I was wondering if some of you could let me know how much you paid to get your cars painted, the variances in the cost(clear coat, number of times wet sanded, etc.). I also plan on getting my car painted with it together, is removing the body panels on the front end and hood, and doing all my own masking worth it? I would like to save as much money as possible and doing grunt work like this would be worth it (as well as reassembly in the end) if I could save some labor time for the paint shop. Finally, should I wait to put together the interior until AFTER the car is painted? I'm talking console, interior door pads, the like. Thanks a lot!

Well Pauly,
I can't say if this is right or wrong but here's what I'm doing and why:complete frame-off of my 71 ss-454 Elky.
I had mine sandblasted because I didn't know the history and wanted to start from metal and know exactly what was metal. I was pleased to only find rust under the rear window. The doors/hood/fenders are off
1st did the filler where needed/primed/blocksanded/primed/blocksanded
oh yea some spot filler in there too
then painted the door jambs and under hood section of fenders.
Now gonna re-assemble front clip/door and interior..everyhting except trim/bumpers/lights/hood then take to booth and paint the rest. This is because I have some bad luck and afraid I would scratch my new paint job re-assmebling after it was painted. It would just take 1 nick/bump/scratch to really make your day.
Now for costs: $200 worth of filler/primer/sandpaper etc, $600 for Sunset Orange metalic paint and clearcoat, $200 for paint booth rental for a weekend and who knows how much beer (after of course) for a buddy to spray it. I did some checking around for a hands off job, up to $6000 for prime/sand/paint/sand/polish. The $259 Maaco just wasn't for me, so about $1000 my way and 60 hrs labor. Block sanding the primer seems to be the big unknown...when is enough? probably never but you gotta say it's good enough sometime cause it will never be perfect everywhere.

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71 SS-454 El Camino

[This message has been edited by caddpro (edited 06-17-2002).]

Caddpro,
Have you done this before? I might be more willing to try my hand at priming, sanding and painting if I had ever done it before, or had someone experienced to guide me through the process. And are you planning on priming and sanding it a few times and spraying color all in the same weekend?
I'm glad you are spraying it with the body panels on though, that will definitely save some troubles. Thanks for the input.

Very Very straight and 99% rust free body, plus no replacing body panels (redid patches behind front wheel wells),radiator core, deck lid, front fenders and hood dipped.....PPG base coat, clear coat....$10,000.

Pauly,
Took my stripped body to the painter last week. I replaced both rear quarters (NOS), wheelhouses, front fenders, trunk extensions, aligned all panels (hood, trunk, doors, etc.). All painter has to do is joint fill, seam seal, prime, block, base coat, stripe, and clear. The car will have the fenders, hood, and trunk removed after blocking and prime. They will be painted separately and rehung after. I tape and pad the door edges, fenders, etc. prior inatelling or removing freshly painted panels. Anyhow, I'm working from a $4,500 estimate, out the door.
This painter finished a car for me before. He does nice work, but I expect a late fall delivery.
If you email me at carpenter@logan.net, I will send some photos of previous work quality.

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Ed C.
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70SS 396/350 4speed
70 LS6 4speed under resto.
00 C5 6speed

No to all in one weekend.
first primecoat was about 2 weeks ago sanded and primed again last weekend. I try to do my spot fill and sanding some after work.
Yes I have done this before but was much less patient before and tighter in the wallet too. This one will be right, with no "I wish I had.....". I have been working on it for 9mths almost every weekend.

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71 SS-454 El Camino