Often what throws a DIY paint job into the above $1k on c3 corvettes is replacing the bumpers. Then what a lot of people experience is a bad case of the WhileI'mAtIts - I've become a chronic WIAI'r. I think you can just get by with less than $1 in supplies and LOTS of elbow grease. Its not going to be a show car finish, but it won't look tired and 40 years od either. There are several threads here on DIY paint booths, and several people on this forum are cream of the crop painters that will guide you.

 

I like Barry have about $1000 dollars tied up in my PPG paint between the primer, sealant coat base coat and clear coat and the reducers its not cheap. I bought all my materials at the English colors chain here in Texas with a discount.

 

Welcome! I am in the middle of a '77 build right now. Very limited funds which means I am putting in large amounts of time on cleaning and fixing things myself. You don't have to spend huge money to have a nice car. I'll be thrilled with ours when it's running again and that's all that counts.

Also doing my own paint work when the time comes and there is no reason a nice paintjob can't be done for under $1,000 with quality materials. I painted my '72 Challenger myself (in my garage) for about $600 using all name brand materials (Omni) with a base / clear.

 

 

In actual sprayable material I have $200 in epoxy primer, $50 in a gallon of factory color PPG Omni AE, and about that much in reducer and hardener. No clear this time and the entire job was sprayed with a single $15.00 Harbor Freight gun. I have yet to finish wet sanding and buffing the nose and tops so only the rear angle shot... but it looks pretty darn good for $200. Even if you include every sheet of sandpaper, the epoxy and mat, and the gun and disposable filters... and the 2 NIOSH respirators I used the grand total from disaster to diva is only a bit more than $600. My labor, as always was free.

 

 

I came to the Corvette world from the Full-Size Jeep (think Wagoneers and Gladiators/J-10's), and recognize the "let's see if I can make this work" approach you describe in the Scout community. My '78 Cherokee project had an Olds 455 engine, a Dodge front axle, a Chevy transfer-case, rear axle and front springs, Ford F-350 shock mounts, as well as innumerable parts from various sundry cars and trucks I parted out. My shop-manual was a binder with photocopies of the relevant pages from the shop-manuals for the cars and trucks from which I took the parts.

The biggest difference I find with the Corvettes is how much more tightly-engineered all the systems on the Corvette are, compared to the Jeep and your I-H, so that parts are designed to fit and work within rather tight constraints, so that an alternative replacement part is not as easy to fit and make work as well as, never mind better than, an original part, and even if it does, it's hard not to make it look like it was frankensteined in place.

For example, unlike a Jeep, where I could swap out a points distributor for an aftermarket HEI unit or a factory Duraspark system rather easily, if I dropped in an HEI on my '71 Vette's 350, I would have to also change out the ignition-shielding, if I didn't want interference with the radio, and I would lose the hookup for my tach-drive cable. I could switch to a newer electronic tachometer, but then the typeface of the tach wouldn't match the color and typeface of the other gauges, which wouldn't bother me if I was bashing this thing around offroad like I did my Jeep, but when I'm cruising along or sitting at a show, I'd find it kind of cheesy.

There are people who have improved the engineering in their Vettes by upgrading to factory parts from other vehicles (just look at the Jeep boxes or the steering-racks, to name just one frequently-upgraded system), but frankly, sometimes the original factory engineering put into the Vette was already as good as you're going to get, so there's no real advantage to properly rebuilding an original factory unit. An example of this is the braking-system: once you sleeve the cylinders, you've got a 4-piston caliper clamping on some rather beefy rotors that give you great feel in street driving, and already have the specs that other vehicles are upgraded to.

 

As with most situations regarding "collectables" (cars included), knowledge is the thing of most value. Many owners of C3's are not mechanics and would not consider a lot of DIY work on a vintage car, probably due to fear of negative results.

Those who have knowledge of what paint and supplies to use, how to do the painting, etc. can achieve good results for low dollars...because the high dollar$ of a commissioned paint job is primarily the result of the painter's knowledge (skill) and the lack of such for the owner.

