I'm thinking about getting my ride painted now that spring is here. Currently, its dk. red, but i'm looking to get away from that (my 4th gen firebird was the same color.) How much would a half decent black paint job run me? thank guys

 

A decent complete color change $3500.00.

Half decent would be about $1800.00.

 

Better do the prep work yourself.

 

Well, I am going from maroon to black, with red racing stripes to match my red interior this summer for around 300 bucks...
but of course thats with my best friend teaching me how to paint and doing alot of it for me, lucky me to have a friend who makes a living painting corvettes to better than factory paint..... you could always find a friend like that

good luck man

 

300......

even on a flawless ride with the most knowledge in the world you couldn't do a colorchange with different color stripes unless your buying cheap paint.

i would say an honest 3500 for a good colorchange. or you could follow the pack an try macco.

 

Primer 150 gallon.
Sealer 150 Gallon.
Basecoat 125.00 Gallon
Clearcoat 200.00 Gallon
Rubbing Compound 24.00 Bottle
Machine Glaze 24.00 Bottle
Bondo/Putty/Sandpaper/Scotchbrite/DA Disc/Long Block Disc/Guidecoat

Must be a real good friend.... the base materials usually run 600 to 800 for a "decent" job.

 

So the cost of the job would be considerably less if i stay with my current color and have it resprayed?

 

Mines was 2400 for a color change. Maroon to Black. I had the antenna shaved and the clear side marker lights fitted so it could have been slightly cheaper. However, the engine bay is still red

 

Understand these figures are for a "rule of thumb" but a typical complete runs 2500.00 and a color change will add about 30% to that and bring it to 3500.00.

Staying with the same color eliminates the necessity of removing the doors to do the insides and jambs. Also under hood and trunk/hatch areas as well as other trim and weatherstripping. In some cases the whole car doesn't actually need to be repainted. With a computer scan and blend you can reshoot the bad areas and revive some original areas. Depends on the overall condition.

There are three kinds of shops. Body shops that do insurance work.... restoration shops that specialize in frame off or rotisserie work and drive-thrus like Maaco and Earl Schieb.

The restoration shops "usually" won't even talk to you unless you have a minimum of 15G's hanging out of your pocket with the willingness to go even higher.

Many body shops hate completes. In the time it takes to do one $3500.00 complete paint job they can crank out $15,000.00 worth of insurance work fixing little ol' ladies cars that back into trees and such.

The bargain shops are great....... if you don't expect much or might be going to sell the car. When they quote the same chemicals and the same work the body shops do.... their prices are exactly the same if not higher........ so you're getting what you pay for.

The best way is to TALK to the bodyman you choose. Ask "how can I save some money". Here are some things that MAY save you some bucks.

1. Not being in a hurry letting them work it into their higher paying work schedule.
2. Working on it "off season" like not in bad weather times when a lot of people wreck their car or get hail or wind damage.
3. Doing some of the de-trimming or prep work yourself. (some don't like you to do this but some will welcome it.) If you de-trim the car yourself....... you're gonna' have to put it together too.