well I know it isnt the best way to paint a car but I just wanted the see how it would come out.
I didnt use the cheap stuff either I bought the 16oz automotive touch up paint from autozone. well all I can say is Im surprised.The side that i did came out pertty darn good for spray paint. the tip ont the can is a speical tip that doesent spray out in a circle like regular cans, but in a very fine mist in like a line shape. but like every one says its all in the prep. the ares that I sanded came out near perfect but the un preped areas came out *****ty. so now I will be stripping the paint off the car and bombing the whole thing. If I would have had the cash I would have took it to maco but when you trying fix a chevelle on a min wage buget you have to make due with what you have.

If you can prep the car yourself,Maaco will seal it and paint it for $225..they touch NOTHING other than taping the car off,and the paint is synthetic enamel.Doesn't get any cheaper than IMHO,and if your prep is good,the car will look fine.Pick out your color,and spray the door jambs yourself with rattle cans before you drop it off too.

Mr 4 speed will maaco do Stripes?

Mr4speed is right that's your best bet and it WILL
be cheaper than buying enough rattle can primer and paint @ $3-$6 dollars a can to paint your entire car.Sand and prep the car yourself remove everything you can (ie.door handles,trim, bumpers,key locks,emblems) that you don't want over spray on because they don't mask very well and let them shoot it.

Chris, have you ever seen/had a car painted this way? How did it look? I am thinking about having that done on my new Camaro...can't be any worse than primer, and the body's already really straight.

Use the laquer spray bombs.Let it dry a week, then wetsand and buff it.I've done a few quick fender jobs on beaters that way.

thats the kind I was using laquer I hope everyone didnt think that I was using regular spray paint

Tony,the cars that I have seen look fine/good.In fact,I had a 442 convertible painted a few years ago,came out mint(I wet sanded the car with 800 before dropping it off)..almost too good..I would never admit Maaco painted it either..I always say "a friend painted it" ;) sold the car for 15K too,and the least someone offered me was 13.5K
And yes,they will paint stripes.Just remember,these guys paint all day long,they're not a bunch of idiots,but they won't fix your mistakes from shoddy or crappy bodywork,and that's what will make your cheap paintjob look like crap.And remove everything from the car-bumpers,trim,etc.Its the only way to have it painted.IMHO,since you're saving money on the paint,take the time to at least remove all thast stuff.Nothing burns my @ss more than seeing crappy tape jobs and overspray on trim,etc.If you have a few extra dollars,get it painted in single stage urethane,which I think is $400.Again,the synthetic enamel is fine for being on a budget,and its not like someone is going to look at it and say "hey,thats cheap paint"..remember,its the lame body work that makes that cheap paint look cheap.And I'm not knocking people that spend mega $$$ on paint/bodywork..it is an art,and getting panels straight involves a lot of work,in addidtion to knowing how to handle a paint gun.I'm just here to say there if your budget minded,you can have a respectable looking paint job if you don't mind doing the work to have it ready for paint,and reassembling it later.And if your bodywork is good,no one but you will know it was cheap paintjob.

That's great Chris...I think I would spring for the urethane paint in this case. I just have ZERO money right now (graduate student with five cars) so this looks like a great option for me. So I take it you primed the car yourself, wet sanded the primer, and had Maaco seal and paint the car? Was it painted a darker color?

Tony,my 442 was painted dark green w/gold stripes..sequioa(sp?) green to be exact..I used black laquer primer..Condar/PPG I believe..they also painted a 'vette for me..it was GM 12 bright white(synthetic enamel)..I used grey laquer primer for that one.And yes,they sealed it.

Originally posted by 70L34:
Chris, have you ever seen/had a car painted this way? Hey tony- You saw those pics of my girlfriends new 69 camaro the other day right?(you can look in my sig now)

I was looking through the recipts I got with the car last night- it was painted at macco in 1998 for $950!!!! They DID check off the box for urethane paint though...So it was the more expensive option...

Paint work on the car is awesome... The owner must have done a lot of surface prep before and after the paint, because there is almost no orange peel, and no waves... I wouldn't have believed it was a macco job before i saw the recipt... :cool:

That Camaro looks really good. A few years ago my buddy had a BMW 2002 painted by a Maaco in Ontario, CA and it turned out God-awful, so I guess it just depends on where you go...hmm...decisions. I can't believe I am thinking of taking a RS/SS Camaro to Maaco!!! It's amazing what a student budget makes you do!