Body Work Questions

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Ok, as a few of you know I was hit in the back by an SUV the other day. So now I have a dent in the rear and in the front! So seeing as how I should get both fixed I want to get the whole car painted. The first body shop I went to said that they hate to shoot black paint, and in never comes out well. Is this a load of bull or what? Sky's the limit on the paint cost I just want it to look good again. Should I just forget the whole idea?

RaF944 · 02-23-2002, 08:31 PM

No, Although black is a tuffer color there is no way a body shop should say no. Are you in the PCA by any chance, because that way you can ask around and they will tell you the best place in the area.

When I had my 944 re-painted I found an awesome guy that was friends with my mechanic. He took all the seals, bumpers, bumperretes, windows out and repainted my car for $1500!!!

This guy is an Artist and he treats it that way....he wont change a color unless its properly done for example all the paint removed!

Also he has done a lot of porsches... So anyway back to your story. Ask some Porsche/Any European car mechanic and I am sure you can find a decent shop without them charging you an arm and a leg

this is a pic of my 944

Nabeel · 02-23-2002, 08:48 PM

wow, that paint looks awesome....great color

seb928s · 02-23-2002, 10:13 PM

Hmm that car looks like I seen it before. I worked on it hehe. Sorry guys had to post that. But hell yea it's a nice paint job.

jsb944 · jsb944's Garage

I agree with RaF944!

I believe that the reason lessor shops don't like dark colors is that light colors tend to better hide poor body work ( a wavy bondo job will be easy to spot on a dark colored paint job!)......if this guy does not like to spray black it sounds like he's not a great craftsman and knows that the darker colors only bring this to light.....find another shop by word of mouth and ask to see examples of their work!

good luck and remember that a good paint job is 90% in the prep work...even if you choose a less expensive shop you can do some of the prep yourself ( remove rubber and trim and wet-sand the car) and enhance the final results!

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

MY plan was to tear it down at home. Get all the moldings off, the bumperetts, headlights out, rain gutters, and gaskets. Then strip the stoneguards and the rear decal, remove the turbo logo, license plate brackets tail light lenses, etc.. And then have it towed to whichever shop I can find to do the work. But I don't know if I should pay the extra money to have the car completely surfaced? Or let them use the old paint as a basecoat? Any ideas on this?

jsb944 · jsb944's Garage

Just my opinion......unless you are performing a 'restoration' and are willing to pay to have the same quality and quantity of primers and finished coats applied that the factory may have placed on the car then I would not take it down to metal.

I am no paint expert but I would think that the existing paint that is there now, if stripped of all waxes and prepared correctly so as to accept new paint and is smooth ( can't beat wet sanding!!!) would be just fine!

PS - RaF944 your paint looks fantastic!

RaF944 · 02-24-2002, 08:33 PM

Scott, Dont strip the paint..its not worth it.. As long as its prepped good the original paint is one of the best primers...as long as its sanded the [paint will stick fine! Also you can save money by not doing the door jams. My doors were not removed so he didn't do the doorjams and it looks good because the paint matches the original and my doorjams and that area was in real good condition.

Scott if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at RaF3D@aol.com or Rafal968@aol.com