BABY goes into the beauty shop today

[BarryK]

good morning all.

well, after waiting about 3 1/2 months, my body/paint shop called on Fri that he finally has room in his shop to bring in and work on BABY.
She is going in very first thing this morning to get the blistered paint on the hood fixed, my drivers-side door fixed, and my latest screw up on the passenger-side fender fixed. She will be looking much better when she comes home again. When I'm there dropping her off and going over everything with him I'll ask him how much for a total repaint job instead of trying to match the color on the older paint job but I'm pretty sure right now that would be beyond the budget.
I'm also going to see if he can pull the rear window out and redo the gasket in there that leaks like a sieve.
This shop goes great work but he is really slow so I'm not sure when i'll see BABY again but I'm going to see if he can make a deadline of Oct 1st since our Vette club is having a large show on the 3rd. Actually, sooner would be even better since there is another show on Sept 26th in Atlantic City I want to get to but I think that is pushing the time frame too much now.

I'll miss walking out in the garage and seeing BABY sitting in her spot where she belongs but at least I know that when she comes home again she will look much better.

 

[Sting Ray]

Barry,


Glad you got it in so quick after the last hiccup, glad to see another post with good news also

Tom M

 

[magicv8]

Good luck with the time frame. Asking for a complete repaint will probably make any date in 2004 impossible.

 

[BarryK]

Barry,


Glad you got it in so quick after the last hiccup, glad to see another post with good news also

Tom M

well, since I've been waiting over 3 months to get it it the shop, it's the timing on the last hiccup that was really the good timing part. I would have felt even worst if the fender incident happened AFTER it had already been into the shop!

 

[BarryK]

Good luck with the time frame. Asking for a complete repaint will probably make any date in 2004 impossible.

asking this guy to just give a quote is probably pushing it for anytime in 2004 at the speed he operates!

More than likely i won't be able to go with a complete repaint simply because of the budget right now although I did ask him for a quote on it and he is going to see what he can do on a price for me and let me know. Short of a complete repaint, he now has the car and the list of "priority areas" to repair.
Basically my idea to to compare how much it is to just get those areas repaired against a complete paint job. If it's not a huge significant price difference (which I suspect it will be but who knows) it would be worth it to spend a little more and go for the entire repaint. As it is already, i'm looking at repairs/repaint on the drivers door, front right fender, complete hood, and a small crack on the left front fender. To me that's already almost half the car anyway!
For argument sake lets say all of that is $3000 ( I already know the hood itself is $1200 to do), if he wanted $5000 for an entire repaint I'd probably go for it.

 

[Z28Canuck]

For argument sake lets say all of that is $3000 ( I already know the hood itself is $1200 to do), if he wanted $5000 for an entire repaint I'd probably go for it.

Barry:
SHHHHHH! Your painter might be reading this and start rubbing his hands! Ooops, price increase coming! LOL or as TBV would say HAHAHAHA. It's really nice to see things are starting to look up after the continuous setbacks you've had recently. I remember when you were so concerned about the "Blister" and yet did so well at the showing a few months ago. I guess with all you went through recently that must seem like a minor hiccup in comparison!
Hopefully your future posts will be all positive and you'll get lots of time to enjoy BABY after it's finished. Must be nice knowing it'll soon be home and looking like a million bucks right? Please be sure to give us a good pic when it's done. Good luck and enjoy. Cheers

 

[BarryK]

Hi Z28

yes, considering everything else she has gone through, the hood blister i was so upset about is minor.......
funny how things become relative when compared against other things,

I'm just afraid once she comes back and looking good again I'll be too scared to take her out and risk something happening. She might have to get stored away and locked up in a sealed concrete bunker to keep her safe from the world and from me.
:L

Nah, I couldn't do that to her, but I'll sure be more careful in the future with her and not take even simple things like taking in or out of the garage for granted.

 

[Z28Canuck]

Hi Z28

yes, considering everything else she has gone through, the hood blister i was so upset about is minor.......
funny how things become relative when compared against other things,

I'm just afraid once she comes back and looking good again I'll be too scared to take her out and risk something happening. She might have to get stored away and locked up in a sealed concrete bunker to keep her safe from the world and from me.
:L

Nah, I couldn't do that to her, but I'll sure be more careful in the future with her and not take even simple things like taking in or out of the garage for granted.

