How much for paint?

[Dmichels]

I know this is a very open ended question.
what I have
  1968 Dodge charger  I have replaced quarter panels and done 90% of all the body work on the rest of the car. The car is a rolling shell all stripped down no glass chrome or engine. Most of the paint has bees sanded down .
What I need done. The final sanding and body work needed for paint. Really not much needed.  I need Door jams, around the doors, under the hood, engine compartment, under trunk lid painted I do not need a show car finish I want something that duplicates the factory paint.
What should I expect to pay?
Dave

[x73CHARGERx]

I'm painting my 73 and I'm using dupli color from advanced auto parts and it's like 25 a quart for base and 25 for clear so I'm expecting to use 1.5 gallons of each so like 300 give or take. you might want to check out this store
www.thecoatingstore.com

[myk]

Are you painting it yourself, or farming out the work? 

[x73CHARGERx]

Myself

[myk]

What about you, 'OP? 

[Dmichels]

Body shop, sorry I was not clear

[tan top]

 what color  primer going on car  ?  what color top coat ? bace & clear or single stage ?  are they using  old style paint guns  or  hvlp  ?

woopps miss read tha post    thought how much paint in volume  gallons pints etc

[b5blue]

  After my local PPG vendor quoted me 1400.00 for a gallon of B5blue with a gallon of clear, 300.00 or so for a gallon of epoxy primer I was fairly stunned. Figuring that's not enough material to paint a whole Charger and all the other stuff needed I re-thought things and ended up using Eastwood's epoxy and have Kirker for topcoat. Eastwood epoxy runs 99.00 for 2 gallons and Kirker is about 110.00 per gallon for single stage urethane in factory mixed colors. (Not color matched to your car's original code.) 
  The cheapest code matched paint was in acrylic enamel not urethane and was about 400.00 per gallon. 

[Patronus]

$7 large 

[myk]

$7 large 

Sounds right to me, and that's WITHOUT body work, although I guess the 'OP has that covered already...

[Dmichels]

 I have preped cars before for paint before a  Maaco paint job and they have come out ok So I know my body work is not too bad. I was wanting some better quality  paint as well as a pro doing the final prep. That is why I started calling "real" body shops. Not trying to diss Maaco I have used them before and I have no gripes for the price paid. I have been quoted 6 to 9 thousand  I understand materials will be about 1200. That leaves alot of room for profit. I am not new at working on cars and I know that bodywork takes time. I was shooting for a 3 to 4000 job It seams like you jump form the 299 Maaco special to the 6000 job I am surprised there is nothing in between.
Dave

[skip68]

I was going to say Maaco.  I stripped and sanded my car, ordered the paint and found a shop to shoot it.   
That was about $1,900.   

[Dmichels]

I could live with that

[1970chargerrt]

  After my local PPG vendor quoted me 1400.00 for a gallon of B5blue with a gallon of clear, 300.00 or so for a gallon of epoxy primer I was fairly stunned. Figuring that's not enough material to paint a whole Charger and all the other stuff needed I re-thought things and ended up using Eastwood's epoxy and have Kirker for topcoat. Eastwood epoxy runs 99.00 for 2 gallons and Kirker is about 110.00 per gallon for single stage urethane in factory mixed colors. (Not color matched to your car's original code.) 
  The cheapest code matched paint was in acrylic enamel not urethane and was about 400.00 per gallon. 

You should be able to get a gallon on PPG Omni and hardener and reducer for about $200.  I priced out a gallon of epoxy, gallon of high build primer, gallon of Omni and a gallon of clear for a pickup I am thinking of painting and with hardener and reducer it was between $500 and $600.  The epoxy, primer and clear were "shop" brands but are used a lot locally on production body work and nobody seems to complain about them for the price.  I know they have codes for Omni for more modern cars but I've never checked if the 60's/70's PPG codes apply to Omni also but they should be able to match almost anything even if there isnt a code for it.  It's not paint for a numbers matching hemi show car but for anything that you are going to paint yourself it should be fine.

[Dmichels]

I am not sure if I could pull off the paint job myself and have it look good I have painted trucks and cars before but they look just that OK for a driver. Anybody recomend anyone in the Easton PA area?

[charger_fan_4ever]

Most reputable places won't want to touch what someone else has done. 1 pinhole in the weld under the bodywork and it bubbles out in 6 months and the customer comes back wants it fixed gratos and you end up having to strip it to bare metal and start over.

