Honest+Competent Painter in ACT area

[dat240z]

I have just completed my entire hybrid z project on a 71 240z.  Its been a long, difficult and expensive effort, but the rewards are worth every graze, bump, dent in the wallet that have been endured!!  Im currently searching for an honest and reliable painter/panel beater to finish the z off..... I have got some quotes but to be honest, I prefer to get kissed before getting F#$@ and it seems these knobs realise ive put a good amount of cash into the car and want to take theyre share on top!

 

Dont get me wrong, Im a firm believer of you get what you pay for but some quotes are just rediculous.  Let me also clarfiy by saying its completly rust free, dent free and basically need just a panel paint. Ive sound deaded/tared inside and underneath the car so its only the outer shell I need spraying (maybe a little re-bogging) but its in overall excellent panel wise for a 40+yr old car.

 

Im in the ACT area.... PM or email me if you need contact details or even just advice/parts etc for completing a rb25det swap with upgraded 4 wheel discs/ coilovers/new diff etc.... I would have been lost without the forums advice and help so the least i can do is help some other zedder....

 

Thanks fellas, Michael

 

[BobsYourUncle]

What sort have numbers have you been quoted so far?

[nizm0zed]

Have you got a quote from KMF?

 

Kustom Motor Finishes

David Narik, 0434 583 890 NAZ@Kustommotorfinishes.com.au

unit 2/173 Gilmore Road Queanbeyan, Next to ESP racing.

www.Kustommotorfinishes.com.au

 

Im currently in the process of getting a quote from David. He has even said he'll come out to me to have a look over my car.

He is a really nice bloke and he let me look over some of his work he had in teh shop, Top quality.

He's happy to try and work around my budget and has offered some very good advice to me so far.

If you speak to him, let him know that Alan with the blue 260z said to talk to him.

It probably wont get you a discount or anything, but if he gets the idea that similar groups of car guys are speaking about him, he's a lot more likely to look after all of us.

He was reccomended to me by a couple of other car mates who have had work done, im pretty sure he also does the refinishing work for several performance shops in the area too. He comes across as a fellow enthusiast, not just a bloke at a panel shop.

 

not like some of the other people i have spoken to, including a certain F bro's shop who were adamant that i needed to trailer the car all the way across town just to get a rough ballpark quote. Congratulations knobheads, i'll never reccomend anyone go there...

[dat240z]

Thanks Alan, Ive been quoted between $8k-12 with me having all the prep work done. Take out glass, rubbers, rub it back, basically everything so it can be primed. Then if they want to do the lot, im looking at 10k+.  Just seems a little excessive since the z's dont have a massive surface area, and the body is in good shape. I could understand if it needed sever panel beating, rust removal etc, but mines clean. Having said that ive only been around belco and mitchell so far. Im getting engineering done in the next few weeks for ill head out to queanbeyan/fysh/hume after. 

[Veloce]

To be honest, with those quotes they aren't really intersted in taking on the work by the sounds of it.

 

Have you considered priming it yourself? If you prime it, wet sand it etc i know a guy that will lay down the paint, bake and buff for $500 (if you supply the paint). This guy is in Sydney though... This is with all the panels on the car so you would have to paint the inside of bonnet, hatch, engine bay, door jambs first in whatever colour you want to do it in. Otherwise it would probably cost double that because you would have to do two bake sessions with the panels off the car.

 

Priming and blocking/wet sanding a car isn't hard at all it's just bloody time consuming and thats where the big chunk of the cost comes into play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nizm0zed]

To be honest, with those quotes they aren't really intersted in taking on the work by the sounds of it.

 

x2.

 

The usual story, they dont want to do the job so they make a ridiculous quote.

I really dont get why they dont just say "sorry, im booked out"

[PZG302]

I reckon the quoted.prices are fair for what you want.

 

Even though you have prepped.the car a good painter will spend a lot of prep time to get it to what they want before they paint, a good estimate will be around 10 to 15 hours to block back and get ready and that won't include any further repairs needed to get the body up to scratch.

 

This is so they know the base will be good enough to lay the colour over it and last the 10 years or so you will want it to. It's their reputation on the line if any blemish comes through the paint in time. If your prep work isn't up to scratch and the paint looks crap are you going to blame yourself or the painter?

