What to expect to spend for the work? Need to make a decision.

[Rileys68Camaro]

my car needs repainted, was done once about 6 years ago but due to various issues, not the least of which was the shop, needs new paint.

So, I'm trying to figure out what to budget so that I can either paint it and continue or just concetrate on the mechanicals and tear it down again later or sell it.

Since it's going in, I need a few holes welded up 1/4" or smaller. I also want to put the DSE fill plate in the firewall, and put mini tubs in it. Needs put back on a rotissery(sp) and the underside coated and the dash and door jabs redone. Body work is 90%+ and car is only about 40% assembled, but I'll take care of the engine removal and such if needed.

Solid color, body color(most likely) in the engine bay and dash, dark blue. Prodigy Custom fastners used to re install front metal Maybe a stripe around the nose, but nothing fancy.

Think that's it.

[novanutcase]

Depends on how straight you want it. I spoke to Jon Byer in Washington with metal work and all and he quoted me around $30,000 - to $60,000 for my project. I would say that you are looking in the $20,000 to $40,000 range but, again, depends on how straight you want it. You might want to look at this thread:

http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums...ghlight=primer

Pretty informative

[fletcherscustoms]

wow it really does cost more to live on left coast!!

In my shop , based on what you stated, you'd be in the $10K-14K range! Considering no heavy metal work and not having to completly tear the car down and start over. And that would be a show quality job.

[Happyfunballs]

wow....it appears that I'm not charging enough for my side work.

[mikey]

wow....it appears that I'm not charging enough for my side work.

I second that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rileys68Camaro]

Oh, and I was thinking a 'cage too.

To be clear, I'm just talking paint and body work, not mechanical stuff. I'll do all the motor work and install and final assembly, asside from body panels.

I've got too much in it already, but there is no way I'd afford $20K plus. I'm not even sure if I can afford to have it painted and still get the other stuff to get it on the road in a decent time.

I do know that if I get it mostly assembled and drivable, it'll cost a lot more to have it painted at that point.

[fletcherscustoms]

where are you located?

[Rileys68Camaro]

I'm in Idaho, and most of the quality shops here are either unwilling or unable to do the work due to time or it's not in their business plan.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Sounds like mid teens $$$$$

[Speed Raycer]

Oh, and I was thinking a 'cage too.

Get that done before any kind of big $$$ bodywork/paint. There's all kinds of things that *can* happen during a cage install. Doesn't mean anything will happen, but as a cage builder, I always prefer a car in primer over a car with a nice fresh paint job.

[jy211]

Some of these numbers are wild....I know I paid under $4K for my paint and they also smoothed out my firewall completely...

[JoshStratton]

You should think about hooking up with one of the guys on this board. For 20K, you could ship the car to them, get a show quality job and get it shipped back with change to spare.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Some of these numbers are wild....I know I paid under $4K for my paint and they also smoothed out my firewall completely...

WOW, I am as we speak I am reviewing the paint and materials for a car we are finishing right now. We are at $2200 in polyester, primmer, base, color, semi gloss with no direct expenses charged off for sand paper tape, paper, thinners, etc. Just the color alone, (for 6 quarts), was $570 ($380 per gallon) at C Schedule prices. Clear (for 6 quarts) is $600 ($400 a gallon) . Primer is $300 a gallon, we used a couple. Now granted we are painting inside, outside, under and over. But even if we did just the outer body it runs $1500 to $1800. So that leaves just $2200 to $2500 for labor. Now at $7 per sq ft for rent, and a car takes a 20 X 20 space, that is $250 per month in just space. So if it take 2 months, that is $500 + overhead (another $200?).

So let's deduct the materials at a low cost of $1500 + $700 for shop space, we deduct $2200 from the $4000 leaving $1800 for labor. Now at a shop rate of $50 per hour, that is 36 hours. So if someone can do it in 36 hours, what is a 200 hour job, I need to sub it all to them.

Keep in mind I did not talk about insurance, employee expenses, shop supplies, or any other misc.

This math right here is exactly why shops go broke halfway through projects. But if you can get someone hungry, go for it, but be careful. I have talked to at least 5 members in the last few months that are in trouble right now with projects shops cannot finish because they are being evicted, or simply cannot afford to finish the project because they under estimated the project.

[David Sloan]

WOW, I am as we speak I am reviewing the paint and materials for a car we are finishing right now. We are at $2200 in polyester, primmer, base, color, semi gloss with no direct expenses charged off for sand paper tape, paper, thinners, etc. Just the color alone, (for 6 quarts), was $570 ($380 per gallon) at C Schedule prices. Clear (for 6 quarts) is $600 ($400 a gallon) . Primer is $300 a gallon, we used a couple. Now granted we are painting inside, outside, under and over. But even if we did just the outer body it runs $1500 to $1800. So that leaves just $2200 to $2500 for labor. Now at $7 per sq ft for rent, and a car takes a 20 X 20 space, that is $250 per month in just space. So if it take 2 months, that is $500 + overhead (another $200?).

So let's deduct the materials at a low cost of $1500 + $700 for shop space, we deduct $2200 from the $4000 leaving $1800 for labor. Now at a shop rate of $50 per hour, that is 36 hours. So if someone can do it in 36 hours, what is a 200 hour job, I need to sub it all to them.

Keep in mind I did not talk about insurance, employee expenses, shop supplies, or any other misc.

This math right here is exactly why shops go broke halfway through projects. But if you can get someone hungry, go for it, but be careful. I have talked to at least 5 members in the last few months that are in trouble right now with projects shops cannot finish because they are being evicted, or simply cannot afford to finish the project because they under estimated the project.

Thankyou Frank!!!!!!!!
It is so hard for people to under stand the cost of paint an body.

[fletcherscustoms]

We want touch a car in my shop for less than 10g's. You just can't do it. I am not gonna spray the cheapest stuff known to man and simply let him go with a crap job. My car "shop beater" has a little over $4500 in primer, base, clear, and rhino liner material on it. Then about 400 hours labor in paint. That doesn't count the god knows how many hours for body work and prep

[JoshStratton]

...and rhino liner material on it.

I must have missed that. Do you have any pics of it installed? I was thinking of doing the same thing to my floors.

[fletcherscustoms]

It's not the best pic in the world. But the grey colored stuff on the floors is color matched rhino liner.

[Rileys68Camaro]

Hmm, not encouraging. But it's been years since I seriously looked at paint jobs.

So, has any one done a partial paint? I'm thinking that maybe I'll try and get the underside redone, the tubs, firewall and dash done maybe a cage if I can find someone to do it, and then do the exterior later.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Thankyou Frank!!!!!!!!
It is so hard for people to under stand the cost of paint an body.

David, I am working on a free lance article for Muscle Rides on this subject. I will break it down to the ridiculous

[Damn True]

David, I am working on a free lance article for Muscle Rides on this subject. I will break it down to the ridiculous

When your break down the labor portion of the pricing, it might be helpful to some if you were to segment the cost by "level" of paint job.

The cost to do a SEMA car or SMOY contender is going to be different than that of a driver right?

Perhaps you could break it down this way.

Serious Show car.
Avg. Show car.
Nice driver.
Streetfighter/track car.

Personally, I have no desire to have a paint job of the quality on Prodigy or the G-Force cuda. I plan to drive my car A LOT, take it to the track etc. I want a paint job that wont make me cry the first time it gets a rock chip or I put a scratch in it with my belt buckle.