My brothers shop stopped doing this years ago. Does not want to spray it not knowing whats underneath and then in a year if/when it bubbles out and john doe asks the owner who painted it he gives you a bad name as they are going to throw the shop under the bus.

Not referring to the OP in particular, lots of times when a car shows up "ready for paint" its nowhere near that.

You said most of the paint is sanded. You didn't strip it to the bare metal ? Unless its an original paint car who knows whats under there. :S


All that being said i think your hopes are high at 4k for finish work and painting the bay,trunk,jambs. Now days a smaller sedan paint job is 1500-2000 if there is no major work.

[Cooter]

Most reputable places won't want to touch what someone else has done. 1 pinhole in the weld under the bodywork and it bubbles out in 6 months and the customer comes back wants it fixed gratos and you end up having to strip it to bare metal and start over.

My brothers shop stopped doing this years ago. Does not want to spray it not knowing whats underneath and then in a year if/when it bubbles out and john doe asks the owner who painted it he gives you a bad name as they are going to throw the shop under the bus.

Not referring to the OP in particular, lots of times when a car shows up "ready for paint" its nowhere near that.

You said most of the paint is sanded. You didn't strip it to the bare metal ? Unless its an original paint car who knows whats under there. :S


All that being said i think your hopes are high at 4k for finish work and painting the bay,trunk,jambs. Now days a smaller sedan paint job is 1500-2000 if there is no major work.

EXACTLY! Maaco is the only place willing to overlook their reputation opn someone else's bodywork these days with the picky ass public wanting perfection for little to nothing.

$5-$10K on a really nice paint job....Maaco if your under that and buy yourself a buffer and video how-to...

[bill440rt]

Stay away from Omni. Pure garbage. 

[1970chargerrt]

Stay away from Omni. Pure garbage. 

I've used the single stage Omni on a couple daily driver trucks and thought it was OK.  I've never painted with anything else though.  It's by far the most popular paint that the local auto body supply store sells. 

[Dmichels]

Thanks for all the info guys I can certainly understand a shop wanting to protect their name. I also can see why they would not want to paint on top of someone elses body work. I guess I just need to save up a little bit more and have a pro paint it. I have way too much time and money to half ass it now.
Anybody have a shop in western NJ/Easton PA area they could recomend?
THanks
Dave

[Silver R/T]

Screw PPG, there are better products at lower prices. I've been using SPI products and Sherwin Williams (I get discount on Sherwin Williams products)
I would find someone who does this on side and you could save quite a bit of money compared to body shop

[myk]

I'll second the count for Sherman Williams.  When my body shop first told me about using Sherman Williams I asked them why they wanted to put house paint on my car, and to put on PPG or House of "K"olor instead.  They told me the price would go up considerably and no one would be able to tell the difference anyway.  So far, I like how the house paint looks on the car...

[Dmichels]

Here is where I am at
1 MAcco $500 +- No thanks
2 friend of a friend $3000 no paint booth never saw his work
3 body shop 1 would not give a price but he said he painted a Charger the need more work then mine for $9000 Works by the hour
4 Body shop 2 $6000 Older guy into old hot rods. Less then a mile from my house.
5 two local guys who do this on the side to pay for their race care Nice work No paint booth $5000
I like #4 works by himself I do not need to worry about things going missing I have seen his work he is very detail oriented. I can also vist the car on the way home from work. He is stopping by next week.
I have had this car for 23 years it was my DD for 10 years Everything is done It just needs paint and me to put it back together
I can't wait
Dave

[rebby]

Based on what you posted, I'd go w/the #4 as well. We're on the same path that the moment. My car is nearly ready for paint so I'm searching for shops to finish the job as well.

[b5blue]

What ever you pick stay on top of them. Tell them you REQUIRE regular check in's and want to take pics as they go. A well meaning auto body/paint guy I knew for over 8 years was screwing everything up, had I not checked in regularly it would have been too late! (I pulled the car and cut my losses.) 

[69 OUR/TEA]

It depends on what final outcome of finish you are looking to achieve.No other paint is in my vocabulary except PPG.Used Sherwilliam Williams years ago when it was Acme,was ok,but not even comparable to PPG,from their primers right up to their clear.NTM,sanding/buffing their clear,as well as the hold out,shine,depth,etc.
You get what you pay for case closed.There are other high end paints,Glas,Sikkens,Speis,etc,that I would use before Sherwinn.
All the cars I have done,all PPG,lasted for years and still going.No change in sight for me.
When you are restoring a car to a high caliber,don't skimp on the product.If it is to be cruise night/driver quality,and cost is a factor,then don't expect wine taste for six pack money.And don't be one of those guys that complains later and blame the body guy/painter about the job.