 

I just spent $6k to have the MX painted and rear quarter repaired. What was supposed to be quick scuff and squirt needed more prep than first thought. The advantage was that the car now looks better than  when It was put on the boat and if there are any problems the shop will sort it as it is their reputation on the line.

 

One of my best mates  who is a spray painter by trade was surprised that the job was so cheap. He thought the job was worth closer to $10k for the work done and it was only doing the external surfaces, no door jambs or engine bay.

 

Personally, I think those quotes for a road car are pretty good, especially if that covers paint and materials as.well as labour. I wouldn't pay that for a track pig, closer to $1k, but for the chugger, the painting and prep bill will be up near $20k.

[handsandwhich]

I don't know what type of finish you are looking for and what sort of knowledge you have in doing paint/panel work but I will say that those quotes are pretty standard accross the board.

 

I have just gone through a full bare metal resto on my car and I said the exact same thing regarding my car. It was very straight and rust free (to my eyes) but to the trained eye, they can see every miniscule ripple and know what sort of time it takes to do things right (assuming the shop you choose will do things right and not take shortcuts).

 

Add this to the fact that most shops these days really do not want restoration work. They want bread and butter replacing bumpers, minor dings... etc, repeat work from insurance companies. They will probably never see you again and your car will take up valuable space in their shop. No doubt they will also only work on your car when they have 'spare time' so be prepared to wait a while to get your car back.

[dat240z]

Yeah, thanks for the comments, recommendations. I think the avenue ill go down will be to prep the car myself and have over an "almost ready" to paint car. Im sure my talents will not meet the standard they require to lay down a nice job but ill do as much as possible. If anyone can suggest or knows someone in the region to spray please let me know.

[sco_aus]

Mark Oliver in Queanbeyan is brilliant, but you will pay for him, Dingo lives next door to him of you need more info...  I got mine done through a friend.  The guy lives down near the Cann River.  For $1500 he did a good job, but it was far from perfect.  Having said that, if I gave him $10k I probly would have got a Rembrandt!

[BobsYourUncle]

You get what you pay for, so it depends on how good a job you want. I've had a few quotes for my car (240z, sounds like similar condition to yours), ranging from $2500 to $12000. The $12000 guys would do a $12000 paint/body work job, I have no doubt of that having talked to them and seen their past work. But on a car that's only going to be worth $20k or so, it's a lot of money (but will probably last much better than the $2500 job). Make sure you look at their past/current projects, and I'd talk to guys who are experienced with old cars.

[gav240z]

Add this to the fact that most shops these days really do not want restoration work. They want bread and butter replacing bumpers, minor dings... etc, repeat work from insurance companies. They will probably never see you again and your car will take up valuable space in their shop. No doubt they will also only work on your car when they have 'spare time' so be prepared to wait a while to get your car back.

 

I think this is your problem, in order to turn a profit from your job they want to charge you accordingly. I don't know what labour costs in Australia right now, but it does seem expensive. When I watch a UK based TV show called Wheeler Dealers that kind of work usually costs about 1000 pounds. But then again I guess it's usually not resto work to the same extent.

 

I would look for someone who is a specialist for restoration work personally and perhaps someone others in the club can recommend. I don't know what your like, but I'd be very fussy myself and would notice even small details. So if your like that in anyway I'd pay a bit extra for that.

[PeterAllen]

Sorry OT

 

.. a UK based TV show called Wheeler Dealers ...

 

That show is unrealistic... they never include Ed's (or his workers') labour in their cost. They actually lose on every resto. By the way, Ed China has the biggest... wait for it... the biggest Lamborghini collection in the UK.

 

Moral - there is no money in car restorations but there is plenty to be made BS-ing about it.

[gav240z]

Sorry OT

 

That show is unrealistic... they never include Ed's (or his workers') labour in their cost. They actually lose on every resto. By the way, Ed China has the biggest... wait for it... the biggest Lamborghini collection in the UK.

 

Moral - there is no money in car restorations but there is plenty to be made BS-ing about it.

 

Fair enough then, I also think that in Ireland / UK labour is cheap right now given the economic climate. So beggars can't be choosers so to speak.

 

End of off topic

[chris240]

Ha , you should have been at the club last night as we discussed resprays and every other zed topic under the sun. 

Michael youve obviously been building this little beast for a while, why havent you come forward to introduce yourself earlier , or did you only just find out about Auszcar ? What side of town are you in ?

