Questions about painting my truck...

[PRyker]

I have owned my Ram now for a good 6 months and have been making small upgrades to it. I just got a rhino liner sprayed in and now want to clean up the rest of the exterior. There are a lot of small dings and places around the top and side of the bed where the paint is scuffed.



So, I went shopping for a good place to get the truck painted. I visited the local Maaco store and they told me $1200 for a new paint job that would equal the factory job.



I was hoping that there were some auto body / paint guys out there that could provide me with feedback on what I should be paying for a good paint job that is at least equivelant to the factory quality. And what do you guys think about places like Maaco?



Thanks

 

[MDW]

Stay away from "Maaco" type of places.

A good paint job will be much more than $1200, thats almost what the cost of good paint would be.

 

[tntway]

last year i was thinking about adding the silver middle stripe like some of the older 2nd gens have... ... .



from a VERY good body shop in the area..... estimate was over $4K

 

[Motorhead]

Just one thing that I can say... ... A paint job is only as good as the prep done before!!! A rushed paint job won't last. The primers need time to de-gas and any fillers need time to shrink before paint. The BIGGEST mistake I see guys do is prime their car and drive it for awile before painting it. Primer isn't meant to be exposed to the elements,road oils ect. A guy I know has a NICE '47 Ford delivery panel and he drove it around for awhile in primer. He spent a bundle on a Deltron paint job and in less than two years, It PEELED! The primer absorbed all of the roadgrime and didn't let the paint stick.

 

[CFast]

There's nothing wrong with a maaco paint job, as long as the prep work is good. All they do is shoot paint, so they're good at it, IMO. I have a 70 dart that was painted by Maaco 5 years ago, still looks brand new. My wife's cousin spent days prepping it, trailered it to them, taped up and everything. They shot it, and it still looks great. My problem is I HATE prepping for paint. I'd rather pay to have someone do it.

 

[PRyker]

Yeah... the local Maaco place seemed shady. Said the entire job would take 4 days. What should I expect as far as timeframe? They also said that they would not remove side moldings and emblems, rather, they would tape them and paint around them. That seems pretty flaky to me...



Then let me ask this: Overall the paint is fine. There are maybe 10-12 places where thje paint is scuffed and chipped. The truck used to have a plastic over-the-rail beadliner and where it was the paint is rubbed down to what looks like primer in places. Should I get that fixed instead of painting?? Is it cheaper to do that or would I be better off with a full paint job?



Thanks

 

[Torque King Jay]

Maaco???

PRyker I've been restoring boats and muscle cars for about 15 years. If your going to have Maaco just spray it with paint that your supplying to them then that might be OK. If your going to have them do all the work then I'll describe what they do it.



Step 1) Rough the sheetmetal surface with a bench grinder. Step 2) Clean the surface of the sheetmetal with gasoline. Step 3) Spray metal surface with Glidden Latex paint.



It takes alot of time to prep a vehicle especially one that is this big so labor on the job tends to cost quite a bit. As far as materials go it would cost me about $600-$700 to do the job right so $500 left over for labor cost to prep the vehicle for paint isn't a lot of time spent . Remember you get what you pay for and for $1200 that is about what your going to get. If the paint job is for your around the town beater car it's probably worth it, but if it's for you baby I'd have a reputable shop do it. I just hate seeing people get taken by places like that. Keep us posted on what you find.



Jay

 

[y-knot]

Paint jobs and results are very, very subjective, but that subjectivity is based on the knowledge that person has. One fellow thinks something looks great, and it's garbage city for others. Not to be snooty, but the truth is your perception of what a good looking paint job should be, is gaged by what you see around you. What is acceptable is based on the standards you and others is your immediate group, have set.



The truth is MAACO does mediocre work, and they get mediocre results. Have you ever heard of someone taking a new truck to Maaco for repairs after an accident? Repairs that will be paid for by the insurance company? I bet 98% (there is always a goof ball) would not take their truck there. So, why would they use Maaco?? It all comes down to money. For the right price, people are willing to lower there standard, and strike a balance between money and looks. Maaco is great for alot of people, they can put a new coat of paint on anything and make it look better, at least for a while. And that is the preface of there whole business, and the bulk of there customer base, the used car market. Take an old car or truck, give it quick once over and sell it quick. I know the Maaco's in my area and they get 90% of all there work from used car lots, especially the used commercial truck lots.

