paint truck

[danno]

WHATEVER!!!!!

[worldsmysterie]

I feel your pain, It took me a 3 mounths of searching to find someone.

[F100builder]

i used to work at maaco, if you use their crappy paint you will get a crappy job, do all the prep work and masking yourself, make sure it is clean yourself, then get the most expensive job they have a base clear, it will hold up just fine, the paint from maaco isnt bad, its actually pretty good, its dupont, its the body, masking, and prep work they skimp on, if your paint from maaco is peeling, its not the paints or the painters fault, its the prep work.

A paint job is definitely only as good as the prep work.

On another note that was brought up, it seems to me that body shops are interested mostly in the quick spot repairs and fender bender jobs that deal with insurance, high priced replacement parts and their markups, and minimal time for repair. That's how they can make the most money per hour, week, or whatever. fitzwell is right when he talks about the cost of just materials alone so when they are all added up, what's left is labor and believe it or not, an honest shop will not make as much money on a complete paint job as they will with insurance claims. Because of this, some but not all shops (I did say some but not all) will way overbid to deter you from even using them as they would rather have the many more smaller, more lucrative jobs.

[F100builder]

BTW...4-5k does seem a tad high if all of the prep is done and done well. I'm thinking 3-4k is not in the upper stratosphere though but it's been several years since I've dealt with it. I'm going to try and do everything myself on my '56 F100 as far as bodywork and all of the prep but be in contact and hopefully develop a rapport with a local, reputable shop during the process. I also want to use the same products that the afore mentioned shop does. Then, I want to have them do the final paint and clear. My '56 will be done in pieces however and without any trim, glass, etc. attached. I will then carefully assemble the truck at home, in my garage with tunes in the background, maybe just a few beers, and some good friends that know what they're doing and know what my truck means to me! Ahhh, daydreaming again!