[REBELPONY]

Finally got the wheels changed out, I been driving it to work for the last 2 days.

I have successfully made an hour-long Interstate trip. I was cruising along at about 3000RPM in 4th gear(AUTO: 4SPD OD, no speedo cable yet).

by the rate I was passing folks and guaging by the speed test I did with my wife's Durango, Im guessing it was about 85-90.

Figured Id throw up a few pics below.

got an estimate from Maaco on the paint.

After I replace the following:

• Ft Bumper cover and headlight support
  rear decklid
  all weatherstripping and window/windshield/rear window trim(to be installed after the paint job)

He'll prep and paint everything for around $1500.00.
This includes Urethane paint bright metallic Blue with White Racing stripes and painting the GT Trim to match with white stripes where the blue ones are now and do the doorjambs. He'll do the inside the trunk for a few hundred more, but I think Im going to use bedliner in the trunk to help it be quieter and add alittle weight.

Is this a good price? this is the first project I have done where I didnt paint it myself, I am not good at painting and I want this thing to look good.

Any tips and tricks from experience?

[Drick]

Nice man

[baine21225]

is it their 2 stage paint or 1? if its 2 then its a good price if its 1, id check around a bit more, make sure you get 2 tho

[86ttops]

Havent herd anything good about macco around here but if it is a quality job $1500 is a great price

[Drick]

Taking it to maaco eh

[baine21225]

well its going to be the best he is going to get under 2G

[REBELPONY]

Well when I get back from Iraq in March '08, I will have a decent budget....I want to redo the suspention but I could see myself going as high as 5000.00 on paint and body work....if nothing else comes up of course.

I wanted to put 10,000 down on an 08 GT, but I think Im going to use that to fix up the Fox and get it looking good....

Looking into some engine Mods and a coilover suspension and a new (to me) rear end with the other 5 grand....

I think he said it was 2 stage paint... I was worried it would look funny....

I have never heard good things about Maaco till this shop, several people in Huntsville say its a good place to go....

I personally want to find a Body Shop and get them to do it all.... as stated above : BODY WORK SUCKS...

Think I could get the quality paint job for around 5 grand? I can do alot of the prep work myself, Just cant paint for sh*t...lol

[baine21225]

you will get a very nice paint job for 5G not the best out there but certainly nothing to laugh at, but if you dont mind paying extra to stay away from maaco i would, and if your going to put all the money in your car, put a 351 in it, aje makes a nice kit to do it

[REBELPONY]

thought about doing that (351) but I got to get the rest of the car up to it before I do, so unfortunately an engine swap is out for now.

I would like to do the MAF conversion and a few bolt-on mods for now...

I got to get the rear end swapped soon, it sounds like a wolf on a full moon night with a megaphone...lol

that, the body, and the suspension will pretty much max me out for my projected budget.

Ill keep shopping around for the paint, I thought 1500 was such a good deal I thought Id get Yall's opinion on it. Pretty much confirmed what I was thinking though...Ill budget 5000 for it and find a good qaulity shop around here, maybe they can do the whole thing, prep and all....

Daniel

[ryans88gt]

I think if you are willing to do the stripping yourself you should be able to get a nice paint job in the range of $2500-$3500.

Stay away from Maaco, it is for people looking to get another year or two out of their 1995 civic, not for you to take a restoration project to!!

I don't even think they have paint booths, you'll have all kinds of dust and particles in the paint finish.

[86ttops]

The best bang for your buck will be to find a guy that does it on the side and check out his place and some of his work its alot more one on one i never new any body shop to be worth a shit my bro has a 00 gt and someone broke in by pulling lock out of the cheeze ass doors on them cars and at the time i had no place to paint it so we took it to ford and i told dude do it right or you will do it again and he did 3 times. You whant to let them no its not a dd paint job you whant 99% of people think it looks great so they do them quick as long as it is the same color its good

[Speedstang302]

i've been looking for someone to paint mine..and i thought bout macco and 1 out of 5 ppl i asked that had it done there would recommend them..so i talk to a buddy of mine..that will do body work, prep, prime, 3 stage paint (Forest Green Metallic w/ Gold Flake Dust) and a detail when finished for $3500..and he does paint VERY VERY well..won 3 cars show over the summer w/ his clients work..he told me the estimate just for that paint would be around $2k itself..but mine doesnt need body work at all..and no rust..i have it light grey primer for now..until i can come up with $3500...it will stay primer..

[REBELPONY]

Originally Posted by 86ttops You whant to let them no its not a dd paint job you whant 99% of people think it looks great so they do them quick as long as it is the same color its good

My thoughts exactly. As soon as I told him I wanted the trim painted and the stripes on the trim he says:

"we will need to take it to a professional for that"

My response was: "arent Yall professional body workers?"

He said not for that.....so after that I was very leary.....Thats why I asked Yall.

As soon as I get home from Iraq in March I will be getting this done, I am guessing it will take about a month of weekends and evenings to get the prep done, Im good at that, I just cant spray to save my life.

that will give me time to research out some shops around N AL and S TN.

Any tips on prepping the rubber trim pieces ( or are they nylon or whatever) ?

[86ttops]

the one here uses vasaline on the trim instead of taping it off that troughs me the onehere does what i call car lot jobs they will do a car for 499.00 but its not the paint that is usally the problem in most cases is the prep work you dont whant it painted and a year down the road it starts peeling