Need help getting C3 painted
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Need help getting C3 painted
I recently inherited a '75 that I'm fixing up. I first have to replace the front and rear bumper covers as they were badly damaged. The rest of the body looks in pretty good shape. After those are changed out, I need to get a new paint job.
The car was stored for a few years and the paint is in rough shape. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and have no idea where to go to get a Vette painted. Nor do I have any idea how much to expect to pay. Any advice would be appreciated!
The car was stored for a few years and the paint is in rough shape. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and have no idea where to go to get a Vette painted. Nor do I have any idea how much to expect to pay. Any advice would be appreciated!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
It depends on what you want the paint shop to do. Since you are replacing the bumpers you may need to install them first to make sure they will fit and don't need any shaving or build up. Then remove them again to paint.
I recently had my 77 painted but I did most of the prep work such as removing lights, glass, door hardware, emblems, weatherstrip, adjusting body/door alignment. I even found myself replacing body mounts because i caught the whileimatititis disease.
If the shop does this work it can get quite expensive.
You could get a cheap cover up paint job under a $1000.00 but I'm sure you will regret it.
Make a plan for what you want to do yourself to save $$$. I have heard of paint jobs in the 8-10K range.
I recently had my 77 painted but I did most of the prep work such as removing lights, glass, door hardware, emblems, weatherstrip, adjusting body/door alignment. I even found myself replacing body mounts because i caught the whileimatititis disease.
If the shop does this work it can get quite expensive.
You could get a cheap cover up paint job under a $1000.00 but I'm sure you will regret it.
Make a plan for what you want to do yourself to save $$$. I have heard of paint jobs in the 8-10K range.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 5
From: Madison WI
I don't know if the Madison area would be too far for you, but I had mine done at Belleville (a bit South of Madison) Auto Body. Randy and his son Scott came out to look at car, picked it up, and returned to my house when it was done. Very happy with them. Took doors and hood off, fitted new truflex bumper in the front of my 73. He also took pics during the process and sent to me during. I had the car media blasted before I had them come out to look at car. Price was $8000.
Like I said, I am happy for all that they did for me and my 73. If you search for previous posts by myself, you will run across pics of the progress of the repaint.
Give Randy a call. Not sure if Milwaukee would be too far for him. But still might be worth a call.
Randy Dreger
608.424.6009
Tell him Dale Konkol sent ya.
Like I said, I am happy for all that they did for me and my 73. If you search for previous posts by myself, you will run across pics of the progress of the repaint.
Give Randy a call. Not sure if Milwaukee would be too far for him. But still might be worth a call.
Randy Dreger
608.424.6009
Tell him Dale Konkol sent ya.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Call around, tell them what you've got and what you want to do, and get estimates.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
If you belong to a Corvette Club..ask where most of them have their pain work done... and do the same at every Saturday Night Cruise in you go to...
BTW...$8000.00 is on the cheap side locally for a GOOD paint job
Bob G.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 5
From: Madison WI
Yes, Bob, that $8000 was not bad at all. It was a bit more than I was "hoping" to spend, but it was very much worth it. Randy has done (and owns) many Corvettes before. He knows what's what, so to speak. I thought (ever so briefly) about looking for a better price, but when I considered that this is my "pride/joy", I was not going to give the car to someone who "can paint anything".
You get what you pay for. And your right, Bob, I actually got one helava deal.
Dale
You get what you pay for. And your right, Bob, I actually got one helava deal.
Dale
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 172
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From: Great White North
Give him a break. I'm sure every topic has been discussed before. This forum would be a pretty dull place if only a few answers were given for each topic.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
And you might be able to work a deal where they give you a discount if you let them use pictures of your Vette to advertise their work.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
I did give him the biggest 'break' I know how; useful info. This topic has been discussed a bazillion times since the conception of CF. Are all those discussions no longer worthy? Or is the only useful advice that which is given TODAY?
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 5
From: Madison WI
Sort of. Randy (who did my car) fitted the new front bumper first and making any necessary adjustments to it and then it was "pulled back" from the body a bit so that primer/basecoat could get sprayed behind the bumper and body where they meet. But befor the clear was shot, he tightened up the bumper tight to the body.
His personal perference of doing things. I guess.
Dale
His personal perference of doing things. I guess.
Dale
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Same reason we have a car we love, paid way too much for, invested way too much, will never ever ever get the money back out of but still can't wait to drive it with a big prideful smile on our faces! You get the picture. It's a Vette.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington Illinois
Why does it cost so much?! That seems insanely high just to disassemble and put a few layers primer/paint whatever else they do and the paint can't cost that much even for the really nice stuff. Is there really that much of a quality difference between an $8,000 paint job and a $2-3,000 dollar one?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 415
From: N J
Why does it cost so much?! That seems insanely high just to disassemble and put a few layers primer/paint whatever else they do and the paint can't cost that much even for the really nice stuff. Is there really that much of a quality difference between an $8,000 paint job and a $2-3,000 dollar one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Why does it cost so much?! That seems insanely high just to disassemble and put a few layers primer/paint whatever else they do and the paint can't cost that much even for the really nice stuff. Is there really that much of a quality difference between an $8,000 paint job and a $2-3,000 dollar one?