack
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 8
From: Miami FL
a whole lot....
That's about right. I need some minor body work to level out some spots. I'm hoping to get it done for about $8K which includes the hardtop and underside of the hood. The paint is real expensive..... and I didn't go with the cheapest painter (this guy does excellent work).
Joe
Joe