KBcobra

My Camaro needs a paint job BAD, I'm sick at looking at my multicolored oxidized paint. The car from what I've been told is VERY straight. I'm willing to spend up to $1500 on a paint job.
Here is whats needed. The whole car, the door jams need some attention, and some other little spots. Problem, I only have so much money. Maacos looking like an option but I'm not sure about the Billing's Maaco since every Maaco is different. The prep work from what Im hearing worries me. This is a daily driver and I want this car to look like its brand new. Option 2, a local shop has hooked me up with a deal if I prep the car my self I can have it painted for $1500. Problem with that is I don't know anything about prep work but my friend who is willing to help has some body work experiance. Im not sure where to go need some guidiance from the experts
Here what I have to work with.

picasso_88

Well from the looks of it you dont have a ton of work to do in order to get it ready for paint. Your car looks to be in good shape. I couldnt explain everything you need to do in one post and everyone does their paint/body work differently. Just make sure you take the weatherstripping off before paint dont just tape over it. Also remove the door handles and side mirrors. I would ask the bodyshop guy what he would like you to do because he is going to be the one painting over your prep work.

KBcobra

weather stripping needs to replaced its all cracked and nasty who sells them btw?

Ca[maro]88

iTrader: (2)

body work can be done very quickly with how nice your car still looks. just go buy a roll or 80 grit and go to work on gettin all the little rock chips flush with the paint. then just scuff everything down (or take it to bare metal if your body shop wants it, but if your going with the same red, then just scuff it.) shouldnt take more than 3 hours to get scuffed down, maybe take another 2 to get your body lines perfect, maybe 2 more hours to get all the pieces taken off and all the windows taped up and its ready to go to the shop.

KBcobra

Would you suggest removing all the panels, ground effects, and doors? The edges need it bad.

Ca[maro]88

iTrader: (2)

no. unless your changing the color of the car, you dont need to do any of that. just take off all the lights, the grill, the tailights, the rubber that your going to replace, and just tape up the windows and swap on some junk wheels and tires. no need to take off the doors unless your going to paint the door jambs, and if your going to stay the same color then you dont really need to paint the door jambs. but if your jambs are really rusty and or bad or something, then you might need to remove them. ask your body shop first.

NatesZ/28

80grit to feather out rock chips??? Thats a mean joke bro! You want like 600 WETsanding paper on a sanding block to feather those out. Scuff the whole car with probably 600 wet (depends on your paint so talk to maaco first.



Scuff the whole car with the appropriate wetsanding sand paper on a sanding block (just till the paint looses its gloss and has a nice even flat appearence after you wash off all the dust and dry it.
MAKE SURE your paintshop uses an 'adhesion promotor' on all the plastic pieces.
Since you seem to have a trailer, you can tape off the windshield, hatchback and side windows with painters paper or even newsprint (make sure you tape all the seams between sheets)
I got my door parts from ecklers camaro or the like. DONT buy OER, buy the GM pieces (more money).

Also remove the door handles, mirrors and any trim you can (use a hairdryer to soften the adhesive)

Talk to maaco before you bring it over and they'll tell you what to do before you bring it there. these guys can sling paint, so if you do all the grunt work, cover up the car, bing all the extra pieces...have them wipe it down with solvent and a tack rag and spray a quality paint...you'll have a great looking car for 1500 bones...including the wheels even if you dont keep them, have them painted so they'll sell a lil better

Nate

Thirdgen Ranch

iTrader: (5)

You don't need to remove any body panels but I would DEFINITELY remove the bumpers and ground effects.

Ca[maro]88

iTrader: (2)

i used 80 grit and it worked great. took some 300 and smoothed it up a little bit and the primer filled it in fine. everybody has a different style for doing things. nobody is wrong.

Nub383

True everybody has their own style but I would go with what Nate said. If you are going to trailer it over there, I would take out the taillights and headlights also. Also the radio antenna needs to be taken off. 80 grit is too course for a re-shoot on a car that straight. Sealer won't cover that deep of a scratch and its possible you could see it in the paint because I doubt they are going to want to prime the whole car. I would do 600 wet and watch the edges of the panels and try not to get to bare metal if you don't have too. Take your time and don't get in a rush.

1Aauto

KB, Talk with the body shop that is going to do the job.Sometimes they would rather you not remove anything.

The problem is paint is expensive these days with all of the chemicals and everything that goes into making the paint it's just costly.

Just tell them your concerns and that you'd like the head and tail lights removed to paint the areas behind them.

We would get customers all the time trying to save money by removing stuff,in the end it gets to be a pain because all the hardware's in a different spot and things sometimes get broke that could have been saved otherwise by a pro.

That's a red car,and there are so many shades of red it's ridiculous.It's best for all those pieces to be in the hands of the garage to that it can all be painted from the same mix.

Here's a link to our Camaro Weatherstrip Section we offer free shipping on all parts with no hidden fees

Hope this helps,

Tony

Hope this helps

KBcobra

The door jams on the bottom need to be repainted, the sagging doors have scratched the paint to hell. Thanks for the advice I was freaking out because I thought prepping took a lot of work, thanks for the weather seals 1ATony. $1500 seem about right for self prepping ?

1Aauto

It's tough to tell by pictures without actually seeing the car.You could be looking at more like 3000. Not sure what that red's going for these days.

Ask around a few different shops, you may find a guy that would do it for short money.

KBcobra

Here is what he recommend. Take 320 to some of spider cracking. And some wet 500 on most of the color especially on the yellow crap.

NatesZ/28

that sounds about right. 600 wet isnt too agressive so it allows you to check your work before you break through. GO SLOW and do NOT sand on any edges or bdy lines. you want just a couple very light swipes with wet paper on those.

Using really agressive stuff is great when you're in a hurry; but if you've never done it you can make a MESS in a hurry; a REAL BIG hurry. Elbow grease is free so taking a little bit longer can save you a lot of money in the long run. change your paper often as well.

Nate