Many good results for restoration can be achieved for small amounts of money, if the owner knows what he/she is doing. I restored my entire interior to 'like new' condition for about $500. But, that required a LOT of labor on my part and very little purchased content. I can't tell you how many C3 buyers just throw out all the existing interior components and buy "new" (but poorer quality) replacements at enormous cost!

Knowledge is power. Knowledge can also save you a bunch of money...especially when it comes to refurbishing a C3. {And it will save you a lot more than switching to Gieco!}

 

There are both groups in here. There are many threads about changing out parts and saving money. Some people just want a dependable daily driver. There are others who believe in keeping it "correct" whether that is to restore the car or they want to do NCRS. The year doesn't really matter, the type of owner is all that matters.

Many times on these cars, you are limited on what you can replace things with and corvettes always seem to have a higher tax on them than other models. There is a for sale section just for this reason.

As far as taking it to the dealer to do the work, there are those who don't have knowledge or time and that is what they want to do. You'll find thousands of threads in here about guys who do everything including a frame off restoration on the cars and do just about every part of it themselves in their garages.

There is a little something for everyone's taste in here. You just have to search for it. Need a repair that you can't figure out? post a question and see how long it takes for someone to give you an answer or pictures.

 

I would love to hear details on this. :

 

That is a beautiful ride.

You are very talented.

 

Thank you I was very happy with the results. Was my first attempt at painting by myself - but I had advice and exposure to painting prior to this job. That car is now in Australia... can't imagine what the cost was to ship that thing by boat

 

Wow, Adam, that is a beauty of a mopar!
I remember somebody having a Challenger get crunched in transport. Was that you or somebody else?
What made you sell the car above, or did you just build it to sell it. I would love to have that in my garage.

 

Thank you Brent Yes, my '74 was totalled by a transport co.

The '72 was sold because of life circumstances. But, I now have a Vette which is pretty darn

 

Welcome to the CF, emitchum.

As stated by fellow CF brothers, we run the gamut here. I agree with the above comments due to the experience I've gained by reading and contributing here.

Without guys like Robb S, 7T1vette, and so many others like them, I've made countless DIY projects on my mule car. The results have been unanimously positive but my audience was very small, by choice, because I believe I'm the only person that I desire to please (though I balance any criticism with how satisfied I may be). I try not to bozo the car because of it's history and it's status as a thoroughbred but in the end, it's mine to do with, as I please.

Check this place out and let's see if you still feel the same in a few months.

One last thing: we enjoy pictures of your ride. Lots and lots of pictures. Hopefully, your prior forum experience explained how-to-do but if you have any questions, let us know.

Good luck.

 

There are all kinds here, some more rude than others about their particular preferences.

 

Hi A-M,
My Mopar side was just reminded why I like a '72 Challenger. A true beauty and can imagine what the new owner is enjoying. Drool...

Duh, caught on re-read. Oops.

 

I don't often jump in to things here but this time I will. No one has the right to tell someone that they can or can't do with there own car or how much it can or will cost. If I would have listened to some of you guys I would have never started on mine. See post http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-corvette.html from just a year and a half ago. Car was bought and reworked for less then $6000 and yes you can do paint for less then a grand my total cost was $482.00 paint and supplys. Unless you know first hand what the OP is capable of doing with his own two hands the only thing we need to do is answer his questions and wish him luck on his car. I am really tired of all the negitive know it all people
telling others what they can and cant do END OF RANT

 

Yep, like you, I understand the whole NCRS thing, in fact, I judge car shows as many do, but I sure don't appreciate the bubba comments. I tolerate it because there are so many great people in this forum that outweigh that nonsense.

 

Lots of us on here who take the DIY approach. I made up my own electric fan and mount for under $100.00 starting with a used electric fan. Picked up my tilt lever off ebay which was designed for another GM car so I could avoid the "corvette" tax. Installed rear f-body seat belts for $50.00 based on a thread here on the forum.

Get to know the folks on the forum better. You'll eventually figure out the individual personalities and who likes to save money versus those who prefer nothing but the best money can buy. I use the forum for reference, education and the joy in conversing with others that have similar interest. I don't use the forum for permission as I do what I want to my vette. Enjoy the positive and ignore the negative.

Jim