[69 OUR/TEA]

BTW,the B5,PPG Global basecoat, that I just did on the 69 R/T was $452.00 a gal x2,never mind the 2021 clear $237.00 gal x2,DCX 61 $108 quart x2 hardener,reducer,etc.NTM,the primers underneath it all.

[Dmichels]

I have been told $1200 for materials I am fine with that

[Patronus]

A Charger only requires one gallon of paint..

[Silver R/T]

If you use Deltron DBC base coat it will mix 1 to 1 so you'll have 2 sprayable gallons. Charger is a big car and it will require more than a gallon if you're doing jambs, engine bay, trunk...

[hemi-hampton]

A Charger only requires one gallon of paint..

If you read original first post he wants to spray engine compartment, under hood, under trunk, jambs, ect. All this will take more then 1 gallon. LEON.

[Patronus]

So with the mix of 1:1 and he buys 2 gallons, mixed that's 4 gallons. Sounds smrt to me. 

[69 OUR/TEA]

So with the mix of 1:1 and he buys 2 gallons, mixed that's 4 gallons. Sounds smrt to me. 

Yes it does !!! He did'nt say if it were a vinyl top or not but either way,2 gallons of base is the way I'd go,especially a color like B5 blue.Alot of  trigger pulling of the gun when doing the inside of the trunk,and eng bay making sure you got it even and covered.The inside of the hood and trunk lid to making sure you got it uniform with all the inside stamped framework.Then the outside,its a big car,and if doing the roof,can consume alot,NTM,again making sure the coverage is good and uniform,metallic laid out ,etc.Then doing small loose parts,hood hinges,bolts,side marker bezels,front valance.And would be nice to have some extra of the same mix just in case of an unfortunate mishap during assembly,or accident down the road.

[bill440rt]

I agree. If JUST a quick respray on the outside without jambs, trunk, underhood, etc, then maybe a gallon might be enough on a vinyl top car. And no room for sanding & buffing it. Also depends on the mix ratio & color coverage. But normally, no. One gallon won't be enough paint.
You'd be surprised how much paint those little parts can eat up. 

[Dmichels]

No vinyl roof I figured a gallon and 1/2 for everything. THe WHOLE car needs paint I want red paint every where the factory sprayed it
Dave

[NHCharger]

I'm in the same boat you are. I'm doing all the body work and having a pro squirt it for me. Only painting I'm doing is the hi build primer. It is tough to find a painter that will paint behind some else's work. This guy painted my 71 Charger six years ago. he's actually working by the hour for me. He's also letting me use his discount to buy all my paint supplies which is huge.
Is the 6k just for this guys labor?

[Dmichels]

6k was paint and labor I have been shopping around I think his price is fair THe bodywork is just about done
Dave

[Homerr]

I'm reading 'Project Charger' and ran across the chapter last night where the author goes over quantities of paint, reducer, activator, etc.  Seemed like good info.  I'm thinking about doing a 2nd Charger after being without for 20 years, and the book has been decent overall and a good reminder of all the work involved.

http://www.amazon.com/Project-Charger-Step-By-Step-Restoration-ebook/dp/B008BG93EY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

[JB400]

I'm painting my 73 and I'm using dupli color from advanced auto parts and it's like 25 a quart for base and 25 for clear so I'm expecting to use 1.5 gallons of each so like 300 give or take. you might want to check out this store
www.thecoatingstore.com

I agree. Just pour it in the gun and go.  Recoat any time.  It's the cheapest way to practice.  That's what I'm going to do.  At least for practice.  Final job will be with the good stuff.

[HeavyFuel]

I took a bare body to my guy.

He stripped it, replaced the trunk floor center, rebuilt the rear valance corners, re-set one quarter, added subs and torque boxes, prepped, jambed (color change), used PPG products (Deltron) base/clear, cut and polished.

Vinyl top car.

The outside looks really nice.  Other areas like under the hood, etc, not as good, and I suspect that he didn't prep them very well (some of the paint is flaking  )

Damages all in: $7,000.   Not bad.

But he had it for 6 years.