how do you prep a car before you have it painted ?
vettes are fiberglass and i know thats not the strongest stuff in the world so
how do ya do it ? :confused:

 

actually in some cases fiberglass is stronger then steel.. its not hard to prep a vette, just real time consuming. i dont feel like typing it again so just read my previous post

 

If I would have prepped my car, taped it, and primed it, a respectable body shop would have shot MY paint(provided by me), for $200...including jambs. Just to show you how much you spend in prep work. Paint is about $500 for the car(Im wrong, but it seems like a good even number)...so $700....a full prep paint job around here is $2500...see the $$$ you spend in prep work?

I had the shop prep my car, it had way to make problems for me to tackle on a first try(including a funny looking hole in the fender :eek: )....

You should ask shops what they charge to just spray the car...tell them you will tape it. If I could do mine over, I would ask if I could tape the car. The guy painted things he probably shouldn't have, and he didn't paint things he probably should have(example, overspray in the wheel well, but didn't do the hinge bolt covers on the doors(stands out, being its black)...but other then that I cannot complain.

Daniel

 

First a guy asks for opinions about a Maaco paint job. Then a lot of helpful people offer him opinions and advice. Then some people start whining about the advice! He ASKED for advice. He GOT advice. He expressed APPRECIATION for the advice. So what's your problem? I appreciated all the advice too; it gave me new insight for my next paint job! Instead of hiring my pro to shoot, I'm going to prep as I always have, and get a good Maaco guy to shoot the paint I bring him. My guy doesn't like to do Vettes anymore. Uses too much of his valuable time and space. As long as I do good prepping and supply good paint, a good Maaco gun jockey ought to shoot me a real fine job! (I'd use the trade school frre as a retired teacher, but the paint booth is just TOO nasty. Too bad I don't live near some you educators with the CLEAN booths!)


[Modified by jsimpson, 6:18 PM 10/12/2001]

 

I'm planning on having Sophia painted after I do all the prep work. It won't happen this year - but maybe next winter. We used to have a spray booth in our other house. Wish I still did! It's all in the prep work! The original lady owner of my car had it painted :( somewhere - they didn't even bother to take off the rocker panels. I'm still getting overspray out of all the nooks and crannies. :mad

 

Vettesic -

When I was younger, I painted cars – we specialized in Corvettes.

I painted my ‘69 vette in 1980 - it was a good job, but I did not take my time to remove the doors and do other nit-pickin item that I should have. Other than this, the paint was flawless - when it was shined –WOW!. I will be repainting it in the Spring and will re-do everything - I will post pictures when ready.

I also painted my 72 Monte Carlo - just take a look at the one photo in my signature that shows the side of the car. This is a showcar paintjob (or was – it I a daily driver). When that thing is clean - I can't tell you how many looks and compliments I get on it. And its a Monte Carlo!

Remember - there are cars that look good when they drive by and there are cars that really look good when you are looking at yourself in the finish of the paint. The difference in quality (and work involved) is MASSIVE. You have to decide where your requirements of quality, limits of financing and your ability to do the work yourself will lead you.

Back is 93-94, the MC needed a paint job. Being experienced with the task of painting, (and lacking time and money) I was weighing the difference of doing it myself - or (believe it or not) going to Macco or Earl. They had varying prices and I figured if I prepped the car (ie: a weekend colorsand & scuff / fix minor door dings) - they could spray and by midweek, with my prep skills, I could wind up with a car that looked pretty decent.

Again - the work is in preparation. When I visited the shops, some were professional, but one was spraying a black p/u. I walked into the boothe as he finished. four or five 16-18" wide runs, there was all kinds of stuff in the paint, ...... it was scary!

Well - I knew I was most likely too picky to actually follow through with this, but when I saw the black p/u, I knew I had to do it all myself.

