My new Paint

[Gene Arnold]

A while back someone started a thread on failing paint. That led to a discussion of the prices to get the truck refinished, etc. I chimed in that my hood and roof paint was gone and a shop gave me a price of $1,182. 00 for redo the hood and roof.



This Wednesday, on a whim, I stopped at a Maaco shop that opened a few weeks ago in our neighborhood. I asked for a price on the hood and roof -- $200. 00! That led me to ask how much it would be for all the emerald pearl (which is everything above the stripe in the picture. Incidentally, the light green is vinyl. ) - $400. 00! I thought it over for a couple of hours and decided that, given the age of the old truck, I would take a chance and have them paint it. I took it in Wednesday afternoon about 4:30. I opted to pay an extra $100. 00 for a better prep job and crossed my fingers. Oh, I had looked at a fresh job just out of their shop – a burgundy Alero – and it looked great.



The shop called at 11:00 today (Friday) and it was ready to be picked up. That is less than two days! Well, I have to say the job was really a lot better than I’d have been willing to settle for. No orange peel, no runs, etc. The only spot that could have been a bit better is where the diamond plate rail cover had scuffed the original paint so bad there were a few rust pockets. That line shows a just little bit. Other than that I’m very satisfied with how it looks. I wrote a check for $556. 39.



Would I be satisfied with the job if it was on a near-new Mercedes or BMW? Maybe not (and that’s only to recognize that I didn’t pay the price for that kind of job), but on my 12 year old Ram its great! They warranty the job so we’ll see how things are if I have problems down the road, but for right now I’m a happy camper!



Gene



Now, Ill see if I can attach some pics - wish me well.

 

[dseabaugh]

I wish I knew how they do it for that price. I spent 4 days stripping my truck down to bare metal 2 months ago ( the only way the paint shop would consider painting it) and $2,000. 00 getting it painted, then spent 2 more days putting the running boards, mirrors, window gaskets, lights, Bumpers, etc. back on. They wanted $5,000. 00 If I didn't do all this other work. If it holds up, you got a deal. Your truck looks nice.

 

[SHobbs]

I had my truck completely repainted in Sept. It was a complete strip and redo, shaved the antenna, removed the plastic thing from the tailgate and shaved the latch which was moved to the inside. Total cost was $4000 which was a friend of a friend deal. I also had the towing mirrors put in place of the non towing ones, Line X with Line X Xtra on the runninng boards and bed. Total for everything was $5700.



The pictures are before the Line X in the bed and the final buffing my painter is scheduled to do, after that I will post the final results.

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

Gene,



Looks great and nice price That is exactly what I need to do on my 92, as the clearcoat is gone on the hood and roof.



Paul

 

[SHobbs]

Not sure what everyone uses to take care of the paint but I use nothing but Meguiars. Try and keep all bug splat, tree sap, bird poo and other stuff off the paint. Use microfiber towels or cloth diapers and start from the top to the bottom. I have a different towel for the paint and one for the wheels and bumpers.

 

[SHobbs]

Gene,



The paint looks good. As far as it lasting it all depends on the prep work they did. I had to have mine redone due to the dealer where i bought the truck doing a crappy job on some needed body repairs. They painted around everything, even though they were paid to remove and replace them, like badges and moulding. Of course after the warranty expired paint started peeling everywhere. It took my painter 1 week just to sand down the paint that the dealer put on before he could even consider starting to paint it.



It should hold up fine though Maaco has been at it a while.