SV reX
MegaDork
1/7/23 7:46 a.m.
The body shop I wanted to use for my Miata is priced too high for comfort. I'm looking for another near Macon, Atlanta, or Columbus. This is not a show car- I'm looking for a good paint job at a fair price, but not perfection.
The car is completed disassembled. No engine, no glass, no wiring harness, nothing. It's a rolling chassis and loose parts that don't even need to be masked ready to be sanded and painted. There is MINOR bodywork- a couple dings, and a couple small fiberglass cracks.
Any recommendations?
JThw8
UltimaDork
1/7/23 3:40 p.m.
Is there a MAACO in your area? Where they usually fall short is in the masking, in your scenario it sounds like the perfect option. They *can* put down a good paint job.
JThw8 said:
Is there a MAACO in your area? Where they usually fall short is in the masking, in your scenario it sounds like the perfect option. They *can* put down a good paint job.
I'll second this. Friend of mine has rebuilt a half dozen early Broncos and he used a Maaco in FL for the last one - was quite content with the work. His also was already stripped to bare body and needed no masking.
My dad has had 4 cars at econo auto painting in Macon. He makes the hour drive because it's stupid cheap. Significantly cheaper than Maaco. He did most of the body work, but they fixed a few dents and cleaned up his work. For the price they do a pretty great job. The reviews on google suck though.
The problem with the cheaper body shops is the paint doesn't last very long. It may look fine for a few years.
In reply to spitfirebill :
Eh. Single stage paint is pretty durable. If it's protected and doesn't spend it's days in the sun baking, longevity isn't going to be the issue. Prep and post work is usually what lacks with cheap paint shops.
SV reX
MegaDork
1/8/23 11:11 a.m.
Does MAACO ever do 2 stage?
JThw8
UltimaDork
1/8/23 6:35 p.m.
SV reX said:
Does MAACO ever do 2 stage?
Yes they offer basecoat clearcoat now. Its not going to be a $199 special but it will be an affordable job that will last.
SV reX
MegaDork
1/8/23 7:21 p.m.
In reply to JThw8 :
Good tip. I'll look into it
slefain
UltimaDork
1/9/23 10:02 a.m.
Sentry in Lilburn. I got their name from DILYSIDave years ago and they have always treated me right. And they run Spec Pinata IIRC.
In reply to slefain :
I was in Sentry in 2022. I think he pulled the frame on a mx3 lemons car for Hongnorrth. They have a few race builds long term projects, and a collision section. I have not had anything done there.
I was going to use MAACO to paint the Samurai. If I stripped all the exterior hardware I didn't want to be painted they would prep, mask, and spray a 2 stage base and clear for $1200. That was 3-4 years ago so I'm sure the price has jumped a fair amount since then.
SV reX
MegaDork
1/9/23 2:50 p.m.
In reply to Toyman! :
Double that price would still be WAAY under what I was quoted.
Im gonna get the car together and check with MAACO
In reply to SV reX :
My dad stopped by a shop to get a price on painting his truck. They quoted him something like $9300. Needless to say, he's leaving it as is.
I think the prices are directly relative to the prices of cars and all of them are still pretty high.
A friend of mine in north GA has an FP Miata with some fiberglass bodywork, and I accidentally backed my trailer into it at the track. I told him I'd pay to fix it when he found the body shop. He shopped around all over the place and couldn't find anyone that would touch the fiberglass. Ended up having to send it to a race shop to do the fiberglass repair, then a paint shop to finish. Since then I've been way more careful about backing my trailer up in the paddock.
Maaco did my El Camino 16 years ago. The bodywork was just okay but the spraying itself was great. My dad has a shadetree semi-retired car painter who did his Chevelle and AMX resotrations. He's extremely detail oriented but like all paint guys takes a long time. I can get you their info if interested.
JThw8
UltimaDork
1/9/23 6:44 p.m.
SV reX said:
In reply to Toyman! :
Double that price would still be WAAY under what I was quoted.
Im gonna get the car together and check with MAACO
All else fails then plan a trip to NC. We can DIY it in a weekend ;)
JThw8
UltimaDork
1/9/23 8:14 p.m.
SV reX said:
In reply to JThw8 :
I'd love that
I dont know if you've ever heard my line but I promise at least 3 flaws in the paint, all others are at no additional cost. Beyond that, sounds like a reasonably easy scuff and shoot, just gotta rely on weather. I have a pop up garage we could put up to keep it out of the elements, so long as its not too hot its not a difficult thing to make happen.
Seriously though, if you arent in too much of a rush I'd think bring it up and first weekend we address body issues and get the "booth" set up. 2nd weekend we spray. Any thoughts on colors or paint styles? You mentioned loose parts so Im thinking hood doors trunk may be seperate which can be an issue with metallics only because you want to paint them assembled so the "flop" on the metallics matches.
SV reX
MegaDork
1/9/23 8:19 p.m.
In reply to JThw8 :
"Paint Style"??
I wasn't thinking metallic. I was thinking the 30th anniversary Miata color- Racing Orange
JThw8
UltimaDork
1/9/23 8:29 p.m.
SV reX said:
In reply to JThw8 :
"Paint Style"??
I wasn't thinking metallic. I was thinking the 30th anniversary Miata color- Racing Orange
Looked up some reference photos, cant quite tell if its straight orange or has some pearl in it. Either way its doable if you can locate the paint. Word of warning, paint isnt cheap, and a factory color may be worse (might be multiple stages) but you can check out https://tcpglobal.com/ They have some reasonably affordable paints and you can usually find a color close to what you want there. Looks like their racing orange is pretty close Racing Orange Solid Basecoat Psb - Pure Solid Color Basect — TCP Global There's even a customer photo of a Miata done in the color
JThw8
UltimaDork
1/9/23 8:35 p.m.
Another very affordable option (bear in mind thats the basecoat price only, you'll need primer and clear too but its a good price) Kirker Ultra-Glo Acrylic Urethane - Omaha Orange - UA-10384 (autobodytoolmart.com)