Need a painter for my car in L.A.

I need help to find somebody to paint my car in Los Angeles, preferably in the Burbank area. I need to talk to somebody about pricing and all that good stuff. I've always taken my cars to places like 1 day auto body and paint for around 1000$ , but i dont want to do this with this one. Im looking into doing a better paint job but i also dont have 5000$ or more laying around. I've already talked to Donnie at IMPERIAL KUSTOMS but he only does small jobs now. Anyways let me know if you know somebody.

Thanx

Ian

 

What about that place across the street from Baskin Robins on Victory just south of Alameda, theyre always painting some nice cars..

 

$$$$$$$$$$$ unique twist= $$$$$$$$

 

You get what you pay for I guess, good paint jobs arent cheap.

 

You can spend $3k at 1 day just as easily as you can spend a grand. Just ask them!

They did my buddy's car. Hollywood Hotrods did the bodywork and he took it to 1 day to shoot and buff and colorsand, looks beautiful and I think he spent around 3 on it.

 

I wish my finances would allow me to get a 10000$ + paint job. I know i can find somebody for a lot less that will look pretty good.

Ian

 

Seems to me like you got a nice car. Keep saving and get the paint you want?

 

I'll check with them again. The last paint job they did for me was alittle weak and it cost me 1200$ . It chipped like a mother****er after only 2 weeks!!

Ian

 

Thanx! I just want a nice metallic paint job. Nothing too crazy!

Ian

 

Sorry to hear about your last paint job! My buddie's has held up well, but then again I dunno how much prep work 1 day actually did, HHR did a ton of sanding/bodywork.

Can you do the the prep yourself and just let them squirt the paint? I know it ****s but that's how to save money..you know how it goes with old cars, people see $$$ signs immediately...***holes...

FWIW as of a few months ago the 1 day my friend went to for an estimate on some work(he lost a hubcap and it took out his fender skirt) and they started bargaining immediately when he told them he was just checking prices, they said they were slow.

I feel ya, I've tried to find a sub $5k place for a paintjob...there seems to be high end guys, and low end guys, and strictly collision guys, and not much in between.

Why not just do it yourself? Or find a pal that is good iwth a spray gun?

I mean, gotta start somewhere! After feeling ripped off by every shop I've ever been to, I'd rather just do it myself and save money. That way I don't see red when there's an imperfection in the work!!!

 

problem is they still use cheap paint no matter what ya pay them.

 

The problem with a "cheap" paint job is that the materials aren't cheap. If you're taking a car from bare metal up your looking at 1200-1500 just for the paint. I personally don't like to do any work that isn't exactly right. That means it will take some time and will cost accordingly or I will end up working for free in the end. It's hard for someone to risk their reputation and do a cheaper job because their name will follow that paint job as long as its on the car. With all that being said, maybe you can find someone that could do it on the side and save you some money since they wouldn't have a ton of overhead like a shop would.

 

Good advice guys , thanx! My car will be blocked and poly primered when im ready to take it somewhere. There wont be any bare metal on it!

Ian

 

I took my '69 Dodge Dart to a place in downtown L.A. called "Grand Prix Auto Body", and they painted it black.....jams, trunk and engine compartment, everything....for $3000. (3 years ago) Pretty damn good job, but it's still in the garage, un***embled, so I can't vouch for whether it chips easily. I brought the car to them completely stripped down to nothing, and it had no rust and pretty much no dents. They needed to completely straighten and block out the body to perfection because it was going to be painted black. They also welded up all the holes for the vinyl top chrome trim that was removed. They also did my buddy's '63 Nova wagon, and it turned out awesome.

 

That's what im talkin' about!!! **** yeah! I only need the outside of the car and the door jambs, and some final blocking for perfection. i already did my firewall and engine compartment. Thanx a lot bro!!

Ian

 

I have been doing body and paint for 19 years and have only seen one car brought in by a customer "ready to paint" that was actually ready to paint! The '51 merc i am doing right now was all in primer ready to go when i went to look at it. had to fix some ripples in body work. Turns out the guy did bodywork over old surface rust and the whole car needed to be stripped.If i had just shot the car the way it was and it bubbled in 3 months my name would be ****! I get tired of people thinking that because i make my job look easy that it is easy!**** that. Im tired of people *****in about prices when i give 1/3 of the money to the paint store and another 1/3 to uncle sam.

 

Jim Tucker's metal works in Newhall, Ca

 

Paint it yourself, its fairly easy to do and if you do a base/clear that just makes it that much easier. I have painted every car I have built starting with my 51 Ford at the age of 14.

 

x2 Well, I haven't painted any cars but will be attempting to paint my first car when the time comes.

I recently purchased a book called "Painting your car on a budget(?)" and is very informal. You might want to look into it.

 

Amen to that! If you're really brave, paint it with lacquer, out of a spray can! No balls, no bluechips! pigpen

 

Listen man, all im asking is where to get an affordable paint job, im not asking for a ****ing freebie!! ****!! I understand that whoever paints the car will have to do a little blocking and tweaking because i DO understand that their name is attached to the paint job, so i get that. I 've been working on the body for about a year and a half and there is no rust on it. Im just a guy trying to get some help not a handout!!!

Ian

 

what level of finish do you want to accomplish?
i have a buddy down here (other side of LAX) that does good work, reasonable.
we refer all of our body/paint work over to him.
he uses all PPG paint.
if your interested, give me some details and i'll give him a call.

 

Right on!! I want a simple shiny metallic dark color ( probably root beer) no crazy metal flake or paneling ....simple! Probably a some blocking . Firewall and engine bay is already done. So it's only the outside , door jambs. Thanx man!!

Ian

 

i'll call him up.
if there is a stock ppg color that works for you he should be able to do it.

 

So cool! Im really flexible on the color though. There are so many cool colors out there , m sure there's a stock one that i would love!!

Ian

 

I hear ya. I guess I am guilty of lumping all customers together just as some people see all bodymen. This is not the right place to take out my frustrations concerning the body industry and economy in general.I think i'll go kick the dog or something!

 

LOL!!

Ian

 

No matter how much of a perfectionist you are. You won't be able to paint it nearly as well as someone who does this all the time. Too many little things will go wrong. Are you going to the GNRS or the local drive in with the car? That should determine if you do it yourself.

 

I agree with you 100%

Ian

 

before you primer your car...you should ask the painter what he prefers,that way there is no question why it cracked flaked or faded.I have painted a few and i prefer to see her naked so i can touch her nice skin..then dress her from the ******* up(the car i mean!)