Barry
When it looks so good you have to drive it and show it. That's when others see these cars and appreciate them. This is what gets people restoring. The worst thing you could ever do is store it away. Funny, to wait and hope for the "Dream car" then get it and be afraid to drive it and maybe scratch it. That would be sad. Enjoy it, share it for all to see but especially watch out for the other guy! . Can't wait to see the pics. Take care. All the best and cheers

 

[BarryK]

Barry
When it looks so good you have to drive it and show it. That's when others see these cars and appreciate them. This is what gets people restoring. The worst thing you could ever do is store it away. Funny, to wait and hope for the "Dream car" then get it and be afraid to drive it and maybe scratch it. That would be sad. Enjoy it, share it for all to see but especially watch out for the other guy! . Can't wait to see the pics. Take care. All the best and cheers

i do agree 100%. I was completely joking about storing her away. I bought the car to DRIVE it and ENJOY it. I specifically didn't want a NCRS trailer queen because a car of that level i WOULD be too scared to drive. I just wanted a really good condition driver car (body-off restored but not to full NCRS level) which is what I have. Even a car like mine gets a lot of attention and I especiallt love it at shows when the young kids say how they love the car and how cool it is. Gotta keep the younger generation interested in these old classics or the cars will just die when we do.

So, bottom line is she will get repaired and i'll keep enjoying her and if she ends up getting more chips or a scratch here or these as time goes on than I'll have her paint fixed again. As long as the car is sound the paint can always be repaired.

 

[Z28Canuck]

Barry

Great to hear. I knew you were joking about storing it and was just kidding you. One thing though, don't misunderstand me, I do believe there is a place for the select few cars perfectly restored that should stay as "Museum quality pieces" and never see the road except for showing but the other 99% should be enjoyed and driven. That's my opinion anyway for what little it's worth.

I'm sure there are a lot of vetters who may disagree with me but in my little knowledge of the NCRS it seems to be a distinguished level of it's own and has a very high caliber limited resource pool of expertise and experience to draw from. I believe everyone appreciates their exhaustive efforts, especially when they have the priviledge to actually walk up and see one of these limited prizes in mint condition. This isn't a promo for NCRS, just a note of thanks I guess from one person in the crowd. It takes years and or a lifetime to gain the knowledge these few people have and that alone deserves ones respect, especially mine.

Enjoy your Baby, drive her and show her off. you both deserve it. I guess I just appreciate vettes whether they are on display or on the road (or in the middle of a major restoration ). Enjoy yours. Cheers.

 

[BarryK]

no doubt about it, full restored, pristine condition NCRS Top Flight trailer queen cars are awesome but it's not what works for MY use as I want to drive and enjoy the car. Cars at that level of restored condition such as museum condition are really not meant to drive - face it, one little rock chip from a short drive could ruin a $15,000 paint job. It's wonderful to look and study these cars on display and the talent of the people that work on them and restore them is unbelievable. These cars are really to be appreciated.
BABY is like most of the others though and falls in the "other" 99% of the cars out there. She is meant to be driven and enjoyed and whenever I have her out my day is always a little bit better

 

[Z28Canuck]

Barry
How is the progress coming along? All is well we hope. Your painter didn't read your posting did he? Cha ching $$$$. :L Seriously, I hope you aren't running into more surprises or extra unexpected costs, you've had enough of those lately right? Please let us know how it's going. Cheers.

 

[BarryK]

haven't heard from him yet since dropping it off on Tues. morning
going to stop by there today and see what's happening so far

will let you know

 

[BarryK]

I just got back from the body shop and here is the update and I think it's a good one!

after going over BABY with a fine tooth comb and finding even more wrong with the body than I knew about my bodyshop man and painter came up with a gameplan.

first off, besides the things I DID know about which needed done that were the hood, the passenger fender, and the drivers side door - he also found that during previous body repairs the fiberglass wasn't laid up properly and was a LOT thinner in many areas in the front fenders than it should have been so those are much weaker areas. Also, besides the one area of the drivers side door I knew about he pointed out something on the passenger door that I really knew about but disregarded as being too minor ro worry about wanting to pay for but he noticed it and mentioned it. Also, on both doors, my door seems were always even and consistent from top to bottom although a number of people previously mentioned the gap was too small and it IS very close and almost rubs while the gap along the top roofline is wider than it should be.
Additionally, along the rear window are lots of little stress cracks. Overall the paint also had 3 or 4 areas of typical stress cracks/spirdering that is common but not too bad so I wasn't going to worry about it. Last thing was the peaks of the front fenders. He pointed out that these peaks should actually be fairly sharp creases where mine are pretty sanded down to a more rounded out smmoth contour.

