Paint job options for my 86'

[SpaceGoat]

My 86' corvette is half silver/beige(top) and half black (bottom). I want the same colors. As far as i know i only have 2 options:
1. Get it done at a paint shop. (Prolly very expensive)
Q: How much about would it cost?
2. Get it done at a votech by students.
-According my friend, even though students they are good at it. This way I would only have to pay for the cost of the paint. Yet, i would have to sign saying I understand they are not responsible, ect.
Q: Should i trust votech and save lots of mula?

 

[WhalePirot]

Why not look at some of their work and judge, just as you would for a body shop. I'd ask a lot of questions, too, about how far down they would take your existing paint, before shooting new.

 

[Bob Yates]

Spacegoat..... I work for a school system and can tell you to look out. One of the main problems is time . Students work on the car on a limited time during the day and have other classes so your car could be down for months. Depending on how good the teacher is , when parts are removed they could get lost ,misplaced or worst stolen. More than likely there well be a crew of students working on your vette. Some care some don't. The teacher can't be there all of the time either so your vette might not get the TLC it needs. I would try to find someone who does it as a side job . You can save money that way sometimes. A pro job could cost $10,000.00 believe me they charge that because it says Corvette on. Check around you might find someone who'll do it on the side for a lot less. Also you could do some of the sanding and removing of the parts and save that way if you are handy at those kind of things. Good Luck in your quest . Your going to need it

 

[JAKEJR]

A third option is to paint it yourself, just as I did using Dupont ChromaBase system. Excellent results; stuff is pretty much idiot proof.

I put up more detail on another C4 thread in response to a similar issue.

Jake

 

[paintdaddy]

The votech idea isnt a bad one but usually there is a long list to get in.I started out in votech school and its a good idea but I think there were some underhanded dealings in my school when it came to people having their cars worked on.

A third option is to paint it yourself, just as I did using Dupont ChromaBase system. Excellent results; stuff is pretty much idiot proof

I dont know if I would have said that.It might be easier to you than others,but definitly not idiot proof.I am not trying to discourage anyone but it is not easy.

 

[JAKEJR]

The votech idea isnt a bad one but usually there is a long list to get in.I started out in votech school and its a good idea but I think there were some underhanded dealings in my school when it came to people having their cars worked on. I dont know if I would have said that.It might be easier to you than others,but definitly not idiot proof.I am not trying to discourage anyone but it is not easy.

So, then what am I? A genius? I don't think so.

I'd never painted a car before; the extent of my painting was with a roller on the walls inside the house and with spray cans. So what's the big deal?

Self confidence! If you don't believe you can, you can't; just that simple. Basic leadership training: You must first believe you can. Shops prey on that lack of self confidence, charge thousands of dollars and most times don't give a paint job that's any better than you can get yourself by just using a little effort and doing it yourself.

I never said it was easy; but "easy" is a extremely relative term anyway. My oldest daughter is a sophomore at Harvard, majoring in Electrical Engineering. I looked at some of her assignments/papers and couldn't make heads or tails out of what she'd done. Know what she said? "Aw, Dad, that stuff's easy".

If you're lazy, don't like the performing the physical effort required (sanding, taping, etc) then it would seem to be NOT easy. If you've got even average intelligence and are not a couch potato, it's the other side of the coin.

Develop a plan; break the job up into increments. Do a certain amount each day; listen to music and maintain a positive attitude while you work. Time will fly and you'll be done before you know it. Then when you look back on it with pride you'll say something like "Hey, that wasn't THAT hard".

Pretty much idiot proof: Sure is, it was formulated by the paint companies to be that way. All you need to do is read, understand and follow the can directions.

As I said before, this is not rocket science, although the folks doing it for a living would have you believe it is. $$'s their motivation.

I don't expect to change any minds here; just putting forth my experience on this topic. I have one standing rule: I NEVER pay anyone to do anything - anything - that I reasonably believe I can do myself. Period. The operative words are "NEVER" and "reasonably believe".

But I'm not gonna fight about this: If you don't believe you can, you can't.

Jake

 

[dmrodco]

I aggree with Jake. I have accomplished alot of jobs on my Vettes that most folks would never attempt. A little confidence goes along way. I bought a few nice devilbis guns and already had a compressor. I have painted a few things here and there. It really isn't too hard if you just do some research and put in a little effort. the paint supply house was a font of knowledge and very friendly. They want you to keep comming back. Just remember to use a GOOD respirator as the catilized paint is deadly if breathed. When my 75 is finally done I can stand back and take all the credit ! and if its not perfect I can always do it again.

