Body shop comment

[Achelea]

Not a question so much as an observation.

Dropped off my heads to get looked at and a quote for prepping them to go on my car, and right across the street I see a body shop.

So I wander of and ask for a quote to make my car look good. Fix all the little dings, teh fading hood, roof etc etc. And he says 2500-3000 for a complete paint job. Which I expect. He mentioned removing the wing and painting them seperate, so it sounds like he would be doing the job right. Well, I start pointing out the little dings and the fender rubbing and mentioned that the wheel is rubbing, he told me the springs were probably worn. (205k miles, I would assume so.) I laughed and said, Yeah, I am planning on getting some coil overs.

He looked it over and said, "I know you said this is your toy, but with the milage, and how much parts are, this really isn't worth it."



I shrugged a bit and told him I want to budget for a good paint job, and he insisted it's probably not worth painting.. At this time I noticed he had a rather well maintained 87 ElCamino. When I left I stopped a bit and grinned. "We can't all have muscle cars." He nodded and I drove off..

I can see his side. for a 1500 car, a 3k paint job seems kinda over the top. It's really not worth it.

But do you REALLY want to tell a customer their car is not worth painting?

I wonder if I had a 92 Mustang GT asking for the same thing if he would give the same reply.

 

[Dhan]

Interesting story. Maybe he was judging you by the car you were driving and not taking your inquiry seriously. A DSM is worth painting and maintaining properly in my opinion. I hold my cars dear and would happily pay for them to get professionally attended to (I never have money so I'm a DIY'r ).

Besides, wet sanding, priming, painting and then finishing is doable in a garage for a fraction of the price it costs to have a real body shop do it. And it isn't overly difficult.

 

[Achelea]

<-- No Garage and wife doesn't want more parts/chemicals laying around.

Besides, there are a lot of little dings I want pulled or filled in properly, but I don't have the tools or experience to do it right. besides, I don't wanna paint my car 3 times as practice. XD


I'd do it at the hanger if I could, but I get enough flak for my car already with it's PS squeal, I really don't have the patience to deal with them. That and it's kinda like against FAA rules.

I'm trying to find some one that's done it themselves to help out a bit. That and I don't know where I'd get the tools. XD

EDIT: That, and I kinda wanna get the seams straightened out. Like the hood gap and the fender rubbing on my tire.

 

[dsm8883]

The guy is correct the car is not worth 3k+ for a paint job in most peoples minds. A 92 gsx with 205k is only going to bb out for 2-4k. It all depends on what (you) think the car is worth.

 

[bradselph]

I feel your pain i was quoted 5k plus for 1 rust spot and a headlight realignment.

Thats not even a color change either my last word with that guy was "bye"

 

[96awd]

That's when you shake your head and go to a different shop.

Anyone like that will say it's not worth it. If anything, find a friend a with a garage, and do it there.

 

[Achelea]

Well, your car is newer and white. I just want black. I don't even know if he knew I wanted it black still...

That's when you shake your head and go to a different shop.

Anyone like that will say it's not worth it. If anything, find a friend a with a garage, and do it there.

Looking, Micheal has done it, but he's too "distracted" to make the effort viable.

 

[96awd]

Well, your car is newer and white. I just want black. I don't even know if he knew I wanted it black still...



Looking, Micheal has done it, but he's too "distracted" to make the effort viable.

Which Michael? Lol.

I'm painting my engine bay in my driveway. If my car needed a paint, I'd take it to my one of my best friend's Dad who owns Centerline in House Spring, MO.

They gave me a quote (I've known them for about 6 years and being best friends with his sons) to completely remove all dings and dents, replace the front bumper, rear bumper, and to also shave the hatch on my old 2g (removed the lip spoiler.) They were going to do all that and repaint the whole car; jams, bay, and exterior. All for $1700. That is not using bondo either.

 

[Achelea]

Wow... I will envy you now. *ENVY ENVY ENVY*

Man, if they would do that quality of work without bondo, I'm willing to drive the 100 miles to get a good body shop. though I doubt they'd extend the same discount to some one ya hardly knew.

Course, I'm shopping around for a place that would do it right and not take short cuts. But I need to get the engine back up to spec before I spend 2k+ on the body to make it cooperate. But Soon. Yes... Very soon...

As for Which one? The one in Pinckneyville. Yes, I'm calling you out. XD

 

[96awd]

Wow... I will envy you now. *ENVY ENVY ENVY*

Man, if they would do that quality of work without bondo, I'm willing to drive the 100 miles to get a good body shop. though I doubt they'd extend the same discount to some one ya hardly knew.

Course, I'm shopping around for a place that would do it right and not take short cuts. But I need to get the engine back up to spec before I spend 2k+ on the body to make it cooperate. But Soon. Yes... Very soon...

As for Which one? The one in Pinckneyville. Yes, I'm calling you out. XD

Lol. I was shocked honestly. I didn't go through with it just wanted a quote for if I did. I sold the car anyway. I miss it terribly.

There's quite a few shops that won't use bondo, just gotta tell them that. Look into them more.

