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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 05:44 PM
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Default Paint Cost

Have a 97 with around 145,000 miles on. Still in great shape though mechanically. Most of the stuff have been able to fix myself. Also redid the interior myself a year or so ago. New carpets, seats, panes, HUD etc.

Only thing is, the car has picked up some nicks and scrapes along the way (some idiot for example scratched door in parking lot few months ago), so I have been thinking about a new paint job. Only drive the car now and again, but probably still worth it in my opinion. Better to keep older car than get new one. So what am I looking at in terms of cost for a really nice paint job? Want to keep the car original color (victory red was what it was called I think). The interior looks brand new (which it is), what would it cost to make the exterior look new too?

Also down the road if needed, what would engine rebuild and tranny rebuild cost? Approximately?
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 05:48 PM
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Body panels off quality paint job,,,,6 to 7 K$
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 06:12 PM
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What can I get for around $2k - $3k?
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 06:14 PM
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Probably a panels-on repaint of the same color. BTW, 97's were torch red.
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 06:17 PM
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Sometimes it is easier to sell and start over with lower milage. Paint/interior/mechanical - Dollars spent seem to over shadow value.

Just my 2 cents
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by dquagliaroli
Sometimes it is easier to sell and start over with lower milage. Paint/interior/mechanical - Dollars spent seem to over shadow value.

Just my 2 cents
I have thought about that. Then again, sometimes better the devil you know......
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 06:45 PM
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It might be nicer in the long run to spend that "paint" money on some great road trips. Drive the car, have fun, let it get some more chips. At this point in it's life it's just a damn good, fun to drive used car. Enjoy it. You spend all that money on paint and then all you'll do is worry about the new paint getting scratched.
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by rcs128
It might be nicer in the long run to spend that "paint" money on some great road trips. Drive the car, have fun, let it get some more chips. At this point in it's life it's just a damn good, fun to drive used car. Enjoy it. You spend all that money on paint and then all you'll do is worry about the new paint getting scratched.
Probably right:-)
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 07:10 PM
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Good luck with what ever you decide
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 08:39 PM
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I don't know too much about wrapping a car, but I heard that for around 2-3k it can be done and you can choose a nice exotic colour....
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Old Dec 26, 2009 | 10:20 PM
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It also bothers to see my Z06 with all that fine scratches. Luckily there's nothing major, so I'm considering getting a good Flex or Porter Cable polisher and do it myself.
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 12:53 AM
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Check out the special AutoBuffs has on a complete repaint (they posted up a thread back in November). I believe it was in the $5.5K range for a very good paint job.

For $2-3K, the quality will obviously be much less.
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 06:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Silverbullet00
Body panels off quality paint job,,,,6 to 7 K$
If your painting the car the same color is it really worth it to pull the body panels, what’s the benefit in that?
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 06:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Indy
I don't know too much about wrapping a car, but I heard that for around 2-3k it can be done and you can choose a nice exotic colour....
They was a thread about this a few weeks ago (you might want to search), not my style- I would rather get the car painted and get the the 3M clear wrap applied on the front bumper
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Check out the special AutoBuffs has on a complete repaint (they posted up a thread back in November). I believe it was in the $5.5K range for a very good paint job.

For $2-3K, the quality will obviously be much less.


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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 12:26 PM
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Go get estimates from reliable P&B shops in your area. Tell them exactly what you want. Then you will know the cost and decide.
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by JPM@AutoBuffs


Sent the OP a PM...Thanks again my friend


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Hey John,

Could you explain the benefits of a panels off paint for a same color job?

It would also be great for those of us rehabbing high mileage cars if you could give us an idea of what minor 'glass repairs might run. I know this is an impossible task to be specific, but if you can shed some light on things like 1-2"cracks in the door jam, hips on the corners of the hood, etc., that would be ridiculously awesome. I'm not asking for quotes here, and the obvious disclaimer should be that your responses are for general information only as opposed to quotes, estimate, etc.

TIA,
Erik
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by TurboBerserker
Hey John,

Could you explain the benefits of a panels off paint for a same color job?

It would also be great for those of us rehabbing high mileage cars if you could give us an idea of what minor 'glass repairs might run. I know this is an impossible task to be specific, but if you can shed some light on things like 1-2"cracks in the door jam, hips on the corners of the hood, etc., that would be ridiculously awesome. I'm not asking for quotes here, and the obvious disclaimer should be that your responses are for general information only as opposed to quotes, estimate, etc.

TIA,
Erik
The panels off paint system is not required but is preferred by many high end paint shops. Obviously every painter has a way they like to prep and paint a vehicle but ours is the (panels off method). This allows us to prep each panel as a single item and will ensure quality and make it easier for prep, paint, clear and wetsanding.

Door jam cracks are tricky as there is much stress on this part of the car. The price for that kind of repair is based on 90% prep and repair and 10% paint if that makes any sense. The price would also depend on exactly where the damage is on the jam as some areas are much more labor intensive then others.

I can hand out an accurate quote if you can send me pics of the damage so I can see where the cracks are located and how much repair is needed.

Hope all of this makes sense.

Below is a link to our re-paint thread
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/nort...aint-sale.html


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Pinstriping
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Car Audio
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 10:52 AM
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Have you talked to anyone about getting it professionally buffed/polished? You'd be surprised what a good compound and polish can do for a fraction of the price of paintwork. Just my $.02
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by CS Vette
Have you talked to anyone about getting it professionally buffed/polished? You'd be surprised what a good compound and polish can do for a fraction of the price of paintwork. Just my $.02
Not yet. Did have it detailed well once, and they said they polish it, but in the end did not make much of a change.
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