The truth is, especially in paint and body work, you get exactly what you pay for. There is no quick easy way to do a good paint job, it simply takes alot of time, expertise, and patients. Good quality paint alone will cost more then what Maaco or similar places will charge for the complete deal. A full size truck, with NO body damage and NO color change will run 4,000-4,500. Trust me, I am in the middle of a PAINT DE-LAMINATION battle with dodge. The body shop manager is actually helping me through this process, and the estimate for my truck is just under 5,000. 00.

It is going to get painted weather Dodge helps with the bill or not, but there is no damage or rust on the truck. I am crossing my finger that Dodge will help with half the cost.

 

[PRyker]

Well, I appreciate all of the great feedback I get from the members here. This is really a great site and the best resource available for us CTD owners.



Based on everyone's feedback I am going to do this:



1. Take my truck back to Rhino liner and ask them to do an over the rail job (already have the under rail done). It will cover up a lot of the problem areas.

2. Highlight the major problem areas (probably ony 4 small places) and go to a good body shop and ask them to repair.

3. Spend the money I saved on an ATS or DTT transmission.



Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Jeff Clark]

It looks like you already made your decision, but I'll chime in anyway. You will get what you pay for in a paint job. My truck is getting flamed right now for a cost of 2500. Imagine painting the whole thing. I've had two other cars painted (a 69 Camaro and a 32 Ford) at the tune of 8000 each. If you really aren't concerned about the finished product, get it done at Maaco. If you really want the paint to be as good or better than factory, expect to pay more (3-5k).

 

[paccool]

had my 93 repainted a couple of years ago. Had minor dings to remove. Moulding and emblems removed as well as mirrors. The inside of the bed was not painted as there is a liner installed. Took about 2 weeks and cost $3800.

 

[CFast]

For me,

#1 it's a TRUCK

#2 I'm more go than show.

If I can get my freind to prep it for $500 bucks and Maaco paint it for under a $1000, that's good enough for me. IT's A TRUCK. IT's going to be used and abused like a TRUCK.



I wouldn't have them paint my 69 Charger. I don't 4 wheel my Charger and I don't throw a ton of rock in the trunk. For that car I would spend the 5K, maybe, I'm cheap.

 

[DKayser]

Paint Jobs

You think that`s bad? Try $2000 to paint & flame my Harley. It will keep the original paint for a looooooong time at that price. Don. :--)

 

[JHerrlich]

If I have to get my truck repainted, I'm going to use CARC Green or something similar. It's the same stuff used on military vehicles.

 

[CFast]

That's something else i'm cheap about. I like the way harleys look and sound. But 15000 bucks for something with 2 wheels! Freakin rip off.

 

[krs]

"I like the way harleys look and sound. But 15000 bucks for something with 2 wheels!"



He! Maybe a Sportster for that, but a real Harley will get you close to twice that anymore.

The price doesn't matter when you gotta' have it.



I do like the idea of an OD truck. Where can you get CARC green paint?

 

[JHerrlich]

I do like the idea of an OD truck. Where can you get CARC green paint?

Other than "liberating" it from a motor pool, I have no idea where to get the stuff. I'll have to do some searching.

 

[pwknapp]

I took off my flatbed and installed a brand new 2002 gray bed. (a welder took it off ten days after he bought it to mount his work bed) The cab is white and has over 400k on it with a couple very minor dings and scratches. To just do the cab and match the "new" bed it is going to be 2400 by a very reputable shop. Almost 700 of the price is paint alone. I think it is worth it and am waiting to gather all the funds for the job. I am getting used to the looks I get with the two-tone but with enough smoke they only see gray.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I really get the looks. I wish my truck was all one color so I would know if they were looking because of the loud exhaust or just the stupid lack of paint. I want a good paint job but can't afford one. I won't know what to do looking out over a nice glossy flame red hood IF I ever get one.

 

[MO'Donnell]

Originally posted by CumminsPower98

I want a good paint job but can't afford one. I won't know what to do looking out over a nice glossy flame red hood IF I ever get one.

You aren't kidding about the price. When I painted the running borad trim on my '03, one PINT of Flame Red (PPG Deltron) was $48! :--) That was "full ticket" since my contact wasn't there at the time I needed the paint. Of course that did NOT include the catalyst, clear coat, catalyst for the clear coat, adhesion promoter for the plastic, primer... ...



Gone are the days when you could buy EVERYTHING you needed to paint an entire car and have change from $100! :{