Prepping a car for painting is alot of hard work. Depending on what level you want to be, if it is top quality you want, the prep work is everything. It can also depend on what color you are spraying and as to what deficiencies the color will hide. If you do all that yourself, why would you let someone else do the easy part - hell – spraying is the fun part. Aside - the protective overspray taping and actual prep the day of painting is very important as well - especially where longevity of paint is concerned.

I learned that some of these type shops in our area actually used water based paints - their ability to do paint jobs for low prices is partly due to the savings they experience by using their own (cheap) paints.

If its a non-collectible car - and possibly a lighter shade color (white) with no body problems, a novice can scuff it up and do just a good a job or better than any Maaco. If you are looking at a special vette or flatbodied car in a color such as black - it is detailed, focused work. Not impossible for the novice, just takes patience and focus. A car such as this, that is not done properly will look llook terrible. As all deficiencies in the body work will be highlighted.

Well – just wanted to give some comments for you to consider. Keep us posted.

See3er – Your side exhaust are mounted below rocker panels instead of in place of them Does this give you difficulty with clearances in driving on the street?

Semper Fi :flag




[Modified by kaiserbud, 9:05 AM 10/13/2001]

 

Ed

I did not mean it that way ! :eek:

After I looked at your response, I was confused - then I re-reviewed the statemnent... It hit me - I'll bet he has a white Vette.

I meant a light color that does does not show flaws in bodywork

I modified it.....If its a non-collectible car - and possibly a lighter shade color (white) with

;)


[Modified by kaiserbud, 11:29 AM 10/13/2001]

 

Iteresting post...I went to a few maaco shops about 2 years ago and they refused to work on the vette..They said they dont do Vettes...I was like why? He said because Vette owners are too picky...so I said "so you admit you cant paint the car the right way then?"

I will never use maaco...it would prob be different if you know the people there well and they can tailor their jobs to suit your needs.
A relative of mine has hid Cavalier repsprayed by maaco..the paint looked nice the first few days he had it home..then I began to notice more and more dust and craters under the paint and the excess orange peel...a year ter, all his paint is peeling off the bumpers.I used a mild polish/wax to try and buff a scratch for him as well and the blue paint rubbed off onto the cloth.

The earls and maacos ive visited, I looked at the cars in there and was disgusted...I take it the shops I saw werent very good then.
But I havent seen a maaco job look that great.And when they turned me away that time(before I knew much about their works)
I took it on myself to ask around and find out what getting a paint job was all about.

I recently found someone where I live, he has a Body shop,who will repaint my car for 1500 bucks.Thats 3 base coats and 3 clears, and i took some of the trim ff the car, moldings and etc so they wont have to mask the car in places to make tape lines.
This shop does excellent work, and was able to see their work done while i was there.
I cant afford a 4-6k job either, but Im getting a excellent deal for 1500.
The car will be painted in PPG paints.
It will take 2 weeks to prep and paint the car there and sand the final clear and etc...that should make for a good job.
This shop does not spray a car and give it back the sand,buff and polish the paints to ensure a good uniform shine with minimal ornage peel and dust stuck in the paints.

Shop around and see who will work with you.
But I agree ,do as much removal of trim and prep work you can do according to your skills and the results of a good painter will look even better.
:)

 

I can't even find anybody that will spray my car if I get it ready. If I take it in for estimates, it's "we don't do entire cars, takes too long", if I say I will get it ready and I want them to spray the paint because they have a booth, it's "we only paint what we do the body work on". I'm sick of it and going to do it myself. I have been studying Lars' paper and emailing him ??????'s and am about ready to tackle it. I guess sometimes you just have to do things yourself.

 

check out my post for electron blue this is from maaco :D

 

It will look good for about a month. After that I noticed air bubbles and cracking paint. I had a repaint over the existing paint. This is a mistake. But for 400 bucks, why not.

 

they didnt prep it i did.

