I want to paint my '66 SS convertible back to its original marina blue. It's now a reddish orange. I also want to paint the interior moldings and dash marina blue. They are now black. I got a price of $3,500 from an outfit that works with my sisters upholstery shop. What questions should I be asking, and what constitutes a good paint job and how much should it cost? The body is in basically good shape with a few small nicks and dents. Also, should the convertible top frame stay black?
Thank you,
Bob

Well, that is a tough question. My 66's body was in "great shape" before the paint job.

In the end the paint job will cost me $9000
(I was quoted $6000).

The car had very little rust, but a lot of hidden dings, etc...

Be prepared to pay 50%-75% more than what you are quoted.

By the way, my car has been at the paint shop for almost 2 years, I'm finally getting it back next week.

Should I make sure that they are going to follow a certain procedure to get the job done right and avoid short cuts?
Thank you,
Bob

And try to get a completion date on the contract. These can drag on & on.....

You guys will have to pardon my ignorance, but what is the difference between a $10,000 paint job and a $4,000 paint job?
Thanks a bunch,
Bob

Originally posted by bobstarap:
what is the difference between a $10,000 paint job and a $4,000 paint job?I just gotta say it... $6K! :D

:D good answer, but really, the difference will be in the preparation and LACK of plastic. The more 'metal work' and blocking involved, the more money and better finish.

Originally posted by ETD66SS:
Well, that is a tough question. My 66's body was in "great shape" before the paint job.

In the end the paint job will cost me $9000
(I was quoted $6000).

The car had very little rust, but a lot of hidden dings, etc...

Be prepared to pay 50%-75% more than what you are quoted.That is so true. My '67 was in 'good' shape too, but when the paint comes off the problems become obvious. I'm into mine $10k, and it is finally finished too. I went with a HOK paint, which wasn't exactly cheap, so that skewed the price considerably...and the multitude of little things really added up.

Oh, and the difference between a $4k paint job and a $10k paint job is in the details of the final product and level of refinement during the preparation stages.

Thank you gentlemen. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but what I'm getting is that it's not so much the application of the paint, but the quality of prep work that's done. So I should ask these guys, or whomever, once they get the paint off, what do they do. I'm honestly not sure what they should do, but I suspect that they shouldn't bondo up or fiberglass the problems. I would also want to look at the car once they get the old paint off and get a consensus on what they're going to do next, and when it will be done. Sounds nice, but something tells me I'm looking at an at least intere$ting venture.
Thanks again guys.
Bob

Well first and foremost you want to keep checking in while they are working on your car. You want to see it a many various stages. Some things you won't know about until they get started. I started out with a paint job the turned into fender wells, 2 fenders, inner and outer wheel housings, 2 full quarters, 2 complete door shells and a hood. But in my case thats ok cause all my work is for free (oh and i had to put 25 tons of a/c in his shop for free too BTW....hehe). But the things we DISCOVERED along the way and not always obvious in the begining, so be prepared for either buying parts and paying for more labor now, or having to paint it again later when the rust finally starts to show. Also if you say get new quarters your gonna have some fiberglass somewhere, those lines on the quarters can be tough, but thats what makes em chevelles! Also its imperative that before painting the whole car gets primered and HAND block, no DA stuff. Now thats a quality job. I am painting mine a three stage, color changing pearl with blue strips. But the only reason is, its free. Real expensive buying paint that flips. But man i have the inside of my hood painted and you should see that pearl flip to blue in the light.......beautiful.