Hey guys....just wanted to get some opinions on getting my car painted. Right now its just in black primer. ALthough the car is originally black, I dont want to repaint it that color for a number of reasons right now, mainly being that Im doing alot of engine/drivetrain work right now...and wouldnt want to scratch it all up. Thats also the reason I dont want to pay $3000 for a paint job right now. My question is, if I were to get it painted white or silver, etc. how hard would it be to go back to the original black when the time comes???? Will it look ok(other than door jams, under hood, etc). Also, how much should I look to pay for a decent paint job(without taking the car all the way apart)???? Any other suggestions on paint colors??? ideas? I posted a link to my new homepage if youd like to see it to get a better idea. It just needs some kind of color... thanks in advance.......great board by the way.





Pics of my Car

 

Well anytime you change the color of the car, you really should paint all the jambs and such. If it were me, i would wait till you paint it the color you want it, do it right the first time. Cost, the cheapest way to do it, is do it yourself, thats how i do it. But of course you gotta have the tools and such.

 

Let me get this straight: You want to change your car from black to white or silver because you think you'll probably scratch the new paint when you do your engine work... THEN when the drivetrain is done, you want to change it back to black???

Ummmm, Why again? Is white or silver paint more scratch resistant? No. Are you going to have to paint the jambs to make it look right? Yes. And then you'll have to do it all over again...

Here's an idea: Be Careful! I have a friend with a 91 Z28 with the original black paint, and it's flawless. This car is on it's FIFTH engine, not to mention all the other wrenching he's done on it between engine swaps. He is careful and uses fender covers and has no paint damage.

 

Basically what I meant was.....I didnt want to shell out three grand for a paint job, and then scratch it all to hell working on the car. I figured Id just put some kind of paint(other than primer) on it to make it look halfway decent until I get all the other work on it done. Im just not sure I want it painted black right now because when you breathe on black paint it scratches..... My question was, if I got it painted a light color(white, gray, etc) would it have to be sanded completely back down to go back to the black??? Or should I just say **** it and leave it primered till Im done working on it???

 

In my opinion just leave it primered. Why waste money and paint it twice??

 

I know i'm gonna take crap for this, but if you just want a temporary paint job so your car doesn't look like crap while you finish all of the drivetrain take it to maaco. Get their *** cheap paint service that will look like crap in a year or so, but hopefully by then you'll be done with all the drivetrain work and can put a decent paint job on. For the $200-300 the maaco job will cost you i think its worth it

 

Yeah, I'd just leave it primered, but if you are dead set on painting it twice.

Why not paint it black right now, and then if gets dented all to hell again, just paint it black again.

White and silver paint arent gonna be any less scratch resistentant. It will just be a PITA going from primer to white/silver then to white/silver to primer and then primer to black.

 

good point(s) Im thinking about just going ahead and getting it painted right... Just take the motor/tranny/ out and trailer it over to the body shop. By the time they get done, my motor should be done....and everything will go back together. Dont get me wrong...I know a light color isnt scratch proof...but they dont show it like black. I love a black paint job when its done right....its just a bitch to take care of.. But, Im just gonna keep it original and have it painted black. One more question though, should I go ahead and take all the weatherstripping around the doors and windows off and replace it after the paint job? It could use it... and wouldnt it make the painters/maskers job a little easier??? THanks for all the help guys....Ill post some pics after its finished. One final question.....what do you guys think of the "heritage stripes" like those that were on the 92 camaros?? Or maybe some ghost flames with purple pearl?? Thanks again guys.....

 

Me and my dad paint cars were in cincinnati :-)

 

Hey SpdFrk, I remember ya from the suspension board....Youre up around Milford right? Im across from Cincinnati in Florence, KY.....how much would you guys charge me?? hehe

 

well when we restore old cars we charge them 20 an hr but if you just want a paint job and some light body work it shouldnt take to long. What cost alot is the paint itself

 

the body is really straight.....very straight....just needs to be sanded all the way down(maybe) and shot with some paint. It might need a little filler in the doors....couple little dings.....but nothing too bad.

 

thats all i did to my car i took everything off but the windsheild tho i had the hatch off also.

 

Or you could spend the money you are gonna spend on this half-assed paint job, get the drivetrain **** over with quicker, and then put on the real paintjob...saves time, money, scratches, etc. etc.