OK lets try this again. I posted this earlier with a little different title and the post got bogged down with the typical arguement between professional resto shops justifing their time spent. I don't want any of that here so please, unless you have the answer I seek don't start posting your opinions.


Can someone direct me to a site that has the flat rates times for refinishing either a complete car or by individual panel?

I have a couple of cars that need repaint.

#1 car has one repaint over original paint. The repaint has the DA dance and the body needs to be blocked and resprayed. This is a solid, rust free, original sheet metal car. It does not need to be painted under the hood or trunk and there is no vinyl top.

#2 car has one repaint (color change) over original paint. Again, This is a solid, rust free, original sheet metal car. It does not need to be painted under the hood or trunk and there is a vinyl top on this one. This car should probably be stripped.

These are 66-70 B bodies.

I'm sure if anyone here had the info you want they would have given it by now. Have you tried ebay? About the only sites I go to is here and ebay but I hear everybody talking about googling stuff. If you haven't tried that it would be a start. If there is an old body shop in your area they might have something.

for the day crew.

Nobody will be able to give a real good answer because one person's perfect and ready for paint is another person's crooked and bent. Most resto shops will want to see bare metal to see what they're up against, too. I've got some books at home that will show the time for a repaint or panel replacement, but as far as time to get the body ready for paint, that's gonna have to be estimated by the professional looking at it (of which I am niether).

IMO, you are not going to find specific rates in reference to your descriptions. There are just too many variables. Take a look at some of the very generic paint shops (Maaco, etc.) and work from there knowing their work is quick and cheap.

The only real way to get a price is to take those cars to the shop. Even then, expect price increases because sanding/stripping can reveal a lot of problems that you thought were not there.

In general thougth, I think you're looking at $2-5K per car, maybe more depending on the quality.

Crash books were just like a Mitchell or Chilton's manual that gave flat rates for mechanical jobs. Crash books had flat rate times averages for refinishing panels and a complete paint job. If I remember correctly they had rates for new panels and old, or at least for prepping new panels as compared to panels with existing paint on them.

This is what I am looking for not a price estimate.

We know what you were looking for. They just have no meaning in todays shops. Different paints and painting systems and prep procedures make them worthless. Which is what we were trying to explain to you but you aren't listening because you are so sure you're being ripped off.

As said above there are way to many variables if your concerned about being ripped off inquire locally about reputable shops in your area. I know shops that use a lot of plastic for body repair and it cuts down on the time quite a bit and therefore costs less in most cases. I also know shops that have skilled bodymen in them that have been in the trade for years and can work metal to a point where they use little or no plastic filler, even on very heavy damage. You will pay more in most cases for work like this obviously. I have also seen MAACO paint jobs that look pretty damn good and jobs coming from a "professional" shop that look like crap. Any shop you go to is only going to give you an estimate anyway they are not going to give you a flat rate on the time it takes to finish a car/panel etc. You have to consider "what lies beneath" also there are a lot of things you cant see under paint and in between body panels that could possibly add to the total cost. With that being said why not just find a recommended shop or two in your area and get a good faith estimate and if its within your budget do it, if not find someplace else.

another

more

last for here.
If you guys need something drop me a line I have 70 Dodge & plymouth B body. 70-72 E body, 70-72 Dart , Dodge A-100 64-70 , Dodge truck 69-71 and a bunch of other makes.

Thanks rrunner!! Much appreciated.

I have captured those pictures for myself.

I've got a Mitchel's Crash guide too.
Dodge Truck 61-74
Chrysler 68-75
Dodge/Plymouth midsize cars 68-75
Dodge/Plymouth Valiant and Dart 67-75
I can help too if you need it.

Thanks, I think I will be OK as I am bidding on some on Ebay so I will have them on hand.

The last picture is pretty blurry but that will be resolved when I have my own/

If I have what you need don't buy them I can copy and send/fax them to you.
What I posted is only part of that section.

I've spent 23 in handling auto insurance claims. We used to use the Mitchell Manuals, but of course everything is computerized now. The manuals paint times were primarily for refinishing new replacement panels or panels not so badly damaged that they were repairable. I don't recall that the manuals had any times for complete repaints. How could they, since vehicles came in all different sizes, with/without vinyl tops, etc. You also had to consider R&R time depending on what trim had to be taken off, etc.

In the end, it was always a matter of what was the best deal you could negotiate with the shop - and it still is today. Many factors went into the shop's calculation such as the color (on reds, yellows, etc. the paint materials actually cost more than on say blue or white) how slow or busy the shop was, and dozens of other factors.

You also have to consider that Mitchell times were to (supposedly) reproduce a factory equivalent finish. On Mopars from the years you own, that would mean waves, orange peel, drips and sags. It was NOT the time needed to produce a show quality finish. I can tell you that the main reason most shops do not want to do restoration work is because of the time to block sand the entire body. This can run to hundreds of hours and most body men at a production body shop will flat out refuse to do it. It is grueling labor and they can't "beat" the book time like they might hanging a quarter panel or skinning a door, so the body man typically is losing money doing it unless he is getting a higher rate than he would for normal body work.

Also, any wise shop will want to strip off the old paint before they refinish as there is always a chance of incompatibility between the old and knew paint that could cause lifting, shrinking and such.