Having A 1997 - 2004 Corvete Spray Painted
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2024
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Having A 1997 - 2004 Corvete Spray Painted
After owning this 1998 Corvette it began to look tired. So I had it spray painted by MAACO in 2017. At first they did a fantastic job for $3,000. (That was prices in 2017) also Covering the interior door and trunk panels as well. That was 8 years ao. Now it is "Bubbling" and pealing due the a little known fact that a fiber glass body will push those fiber glass fibers outward as the season changes. So now I have a car with about 8, what looks like bubbles on the roof and small bubles on the fenders? I also found out from Chevy that you must apply at least 4 to 5 coats of "MEMBRANE" a clear substance, on top of the finished primer before you spray paint any fiber glass car. MAACO or any body shop will not do this unless you specifically tell them or pay a litle extra while getting the car done. So now I have to re-pain the Corvette but pay the extra up cost for 2 to 5 coats of Membrane to be added specifically to the top. Maybe not that many coats to the rest of the car. Now you know one of the secrets to owning and painting a fiber glass car. .................the end
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Well MAACO paint is single stage paint ( It does not have clear coat ) So just like paints in the sixtes, it isn't loog before the paint to show it's age. but for what people get with a MAACO, it is cheap, and for what these franchises buy the paint for ( Cheap ) and you only want a year or two for it to look OK, it is worth the cheap price. And for what it's worth, Painting a car is most othen over looked is labor, it can take about 1-3 hours to paint a Vette, there is about 72 hours of surface inspection correcting the surface, sanding and repair work, That is what your paying for. but you get a much simulating paint that will last ( with a garage kept vehicle is about 20 years or so. Well kept cars last much longer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,962
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From: North Coast
It is not the fiberglass. It was a $3000 paint job. That is all you get.
My Fiero has the same materials at the C5 and is near 40 years old and just sone best paint about a year ago at a Pontiac event. That is mostly GM factory paint on the car.
Like most things in life you get what you pay for.
My Fiero has the same materials at the C5 and is near 40 years old and just sone best paint about a year ago at a Pontiac event. That is mostly GM factory paint on the car.
Like most things in life you get what you pay for.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 32
Likes: 39
I was inquiring about my entire painted, wrapped, whatever from local shops in my area. I even have a few friends that are professional 30 year body and paint guys , and I can tell you it’s not cheap for a quality job. The membrane you are referring to I think could be considered a sealer? Drifting is correct that Maaco is a single stage paint job where as a more expensive would be cleared. The C5 is a relatively easy car to paint , at least that’s what most pros said that I talked to. The material list alone was $1800-2000. The estimates I received ( I got 4) were anywhere from $6800- 9000. I have opted to have the trunk lid , passenger 1/4 panel and roof painted. The rest of the car is getting wet sanded with 3000 grit , then compound and polish. I told myself that if I could have it professionally painted for around $5k I would do it. It just wasn’t in the budget. Good luck with your project.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,158
Likes: 80
From: Los Angeles CA
That sounds like what may have happened to my C5 in a previous life, or maybe it was
in a accident and repainted. Idk but when I bought it
Anyway, that two toned
faded paint probably just helped me get a better deal. Good luck
in a accident and repainted. Idk but when I bought it
Anyway, that two tonedfaded paint probably just helped me get a better deal. Good luck
Racer
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 275
Likes: 39
the sad truth is a real paint job is more than what most of c5's are worth now. I know doesn't help the guy that created this thread but, I wouldn't bother painting one of these. Will never be as good as factory coating.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 616
Likes: 118
From: Alpharetta GA
I think you got great life out of a Maaco paint job. Everything is about surface prep. If you sanded, smoothed out, sanded again, primed, etc and then sprayed Rustoleum turbo cans, you will have a great looking paint job. If you want a real paint job at a real body shop, you could easily spend $10k all in.
Maaco is who you see if you are looking to sell a car and want to get the most bang for the buck when you sell it.
You can pay extra for the clear coat over the single stage paint. Maybe no one does, but if you pay them enough, they will do all the appropriate steps.
Maaco is who you see if you are looking to sell a car and want to get the most bang for the buck when you sell it.
Well MAACO paint is single stage paint ( It does not have clear coat ) So just like paints in the sixtes, it isn't loog before the paint to show it's age. but for what people get with a MAACO, it is cheap, and for what these franchises buy the paint for ( Cheap ) and you only want a year or two for it to look OK, it is worth the cheap price. And for what it's worth, Painting a car is most othen over looked is labor, it can take about 1-3 hours to paint a Vette, there is about 72 hours of surface inspection correcting the surface, sanding and repair work, That is what your paying for. but you get a much simulating paint that will last ( with a garage kept vehicle is about 20 years or so. Well kept cars last much longer.
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Intermediate
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I would have to disagree, the paint materials themselves are better than were available in 2001. A quality professional paint job would definitely be equal to or better than factory. Also, if you know anything about the C5, the panel fitment was nothing to rage about. The inconsistency of the gaps between the panels is very common. A new paint job allows you to tweak this if desired , and makes for a better overall appearance. On the other hand , one didn’t purchase a C5 for exact panel fitment. This is just my opinion.
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I think you got great life out of a Maaco paint job. Everything is about surface prep. If you sanded, smoothed out, sanded again, primed, etc and then sprayed Rustoleum turbo cans, you will have a great looking paint job. If you want a real paint job at a real body shop, you could easily spend $10k all in.
Maaco is who you see if you are looking to sell a car and want to get the most bang for the buck when you sell it.
You can pay extra for the clear coat over the single stage paint. Maybe no one does, but if you pay them enough, they will do all the appropriate steps.
Maaco is who you see if you are looking to sell a car and want to get the most bang for the buck when you sell it.
You can pay extra for the clear coat over the single stage paint. Maybe no one does, but if you pay them enough, they will do all the appropriate steps.
A good quality paint job is not cheap - lots of labor and material costs.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Shitcago IL
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Both of my black bumpers need new paint. I'm tempted to just get a $200-300 spray gun and give it a go at it myself. I've watched a few YouTube videos and it doesn't seem that complicated. If it comes out shitty, I can always re-sand and try again.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
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So.. I go out to get in my ol Dodge truck and on my windshield is traffic citation and it says to move (or we will) this abandoned vehicle!... Well it's not abandoned but evidently looks it.😕 OK... Macco gets the job 😏so I can park it in front of my Lafayette house, and make the city happy🙄 ... Three thousand Macco bucks later 🤨 and nice dark grey, flaked pearled like cop happy coverage should make the city fathers extremely happy.
Lasted about 3 years and a happy city cop! for not looking "abandoned" .. Sold it with its faded, disappearing Macco paint when the C5 came along!
Lasted about 3 years and a happy city cop! for not looking "abandoned" .. Sold it with its faded, disappearing Macco paint when the C5 came along!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,962
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From: North Coast
Macco is the place to take something to resell it. We had a 8,000 mile 1965 Corvair that sat abandon since 1968. We popped it with a fast cheap white from Macco and it moved the sale price up much higher than the faded multi color paint we had. It was in an accident back in the day.
If you remove the trim they do a fair job. If you leave the windows open they will do the interior and your brother in the back seat at no charge. LOL!
If you remove the trim they do a fair job. If you leave the windows open they will do the interior and your brother in the back seat at no charge. LOL!