 

[Bob Yates]

Have you two guys been sniffing lacquer thinner. You need more than confidence. You really need to be an artist , chemist and mixolgist. I've got that c word out the but and I have been a master tech but with the way you have to paint these days it's hard for the hobbyist to do. That clear coat base coat crap can drive anyone to drink. I'm still sticking with find someone who does it on the side and wheel and deal with them. Now I can spray lacquer but good luck trying to find it. Another big slap in the face from the EPA . Watch out now we're running out of air.

 

[dmrodco]

See bob there is your problem.......you do not use thinner ! you are supposed to be using reducer. The PPG Dar series paint is a one step paint and goes down extremly smooth. As for the rest I believe everyone has a bit of talent if they apply themselves. I guess jake was right some folk just cant.

 

[JAKEJR]

Have you two guys been sniffing lacquer thinner. You need more than confidence. You really need to be an artist , chemist and mixolgist. I've got that c word out the but and I have been a master tech but with the way you have to paint these days it's hard for the hobbyist to do. That clear coat base coat crap can drive anyone to drink. I'm still sticking with find someone who does it on the side and wheel and deal with them. Now I can spray lacquer but good luck trying to find it. Another big slap in the face from the EPA . Watch out now we're running out of air.

Okay, okay. I've said about all I intend to on this subject. No need in beating this horse anymore, it's already dead. Think I'll start a new thread about thermostats.

If anyone wants the specifics on how I did mine, email me and I'll give you all the details.

Jake

 

[tyrel]

I agree that painting is idiot-proof, but not amateur-proof. Sure anyone can paint, but to get a professional paint job, what am I going to do:

1) Paint the car myself. I have no experience painting other than the walls of my house, and the one time I painted a Revell model it looked like crap. Then I have to buy time in a paint booth, because if I do it in my garage, every speck of dust within five miles will find its way inside somehow. Then I have to practice for awhile on a scrap piece. Then I have to hope that it will all turn out okay somehow, even though it will probably develop an orange peel texture.

2) Have a professional do it, someone who does it day in and day out for years and years, knows how to blend, just how much paint to apply between coats, knows what temperature paint flows best at, changes his filters in the booth, has a steady hand, etc. etc.

Unless you've painted cars several times before, and I think most of us haven't, why would you risk giving a beautiful Corvette a poor paint job?

 

[paintdaddy]

Ok,Jakejr Ive kept quiet for a whole day on this and cant do it anymore.
I am definitly not saying that I am a genius either but painting is far from idiot proof.I think you need to tell all votech students and teachers this because they are wasting alot of valuable time and money on schooling.They must be a bunch of idiots for going to school for something that they can learn by doing it ONE time in their home garage.
You painted ,in my opinion ,the easiest car there is to paint,a c4 corvette.More than likely it didnt have to be stripped ,so it was pretty much a straight forward project.
You make it sound like I sit in front of my shop waiting to rape someone of every dime I can get.I do restoration work and it is probably the lowest paying gig in the auto painting industry.If I was so money hungry ,I would be doing collision work on Jags and Beamers.I do what I do because I like seeing old cars look like new.
I am definitley not discouraging someone to do it them selves or even just give it a try but it is NOT idiot proof.Trust me Ive worked with people for years that never did GET IT.There is a corvette in my shop right now for interior replacement that was painted by a body shop painter .I know him and he has been doing this for years.The car is bubbling and peeling in large sections.The car has been painted for 6 months.For him to mess it up like that it ,it had to have been a minor detail that got left out.He will be so relieved to know that they make idiot proof paint now.
:eyerole

 

[JAKEJR]

Ok,Jakejr Ive kept quiet for a whole day on this and cant do it anymore.
I am definitly not saying that I am a genius either but painting is far from idiot proof.I think you need to tell all votech students and teachers this because they are wasting alot of valuable time and money on schooling.They must be a bunch of idiots for going to school for something that they can learn by doing it ONE time in their home garage.
You painted ,in my opinion ,the easiest car there is to paint,a c4 corvette.More than likely it didnt have to be stripped ,so it was pretty much a straight forward project.
You make it sound like I sit in front of my shop waiting to rape someone of every dime I can get.I do restoration work and it is probably the lowest paying gig in the auto painting industry.If I was so money hungry ,I would be doing collision work on Jags and Beamers.I do what I do because I like seeing old cars look like new.
I am definitley not discouraging someone to do it them selves or even just give it a try but it is NOT idiot proof.Trust me Ive worked with people for years that never did GET IT.There is a corvette in my shop right now for interior replacement that was painted by a body shop painter .I know him and he has been doing this for years.The car is bubbling and peeling in large sections.The car has been painted for 6 months.For him to mess it up like that it ,it had to have been a minor detail that got left out.He will be so relieved to know that they make idiot proof paint now.
:eyerole

As I said before, this horse is dead.

