ballpark figure for a paint job?

[Edmond]

Please let us know how it works out. With labor costs being so much, I think you'll save a pretty penny.

 

[paintdaddy]

Just for painting, how much labor is involved. Let's just hypothetically say that the car was stripped and no body work needed to be done.

Hypothetically saying,If it was stripped and no bodywork needed.For a good job it still needs to be dissassembled,primed with two different primers,block sanded,sealed and painted,sanded and polished,paint the backsides of any panels that require that ,then reassembled,purchases new weatherstripping,emblems and any chrome(to be done by owner or painter) then reassembled and then as long as nothing gets nicked or scratched during assembly ,completely detailed.I will say that c4s are a little easier than c3s.C3s have more high stress areas .C3s are usually painted with lacquer or have been painted many times there for need to be stripped.C4s usually have one or two paint jobs and arent cracked up.C3s have body seams running down fenders and 1/4s which need alot of attention,same with c2s.Then youve got the bumpers,usually if they are urethane they are wavy and need to be replaced,if they are chrome they need to be rechromed.Another thing to consider are door pins and bushings.During assembly if the pins and bushings are worn its impossible to line the doors up correctly.So although nothing to do with the paint job is still somehow part of it.On late c3s the window trim is painted black,this will have to be repainted but this is something the owner can do but usually dont want to be bothered with.So it all depends on how far the owner wants and what year the corvette is and how good of shape the paint is now.

 

[nyernga]

Having recently painted the front nose on my 88, the paint was $85.00 for a pint of PPG paint. A quart of reducer was $13.00. The primer and flexing primer were $12.00 each for a spray can of each. A pint of clearcoat was $35.00. Miscellaneous items like masking tape, a roll of paper, sandpaper, tack rags etc adds another say $50.00. And this is not counting the paint gun and compressor.

As for the amount of paint, it depends on how many coats you want to apply. I applied 4 color coats and 6 clear. I can tell you this however, sanding is the biggest labor item. While my bumper came out very nice, (I'd give it an 8 out of 10,) doing the entire car is better left to the pros. There's no substitute for experience. You may prep the car, sand it until it's smooth as a baby's arse, (at least to your touch) but I guarantee you........it ain't. The first coat of color and all the spots you missed will be glaring back at you. My bumper felt like glass after the prep but as soon as I sprayed on the color I could see where I'd missed.
Trial and error may be good if you're working on a beater. It's not the best method when working on your vette. I got lucky, (and advice from several members here) but it'll be awhile before I try that again.

There's a reason we call them "pros"......

Len

 

[gmjunkie]

The first coat of color and all the spots you missed will be glaring back at you. My bumper felt like glass after the prep but as soon as I sprayed on the color I could see where I'd missed.
Trial and error may be good if you're working on a beater. It's not the best method when working on your vette. I got lucky, (and advice from several members here) but it'll be awhile before I try that again.

There's a reason we call them "pros"......

Len

I can't Spell or Type!! But I can Damn Shure Paint!! (I Paid $184.00 for a Qt. of Red basecoat on a Mustang!!):eek :eek :ugh gmj!!

 

[Edmond]

I can't Spell or Type!! But I can Damn Shure Paint!! (I Paid $184.00 for a Qt. of Red basecoat on a Mustang!!):eek :eek :ugh gmj!!

Paint is worth more than the car!:L:L:L

 

[My Prozac]

For a good paint that you would be proud to show at the local cruise in be ready to pay about $3000

 

[GS977]

(quote)
My Prozac
For a good paint that you would be proud to show at the local cruise in be ready to pay about $3000



thats about what we charge at the shop i work at,3000.00-3500.00 for 1 color (original color)
no door jambs, minor bodywork (fix all chips ) no fiberglass work, r&i mirrors, handles, etc. + sanding & buffing
i do them at my house on the side for @2000.00 -2500.00

 

[Chris Kennedy]

(quote)
My Prozac
For a good paint that you would be proud to show at the local cruise in be ready to pay about $3000



thats about what we charge at the shop i work at,3000.00-3500.00 for 1 color (original color)
no door jambs, minor bodywork (fix all chips ) no fiberglass work, r&i mirrors, handles, etc. + sanding & buffing
i do them at my house on the side for @2000.00 -2500.00

My '89 is my only car, and lives in the real world. The Corvette preen-and-cruise scene sort of disgusts me---how much for what I would term a decent "workmanlike" job? You know, nothing fancy at all, simply a routine repaint from dark gray to black (door jambs included)?

Thanks,

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[GS977]

well if you came to our shop and told us thats what you wanted, the only difference would be the amount of r&i's we did. the paint quality would be the same, we just wouldnt remove the bumpers, or door handles,ect. to knock the price down. i would charge @2500.00 to go from gray to black with jambs and only removing the emblems,tail lights,ect. i did my 87vert like that back in 97, went from all black to the grand sport blue with white stripe with the jambs also. it is alot of work:eek and usually takes @ 3 weeks
more then half of all the bodymen and painters i've ever worked with have a shop and do work on the side. try and find one in your area and it can save you alot of money. just be carefull cause theres alot of butchers out there:bang :CRASH :bash if i didnt do it myself there are very few people i would trust with my vette. very few!!!!