What else is needing for the engine to be ready to go? Did you ever get the head replaced along with everything else?

Sell those Evo wheels to me already. I'm dying for them... literally.

 

[Achelea]

Lol. I was shocked honestly. I didn't go through with it just wanted a quote for if I did. I sold the car anyway. I miss it terribly.

There's quite a few shops that won't use bondo, just gotta tell them that. Look into them more.

What else is needing for the engine to be ready to go? Did you ever get the head replaced along with everything else?

Sell those Evo wheels to me already. I'm dying for them... literally.

... No, Bad DSMer, stop humping my wheels!

Well, fact is the wife JUST Got her job, and a few days after that, the 92 Celica GT i was driving decided to grenade it's head. So I am buying a new motor for 200 bucks to throw in it.

As for my car, as I mentioned, I took my heads to a machine shop for them to look over the good head I bought from Micheal and the cams from my california donor car.

Right now I am needing;
3g lifters,
set of rockers,
valve cover gasket,
head gasket,
intake mani gasket,
exhaust mani gasket,
turbo gaskets,
injector gaskets
about 20 yards of hose to finally replace all the crappy worn out fraying hoses in my car.

At some point...
PS pump, make the drip tray for it so it doesn't kill the;
Alternator I need since mine's squealing again.

At some point I am going to start trying to make an under carriage tray for the car... but that needs a garage.

 

[96awd]

Lol. Quite a list.

I had that head sold in like a day to Denny also.

But I would kill for those wheels. No one has them around us at all. I'm about to go snatching some wheels off an Evo here soon.

 

[Achelea]

Meh, it's a small list.



And NO, the wheels are NOT for sale. Go troll Evo forums.

 

[AwD4g63TsI]

I've been painting cars for years and I don't necessarily think all the cars are worth it, but if someone is willing to put their hard earned money in to a car I will do the work for them.
On the other hand, he may have been running a high turnaround insurance mill and this car would have just slowed his flow down to be worth it. You have to think about that. I used to work in one of these high speed mills and the owner was not interested in any custom or lengthy 'individual' work. We relied specifically on quick turnaround insurance jobs.

 

[Achelea]

That's what I heard from some one else. There are Body shops, then there are BODY SHOPS.

I think he was more interested in collision repair rather than something to make it look good.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

IDK about any of you, but I don't consider an 87 El Comino a "muscle car" The muscle era was long gone by 87. That's just an ugly, old, square tank that is worth less than your car that he apparently had no problem painting. But hey, If he doesn't want your money, I'm sure there is another shop that does.

 

[JusMX141]

So are we having a technical discussion about paint jobs here, or are we moving on to what mods the O.P.'s car needs and arguing the true definition of "muscle cars"?

 

[silicosys4]

At least he gave you a true, honest opinion. I've had body shops give me an outrageous number just because they don't want the job. One guy (shady as hell I found out later when my sister wanted to buy a car off him) looked out his window at my typhoon sitting 50 feet away, and quoted me a nice round "10 grand" just because he was too busy to actually talk about it and go look at it. He did elaborate that it was so expensive because he was going to "do it right", but didn't want to take the time to explain exactly what that meant. So I wouldn't underestimate the value of your guy's opinion, as far as his ride...everyone has their own interests, I've seen 80's el-camino's getting crazy-sideways, they look like a fun, tail-wagging ride that is light in the ass like a truck but handles a little better, and the sky is the limit as far as motor and tranny options.

 

[Achelea]

Sorry Boss, my fault for not keeping it On Topic.

Paint Shop Topic:
My guess is what was mentioned before, and he was more of a quick turn collision type of guy. But he probably repainted the ElCamino cause he has a paint shop and he could.

Either way, I think I'll look for some one that seems more inclined to work with a customer.

I do agree, frankly, no car is worth the monetary value we assign them.

 

[4g63tc]

1 day paint and body. 1k for a "factory" finish, base/clear.

Some people have had good experiences, others not so great. I had them paint my company Van, and they actually did a great job, sure there was a little overspray, and orange peel, but after all I got what I paid for.

Go to one of their shops, and ask take a look at their works in progress.

 

[Achelea]

Well, I am planning on doing some underbody aero mods down the road, which would help some of the car.

If I want it to be just repainted to protect the car, I can do it myself. What I want is as close to factory as possible. Like the waveyness and dings down the doors and rear fenders drive me nuts. A pay and spray shop would throw putty at it and call it a day. I want the dings out, not covered up.

I've heard of places that just throw a ton of putty on the car to fill dings instead of tapping them out. I know what a body hammer looks like, and if they don't have any, I'll be going elsewhere.

 

[4g63tc]

If the Dings aren't too bad, find a "dent masters" in your area, they specialize in "paintless" dent removal, after that have it sprayed.

 

[Paching]

If the Dings aren't too bad, find a "dent masters" in your area, they specialize in "paintless" dent removal, after that have it sprayed.

^ or spray it yourself, that way it'll be done right and cost you waaay less.

 

[BLAMExTHExLAG]

get a friend to do it for you if you don't have the room or experience. The majority of the cost for paint is in the time & labor, not the materials