Let's move on to the "Beware of Bargin Thermostats" saga.

Jake

 

[Bob Yates]

My dearest jakejr and dmrodco...... I'm not worthy....I'm not worthy... I bow to both of you guys that you are brave and can spill paint on a vette and I'm very humble to anyone else who can . Lord knows I've had my share of vettes with bad paint. And to paintdaddy... I know of the hours , blister hands and sore arms on a labor of love. $10,000 sometimes isn't even enough. You guys take care. By the way when I do get sqirrely and pull out the old spray gun I use Dupont...... I would never buy a cheap thermostat... Later

 

[JAKEJR]

My dearest jakejr and dmrodco...... I'm not worthy....I'm not worthy... I bow to both of you guys that you are brave and can spill paint on a vette and I'm very humble to anyone else who can . Lord knows I've had my share of vettes with bad paint. And to paintdaddy... I know of the hours , blister hands and sore arms on a labor of love. $10,000 sometimes isn't even enough. You guys take care. By the way when I do get sqirrely and pull out the old spray gun I use Dupont...... I would never buy a cheap thermostat... Later

Atta boy, Bob. I would never buy a cheap thermostat either - not again at least.

Jake

 

[dmorris]

You can always do the prep work yourself and find someone to spray it. That is how I usually get my paint work done. I've got a friend that runs a quality paint shop that will work behind me. I do all of the body work and sanding and he sprays the car. I did an 83 Z28 a couple of years ago. I did the prep and he sprayed the car, including door jams and everything since it was a color change, for $1100. He went behind me a little on prep. He also did an 87 Toyota MR2, same color (he did do jams and trunk) , for $700 and he sanded this one, but he did not do as good a job sanding as I would have done. The Z28 would have probably been a $2500 job if I hadn't prepped it. If you consider the price of materials now, you will realize that it is not bad to pay for someone's expertise when it comes to spraying and you get their nice paint booth.

 

[JAKEJR]

I just took some photos - 20 in all - of my car and how my paint job turned out with me doing it myself.

Remember I'm not a pro and this was the first time I'd ever spray painted a car - or anything else for that matter - using a compressor and HVLP gun.


Anyone wanting to see them, drop me a line at Chippy266@aol.com and I'll email them to you.

Jake

 

[JAKEJR]

Hey, all.

I just posted 18 photos of the paint job I did on my Vette about 3 years ago. I posted them in the Member Gallery section. I also posted two of how ChromaLusion looks on my bike.

Remember, the Vette is a daily driver and gets exposed to all the usual road hazards, flying rocks, dirt, rain, parking lot dings, etc. The photos just show what you can accomplish in your own garage for about $650.00.

The bike was shot in Oct 2002 using DuPont's ChromaLusion paint system. I only had space to post two photos of the bike, one of the full bike and how it looks in LOW LIGHT conditions - how dark the ChromaLusion looks almost burgundy. The other, only of the gas tank, since I was working on the bike's carbs and had all kinds of towels and tools all over the bike. the tank shows how the color changes in higher light conditions.

The tank pics were taken on an overcast day, so the color change isn't as dramatic as it is in full sun. But just look at the orange and yellow areas and compare those to the burgundy to see how much color change takes place.

Also, I've been answering questions on this topic on the other thread, C4 Mods, so you can read them to catch up.

Hope this helps.

Jake

 

[jmccloud]

Paint it yourself???

Spacegoat,
I've painted one. It came out marvelous! A really good looking car.
I hired one out to CARS in Oxford, PA. (Now 3D collision) and it came out better than factory.
I'll NEVER paint one myself again.
John

 

[kingman]

Save your time and money!!

lt would be a whole lot cheaper to sell your vette and buy another one with a color you want.

There is nothing like a factory paint jop period, unless you pay more then your car is probably worth.

Ok what kind of thermostat???????????