 

[paintdaddy]

You also have to take into factor that you have to have a solid paint job to start with.If its flaking and peeling in areas it needs to be stripped.If it needs to be stripped it will also need to be primed and block sanded.And as said before ,the more r&i the more $.Usually the weather strip needs to be replaced and the c4s are notorious for the window seals dry rotting.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

well if you came to our shop and told us thats what you wanted, the only difference would be the amount of r&i's we did. the paint quality would be the same, we just wouldnt remove the bumpers, or door handles,ect. to knock the price down. i would charge @2500.00 to go from gray to black with jambs and only removing the emblems,tail lights,ect. i did my 87vert like that back in 97, went from all black to the grand sport blue with white stripe with the jambs also. it is alot of work:eek and usually takes @ 3 weeks
more then half of all the bodymen and painters i've ever worked with have a shop and do work on the side. try and find one in your area and it can save you alot of money. just be carefull cause theres alot of butchers out there:bang :CRASH :bash if i didnt do it myself there are very few people i would trust with my vette. very few!!!!

Many thanks for all the good information!! Basically, I bought my '89 Ebay rat knowing the paint wasn't exactly the color I wanted (but very close) and that the paint was in poor shape. Well, after working with it, the paint sort of "came alive" and is looking pretty good. So, I'm living with it for now, and also put the silver grand sport stripes on the fender (I wish someone would make these for the passenger side as well as they look terrific) and the black grand sport wheels. I replaced the much worn gray interior with used black seats and door panels from an '88 (I like the earlier perforated seats), and replaced belts (black), new carpet (black) and painted/replaced various trim pieces to get everything black. I did it all myself, too. Anyway, at some point I may get the car repainted, which is why I asked the question.

Thanks, again,

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[AdvancedAutoCC]

Many thanks for all the good information!! Basically, I bought my '89 Ebay rat knowing the paint wasn't exactly the color I wanted (but very close) and that the paint was in poor shape. Well, after working with it, the paint sort of "came alive" and is looking pretty good. So, I'm living with it for now, and also put the silver grand sport stripes on the fender (I wish someone would make these for the passenger side as well as they look terrific) and the black grand sport wheels. I replaced the much worn gray interior with used black seats and door panels from an '88 (I like the earlier perforated seats), and replaced belts (black), new carpet (black) and painted/replaced various trim pieces to get everything black. I did it all myself, too. Anyway, at some point I may get the car repainted, which is why I asked the question.

Thanks, again,

/s/ Chris Kennedy

Chris,
Try a sign shop for passenger side stripes... should be easy enough to do if they look at the ones on your ride and pretty cheap as well.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Chris,
Try a sign shop for passenger side stripes... should be easy enough to do if they look at the ones on your ride and pretty cheap as well.

Thanks---that's a good idea. I have always liked the fender stripes, and they look especially good on the dark gray (almost black) paint.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[gmjunkie]

Paint is worth more than the car!:L:L:L

Hay where's all the Photo's!! Arn't We Finished Yet?? What's the Hold Up Edmond?? junk!!

 

[tntcorvette]

I paid $2500

 

[Edmond]

Hay where's all the Photo's!! Arn't We Finished Yet?? What's the Hold Up Edmond?? junk!!

I'm gonna rebuild the motor over the winter and then get it painted when the weather is warm. Already got new cylinder heads and new fuel injectors. Motor rebuild, complete fluid change and headers are next.

Gonna get some 3:45's as well.

 

[gmjunkie]

I'm gonna rebuild the motor over the winter and then get it painted when the weather is warm. Already got new cylinder heads and new fuel injectors. Motor rebuild, complete fluid change and headers are next.

Gonna get some 3:45's as well.

I know Edmond!!! I was Just Bust'n your Chop's!!I ran in to this thread agine the outher night, and thought we should Chew this up and Spit it out agine!! Glad to Hear it's going Good!! junk!!

 

[Edmond]

I know you were bustin' my chops, Junk. :L:L:L

I'm going to get the car done fully to my satisfaction and it'll be better than it was when it rolled out of Bowling Green, KY. It won't be this year but I can promise that one year from now, it'll be darn close.

 

[vee93]

I just got my Vette back from the Hardy Brothers a coupla weeks ago and it----is--- GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!! 5Gs
I was blown away! They're slow as h*ll cause they can't hire help that meets their ticky standards---so what. The wait was worth it.
*Stripped to bare bottom.
*Repaired a coupla eff-ups by previous "body shop".
*Replaced old parts with all the items I bought to appease myself during the wait.
*New base coat
*Sanded
*Painted
*wet sanded
*buffed to such a high gloss--not an imperfection, nor any overspray. The finish is better than show room. Run your hand over the finish and ooooooooooo, its just spectacular. I hate to have to wash it. I don't want any swirl marks or anything on it. *sigh* Got to though--Got lots of cleartastic, that's for sure! Good luck with your plans for your Vette.

 

[gmjunkie]

I was blown away! They're slow as h*ll cause they can't hire help that meets their ticky standards---so what. The wait was worth it.

Anybody that's any GOOD,is Slow as Hell!! junk!!