body + paint guestimates.

[71fish]

Most of you know I have the black shaker cuda. The paint is 20+ years old.. cheap enamel. I'm looking to have someone scuff & shoot it for now or have someone take the paint down to metal fix the dings and shoot 2-base / 2-clear.

What ballpark prices can I expect??? There's no rust, just dings to fix. Looks like the car has a slim coat on most of it from when it was last painted. Can I get this done for 3k-3500, or am I out to lunch. I DRIVE my car, so I don't need a pristine paint job. I would be sooo pissed w/ every nick if I paid >6k. Of course I am on a budget, plus have other home improvements to make.. But if the consensus is that I should be able to find someone to take down to metal & paint for around 3k, then I would prefer to do that.

Certainly, if someone knows of any one here in NJ.. post their # or site. TIA



-71fish

[Tropicalcats]

It's hard to compare car to car and cost but the guy that will do my body work, dings some dents and a small rust repair in the trunk. He will also hand sand the body down and blast the underside. This also includes dismatling the mechanicals and putting the car up on a rotessirie restoring the rear/front end and putting it all back togeather minus anything I was able to already pull. At $80.00 an hour I'm looking at about 10k. He's not cheap but he has built some trophy winners and his work is top of the line.
I would call around your area and get some idea of the rate in your city. 

[71fish]

yea - what I'm finding alot of is that not many shops want to even work on it. They make more $$ on collision. I'm not really looking for a resto.. just for the car to be taken down to metal, byuilod-up, blocked & paineted.. gee I guess it is alot of work.

[Tropicalcats]

I guess I was lucky to find a shop that will spend the time to work on an E-body. This guy loves em and his brother works the day to day side of the shop. I think without finding a resto shop you will run into the problem that there collision work comes first.

[dougs bs23]

keep shopping around,, more than likely there will be someone near that will want to take your job. YOu can even think about getting estimates to prep and paint, and calling you local blaster to strip it down for you. The sodablaster near me quoted my job at about 800, anda decent paint job will vary depending on how busy your local shops are and if they want to take it.  or you could sand it down yourself and take it to your local MAACO, there not the best but an option.

[nivvy]

my car has been in the body shop for a month....fiberglass hood needs shaped and smoothed and they put on the new quarter panel already....gonna clean out the trunk and paint it as well..ripped off the vinyl top and painting the roof.gonna cost me about$3000 total....Ive seen photos of other cars he did...nice!!!

8 Pack

[Oldschool]

71,
I asked the guy that is doing the work on the Beast and here is what he said.  Of course this is a WAG without seeing your car.  He said scuff & shoot would probably be $3000.00-$4000.00.  Taking it down to the metal and doing ding/minor rust repair and a couple of coats of base and clear would be around $8000.00--$10,000.00.  These are Goergia prices, and might not reflect the market in your area, but at least it gives you a ballpark figure.       ......Oldschool

[71fish]

OldSchool, thanks. This is the deal.. of course I'm on a budget.. but called around this week, I'm getting estimates of 7-11k just to block the nexisting paint and shoot 2 base / 2 clear.

I've got a maaco near my buddy's work & the painter is this guy.. looks like jesse james & he does damn nice work.. but he's just the shooter. They'll scuff / block the paint and fix all the chips & deep scratches, shoot poly urethane 2 base / 2 clear and wet sand then buff the clear for $1,450. How's a body shop gonna beat that if they too won't take down to metal.

If I could find someone to strip it & paint for 4k.. I would go that route.. so I'm gonna try & take some of the dings out before I bring it to them. It's not maaco.. it the kid with the gun at maaco.. and he seemed to like the car & I'll throw a $100 at him be when I drop the car off.. keep it fair. keep it fair  lol Minimum, it'll be a great 15 footer.. Hey, I'm not trailering my cuda to carslile this year.. i'm f'cn driving it!

thanks all who responded

71fish

[crcarch]

I'm having my car completely redone (except for painting underside) for $5K by a guy who loves Mopars and likes to do resto work.

Here's what that included. My body was in pretty good shape, but it had a 15 year old paintjob with some rust starting to show through. I stripped it, provided new metal where needed and all misc. parts. They cut out the lower quarters, trunk extensions and lower door panels, welded in new metal, took it down to metal, blocked it and are in the process of applying 2 coats of base and 5 coats clear. The work done so far is very good. It definitely won't be a 15 footer.

Having said all that, you can probably find something for less than $10K. (at least in Georgia)  You just have to look around and find someone who's willing to take it on.  I doubt my guy would do another at the price he gave me, although he's picked up several other resto projects since mine rolled into the shop 5 months ago, including one from New York.  You'll also have to wait for what seems like forever as insurance work does take precedent.

[matt63]

You'll save yourself some money if you take off the trim, bumpers, door handles, etc. yourself.  Also, being black, time spend getting it straight will be worthwile.  Once it's painted, everything you put back on isn't going to look so good.  it's never ending!

[71fish]

I started blocking the car last night. I'm going to block the car.. will just ask a shop to paint it. I figure I'll take my time and be more patient over someone who doesn't want to work on the car.

Any tips on pulling off trim? A pic or link to a tool would be helpfull. Also, do they sell the clips to reinstall. My only reservation is the winshield.. not sure if it's siliconed on.. then i may leave it, but how can I tell?

71fish

[matt63]

You can leave the windshield in for painting.

[71340RT]

Here is the windshield clip tool I have been using to remove the trim around the windshield and back glass. I guess I have been lucky being able to do my own body work and primer work in my garage. I painted my last progect 70 Cuda for around $2,000 including fillers, primers, and all paint. I painted everything from the bottom of the car to the passenger and engine compartment. I painted everything in my garage and even put the base on the outside in my make shift paint booth I made in my garage. I let mine set for 2 weeks then wet sanded it with 1500 grit paper to make sure I never missed anything. I then got a friend to help me at the shop he works at where we washed and masked the car on Friday evening and painted the outside and related parts on Saturday. The shop charges me $200.00 to rent the booth and I gave the guy who painted the car $400.00 cash for all the help. This is the way to go if you know anyone with the know how as it can save you a bundle.

[Total BS]

71,

Where in Jersey are you located? My car is currently in a shop in Forked River and they are doing a awesome job. The tech is a Mopar maniac. I gave them a stripped shell.  Bodywork so far about $6K and then another $3500 when I send it back for final paint. They will only take your car in if you intend on bringing it down to bare metal.  If you need their number, just yell.

Ed

[Pipefish]

 We have a collision shop here in Arkansas and the prices on basecoat/clearcoat scuff and shoot is about 3k-4k. to take it down to metal  would cost another 2K .Just be patient and find someone who likes restoration or likes to work on older cars.