 

i paid $225.00 for the paint job in this picture, i did all the body work myself, this is there half price sale paint.. but letme tell you the guy who did it was has a right up on him in the local paper as the top gun of all maco's nation wide... but let me tell you i got paint jobs from maco that were extremely bad, your talking anything from orange peel, to paint runs all over the place, picked up the car and they burn't a clutch out another shop (maco), didn't tell me, but the backed a car into the nose and didn't mention it untill i noticed it, geeze i could go on,,i been practicing with a paint gun on buddys cars and think i am at the point where i can trust myself with my vette, so this spriing i will tackle the paint, it sits now in primer

 

Uh, ron on sentence perhaps? :)

There's 2 ways to look at it. cheap or inexpensive. Cheap you'll do over again in 2 to 4 years. Inexpensive will last. Do the prep yourself and get a good painter to shoot the top coats with high quality paint. You'll come out better in the long run.

Shannon

 

uh, i'll try not to ron on.... :rolleyes:

whats inexpensive??? one person may say $3500.00 is expensive another may say $1500.00.. but keep in mind, there cheap paint jobs will nick at the drop of a dime... if the paint don't fade in 2 years, well then it sat in a garage most of the time.. i'd be more concerend in the quality of the paint, you can color sand and buff out flaws..... i didn't ron on did i?? :D

 

I did the "MACO thing" and it was the best that I could at the time. I would not it try at a Coevette judjing show, with the paint job . I call it at "3 foot' paitn job" meaning that you can't see the defects until you get closer. People say "good morning" to 7T6HER before they say good morning to me.

If I could afford a custom paint job I might buy one of those " $54,000 Z Things"

Save the wave and God Bless !

Bill

 

I should have been more specific instead of ronnin off :)

I think of it like this. An inexpensive paint job only costs slightly more than a Maaco job. If you pay Maaco or Earl for their $599 top-o-the-line special, you're still getting inferior prep and low quality paint. Do the prep yourself, supply the paiter with top quality paint, and you'll end up with a paint job that will look better, last longer, and only cost a little bit more $$$ than the cheap job.

Of course, you'll incest much more of your own time in it, but it's a hobby and supposed to be fun, right? :D Sounds like we agree.

Shannon

 

Kaiserbud,

I don't have a white vette. I have the most difficult color to own and the one that shows the most body work.....BLACK of course. Most shops will not paint over body work other than theirs. This is true cause all the shops I went to today said the same thing. They all want to start from scratch. They just blew all my hard prep work off!! I too am thinking about doing this myself. But, the last time I painted a car was long ago, and don't think I am ready for a Vette!! And don't have any equipment. At a dead end for now. $4000.00 for a driver's paint job is NG and NOT gonna happen. :nonod: Keep Ya posted, L8TER, Paul.

 

Paul - I know exactly where you are coming from. If I did not learn bodywork, I would not have my car. I bought and sold, painted round the clock on wekends/holidayst o move up the ladder - I paid $4100.00 for my car and that was alot for me! . In fact, I kept my Vette running by doing bodywork on the mechanics' cars - those guys always drove the nicest cars due to this .. But hey I got my ROI - my car ran like a spotted ape. :D

If you painted before, you can paint agian. WHen I painted the Monte Carlo, I learned about the new paints. I am sure there are new advances, especially where fiberglass is concerned. Years ago, it was unacceptable to paint a Vette with anything other than lacquer - but now (other than purist?), life has changed. The paints are so much more durable today. I am eager to get to the Spring to repaint my car. My dilemna is to make sure I can recall and properly think our the work process - what to do first, mechanically, best aftermarket/new technology parts, etc....





[Modified by kaiserbud, 5:11 PM 10/15/2001]

 

Kaiserbud,

I was thinkin about one step at a time. I'll do a little more wave leveling. Then I'll seal the whole thing. Not sure what to use yet for that. Then I'll prime with some type of polyester prime/filler. Not sure what to use for that either. I'm not even thinkin bout paint at this time. First I have to figure out where to get a compressor and a decent paint gun too!! Whoa!! I'm too burned out to think about this any more today. :crazy: L8TER, Paul.