After evaluating ALL of this - fixing EVERYTHING including making sure both doors have perfect size gaps 100% all the way around them and fitting them perfect, streghening the thin areas of fiberglass where needed, etc, - basically doing everything on the body itself to make it pretty near perfect, stripping the car down completely, sealing the glass, priming, and repainting the entire car with base/clear he will do the complete job for $5000. I already have a check from the isurance company from when the paint on the hood blistered in the spring for $1200, so for only $3800 out of pocket I'll end up with a car that has perfect body panels and seems all around and a complete repaint job instead of repaired and patched paint that we already know is going to be a b**tch to try to match.
Also, this way with a base/clear paint job instead of my current lacquer, if I get any chips or anything in the future it should be easier to repair i'm told than with a lacquer paint. I'l also make sure he mixes up some extra paint to keep for any future emergencies.

I'm figuring this is pretty good because knowing already just the hood would be $1275, plus figuring approx $1500-$2000 for the door and fender, I'm now getting a LOT more body work repaired and a completely new paint job instead of only repainting certain areas and hoping it will match which has no guarrantees for really not a whole lot more money.

I actually had another cCvette Specially shop near me quote me $20,000 for a paint job and that's not doing all the extra body work. Of course, prices like that are insane!

 

[Z28Canuck]

Good news after all! Just a few more dollars and she's going to look like a million when she's done! You won't regret doing the complete job rather than touch ups. Make sure you post some pics when it's done so we can share in your enjoyment. Nice to have the decision made and the nod given to proceed isn't it? With the painters current backlog how long before it's finished?

 

[dennisinmaryland]

Barry,


Good decision to have the car redone correctly . I'll look forward to seeing the difference at the next Corvettes at Carlisle (given what you've said about the speed of your paint man, you just might be done by then). Not that there's anything wrong with that...I've always told my guys "I'd rather have it done right, than done fast!"

Keep us posted. BTW, I will be in the OC Fun Show with the ZR1 on Oct 2nd.
Still working on getting my 67 to run. Bought an Optima battery @ Carlisle, need the al rebuilt and the master cylinder rebuilt and a lot of other stuff done too.

 

[BarryK]

Good news after all! Just a few more dollars and she's going to look like a million when she's done! You won't regret doing the complete job rather than touch ups. Make sure you post some pics when it's done so we can share in your enjoyment. Nice to have the decision made and the nod given to proceed isn't it? With the painters current backlog how long before it's finished?

yep, BABY will look great when she comes home!

I do much prefer the idea of the entire paint job instead of the touchoups as i know trying to match the paint oyherwise would be close to impossible.
i'll post new pics on my website when shes done as posting on here never works out well for me - the only way I can get the site to accept my images to to downsize them so small they lose all the quality.

As for the time frame....that's yet to be seen! he IS slow!!!!
I reminded him that since I had to turn in my company car the Vette is the only car we have except for my wifes car so it's kinda needed until I get a new daily driver. Also, i told him i'l like to have it for a show my Vette club is having on Oct 3rd if possible but not if it means sacrificing quality to get it done in time. My buddy who knows this guy and first recommended him actually told me the way this guy is I might not really see the car until Spring....I sure hope that's not the case!!!!!
I'll just keep popping in to see him to make sure he is making progress and I think if he gets the idea i'm keeping an eye on things that way he will not stale or put it off and actually get it done in a reasonable time.

DAMN!! I'm already impatient to see how good she is going to look.

 

[c5vetter]

Barry,

well, you better find a driver - you ain't gonna see BABY until after the New Year - guaranteed!

 

[BarryK]

no!!! I need her back soon!
I can't live without her that long

you know, with all this expenditure, I might actually have to go out and get a job........DAMN!!

 

[Z28Canuck]

yep, BABY will look great when she comes home!.............

DAMN!! I'm already impatient to see how good she is going to look.
Barry
Better contact Bob at 67Heaven for some patience hints. He's the expert on this subject for sure . I think he still has a little left to give if you need some! You say your painter is good but slow. You need to bite the bullet and give him the time and space to do it right.
Cheers