When winter is over, my car is going to get some body work and paint. I currently have it totally pulled apart. The trunk, doors, hood, front end...all off. The paint thats on it right now was a quickie paint job. It's flaking off in certain areas.

I was wondering what I can do to save on labor costs when it goes to get painted. What kind of sanding and prep work should i do?


------------------
1970 Camaro Z28
396/auto/posi
My 70 Z28 (http://members.home.com/irocz/jeffzed2.jpg)

You can paint the door jambs,under the trunklid,and under the hood yourself.

------------------
1970 Chevelle SS396/M20/4.10 My 70 SS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/mr4speed70SS1)
Engine pic (http://chevelles.com/showroom/mr4speed70SSengine2)
1970 Chevelle SS454My 70 SS454 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/mr4speed70ss454)
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass 350 Olds,TH350(daily driver)
Chris Corwel,TC Member 785

Like Chris said you can do some sanding, but dont expect to save much. Normally a good shop will want to do all the prep and bodywork themselves if there is a warantee. The paint is just a cover, all the real important work gets done beforehand.

------------------
Dave
70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
72 chevelle
55/57/61 chevies
TC member #493
Never forget Earnhardt!

I definately think you can save some $$. If there's a number of paint layers on the metal, they'll HAVE TO BE stripped off. This you can do yourself. Media bead blasting is easier but more expensive.(~ $6-700 for a whole car) Get a gallon of aircraft paint stipper and go to town. Final sand all of the sufaces with 80 grit, preferably with a DA sander, or if you have to, an electric sander. Have some good self-etching primer ready to spray on the bare metal surfaces. Make ure the metal is CLEAN 1st and has NO rust! See your local auto-body supply (or NAPA) for the stuff. Even when buying tools, you'll still save some $$$$$.

I fully agree with Jimmy on this, strip the car yourself. And when you do get it stripped to bare metal by all means do use a self etching primer dont use an expoy primer to coat the bare metal. Dont use just the cheap junk at napa or whatever store, go to the shop that will be doing the work on the car and find out what brand they are using. If they use PPG then use PPG, that way the shop knows what they are dealing with and know that any paint compatible problems will be avoided.