I have someone that can spray your car, im looking to get him to do mine. Trade secret !

 

On another note Fellas , thats the last I ever ever drink stupid Hanh lite beer....felt crook in the guts all night 

[dat240z]

haha, good show. but they make it look easy and the short fat guys a wank.

 

thanks for the info guys. Im going to prep for primer myself and go from there for a quality finish. The money ill save from doing some myself will just go towards a nice finish. Fingers crossed

 

@Chris240. Hi Mate, ive been wathcing this forum and hybrid z since about july last year when i decided to bite the bullet and work on the z.  Im mustard to catch up and chat about painters, especially if youve found a good one.....Id had the z almost 10yrs, did the l28/26 head route with stock su's. It ran well - would keep up with wrxs in the day. After a while as a daily i got annoyed with constant rattle, vibrations etc and put her away for a few years.

 

So in July i researched and found what i think were the best parts off the shelf and bought a fair bit. I spent a heap at ArizonaZcar (brakes/susp) items, but they reallly are top shelf, even a little overkill.  I got a few bits from techno toys/mickinney motorshops and bought a half cut SeriesII rb25det (90k km) claimed!! sourced most of the others from Nissan in Belco (theyre overpriced and snobby) but i wanted as much genuine stuff as i could get without going stupid.

 

Had everything done from rust proof/spraying underneath car/interior and engine bay black. New bushes all round, r200 diff upgrade (still with stubs, but i shortened one side to give it a little more movement) 4wheel disc willwoods, 3 way adjustable coilovers...... in a bout 5 months. Was annoying at times but definatley worth all the work so far..

 

Next is engineering with wilson, and carpet/new weatherstrip kit and paint. PLus id love  a set of those rotor rbs...

 

long story short id been using info and learning from you guys, and after contacting one or two fellas ( Woz from Wa was so keen and helpful with advice/parts etc) i decided to get on here as a member.  plus as they say - its all about networking and on here we all have a common interest.

 

Id have loved to meet last night, but it was raining over my side (north) and the z is lethal in the wet now:(

 

my contact details for further events etc mrsloan@grapevine.com.au  0401 951 462

 

thanks again for suggestions and advice..

[chris240]

Arrrr John Wilson, the mechanical engineer, didnt realise he was still about.

I have a proposition , yourself , Alan and myself should take our zeds to say the guy that I know, and also to Alans recommedation for a job-lot of 3 zeds. Given all 3 zeds have have good rust free bodies, we should put them out to tender...jeez we seem to do bulk orders and group buys of parts, so why not the same panel shop quotes 3zeds at the same time. Something to think about fellas.

[dat240z]

copy that mate, i think that sounds good. as long as our cars arnt away for months on end!!!

 

this trade secret? backyardy? rough price?

[sco_aus]

All these RB Zeds popping up in the ACT, I might have to change engine or something!

 

[nizm0zed]

Arrrr John Wilson, the mechanical engineer, didnt realise he was still about.

I have a proposition , yourself , Alan and myself should take our zeds to say the guy that I know, and also to Alans recommedation for a job-lot of 3 zeds. Given all 3 zeds have have good rust free bodies, we should put them out to tender...jeez we seem to do bulk orders and group buys of parts, so why not the same panel shop quotes 3zeds at the same time. Something to think about fellas.

 

That is actually a really damn good idea....

 

And if they dont want to play ball, I can get their power shut off and Chris can get the building knocked over. 

[chris240]

Michael

The guy works for a panel shop and hes boss allows him to take his own private jobs into the workshop for panelwork and spray, sounds like a top boss to me ! Ive been highly referred onto him. To rub mine back and do some minor bodywork if required and ovenbake with enamel he quoted between $3500-4000 but must be cash.

I need to get back to him next week. Im not in a rush so if he took 3-4 months id be ok.

 

Scott

Just drop a 265 hemi into it.

[dat240z]

deatset? mine will need a soda blast and minor body work but that sort of cash is more what i was hoping for... especially if there are a few of us to make it worth his while... and yeah ive had the car awhile so that sort of timeframe would be ok...

 

when you have a chat to him, mention it and see what he says. But if he'd do all 3 for 15k approx, it appeals to both parties. 15k cash for a few months afterhours works appealing to anyone!

 

do you know if you have any bog spots underneath?