NEW PAINT JOB

[WONKABOY]

Well guys , i hope you don't get mad , but i thinking on using "Maaco" for my paint job, i had a friend who owns a body shop , also paint's harleys too, well he told me $2,000 for a paint job which is cheap for a Vette, I called Maaco and he told me they have done a couple of Vettes, and i would be very happy with the outcome and save alot of money, he said it would be a 2 step polyurethane/clear coat factory look with a warranty, about a $1,000 with body work i do have some minor cracks but nothing bad, it is a straight body, before i make a commitment i am stopping by the shop so he can show me a paint job with the 2 step which is the best paint job that Maaco has to offer, i'm hoping since it's a Vette they should take pride and care in their work, i will take off all the outside grilles , etc. myself , but not the doorhandles, did anybody have a vette/car painted at maaco?
FEEDBACK APPRECIATED.

Rick

 

[22229stingray81]

Great question, I would like to know the answer myself. I was thinking of getting mine painted there, or another local body shop. What does everyone think?

-Tatortot

 

[John Ulrich]

Rick,

FYI Take off the door handles. That area is horrible for repaints peeling up.

Later,
JU

 

[bill81vette]

never had anything done there but I've never heard anything good about it either!!!
just remember you get what you pay for!!!!!

 

[waterboy1976]

Ive never had a MAACO paint job BUT......if its your daily driver or even a nice day driver and you want a nice looking paint job that may be the way to go....If your'e looking for a show piece its not the way to go....

 

[GerryLP]

My boss recently had his 57 Chevy painted there. It has always been black, and I must admit that for a black-colored car, the paint job looks pretty good. Now, it does not look like the finished job at "Overhaulin" or "American Hotrod", but it probably looks like it came-out of the factory.

I suspect that one spends the time really sanding the car, primering, and sanding, primering and sanding even one more time, that one could get a MAAco job look great.

GerryLP:cool

 

[22229stingray81]

The two things I am most worried about are 1- joyrides, and 2- painting over weatherstripping, glass, lenses, and door handels. But for a daily driven, non-stock, late C3, I don't see how it can really be that bad. Anything would be an improvement over my current paint.

-Tatortot

 

[KANE]

Rick,

FYI Take off the door handles. That area is horrible for repaints peeling up.

Later,
JU

Mirrors too. Otherwise, you'll get orange peel behind them.

 

[John Ulrich]

I suspect that one spends the time really sanding the car, primering, and sanding, primering and sanding even one more time, that one could get a MAAco job look great.

Well put. Go in and talk to the manager and if you can get the painter involved in looking at your car too all the better. The paint guys at many of these places are contract employees and many are very good at their trade in the outside world. If they meet an owner who appreciates his car they can make the difference between a great "budget" paint job and a repaint on a yellow taxi.
JU

 

[WONKABOY]

REPAINT

Well put. Go in and talk to the manager and if you can get the painter involved in looking at your car too all the better. The paint guys at many of these places are contract employees and many are very good at their trade in the outside world. If they meet an owner who appreciates his car they can make the difference between a great "budget" paint job and a repaint on a yellow taxi.
JU

I called today and spoke with the owner ( independent ) and he told me it would be $1300 without bodywork , he did not see the car, i'm bringing it this
Sat if it does not rain, i thought he said $1,000 i guess that was for the 4th best paint, i still want to see what i'm getting for paint, and then i have to hear his price on the bodywork, i hope the sanding is included with the paint, because every car needs sanding before paint, FALSE ADVERTIZEDMENT , my body has no waves that i can see , maybe after the sand !!! I do see some light cracks near the rear bumper that's it, i also have all the emblems front and back, i was lucking to get a REAL front emblem from somebody nice on this 81 forum , i hope they don't charge to put them on also , i do not want this job turning into a $2,000 from this so called CHEAP MAACO , i won't let that happen to me that's for sure!! My car is so dull it looks white in the day and who knows at nite, but the body is nice and straight ready for paint, this will change the whole outlook on this car for me. Rick

 

[John Ulrich]

i hope the sanding is included with the paint, because every car needs sanding before paint, FALSE ADVERTIZEDMENT

Watch the wording! Sanding to them probably means a "scuff" sanding of the surface. This is where you can do a real sanding of the surface and get things flat and ready to grip the paint. You can ask for an estimate of a more complete surface sanding...re: body work.
JU

 

[davec0_17]

I would bet the paint product is a good quality, or they would not be in busness so long. like john said, talk to the manager, see if you can get the painter to look at your car also. The more employees looking, the more interest they will have in your car and do a nice job. I try to be extra nice, so whoever is working on my car will be nice to me. I think its good they have some Vette painting experence.

 

[Tritium007]

A good friend of mine just had his 3000GT painted (original color) at Maaco just a few months ago. The overall paint job looks good, but the devil is in the details. The large panels look good, but there are several places that have overspray. The real success in painting comes from the amount of time and effort in the preparation and of course selecting the best products to use. I agree that the products used at Maaco are most likely of a better than average quality, but they are a production shop and getting cars in and out keeps their business going. If you don't want overspray, I'm afraid that you will have to be actively involved in the preparation phase. Either you will have to remove selected components (and reinstall after) prior to paint or tape the car yourself. Overall, they are an economical option for a daily driver, but you're degree of satisfaction will depend on you're standard for attention to detail. You make a good choice to go and "see" for yourself what kind of work they can do. You get what you inspect, not what you expect. Establishing a relationship with the folks there couldn't hurt either. Good luck.

Mike

 

[WONKABOY]

PAINT JOB

A good friend of mine just had his 3000GT painted (original color) at Maaco just a few months ago. The overall paint job looks good, but the devil is in the details. The large panels look good, but there are several places that have overspray. The real success in painting comes from the amount of time and effort in the preparation and of course selecting the best products to use. I agree that the products used at Maaco are most likely of a better than average quality, but they are a production shop and getting cars in and out keeps their business going. If you don't want overspray, I'm afraid that you will have to be actively involved in the preparation phase. Either you will have to remove selected components (and reinstall after) prior to paint or tape the car yourself. Overall, they are an economical option for a daily driver, but you're degree of satisfaction will depend on you're standard for attention to detail. You make a good choice to go and "see" for yourself what kind of work they can do. You get what you inspect, not what you expect. Establishing a relationship with the folks there couldn't hurt either. Good luck.

Mike

Thanks for your feedback, when i go with the car i want him to show me what they are going to due as far as "taping" I plan on removing , grilles, lens, etc anything i can, if i have to i will tape the door handles myself!!