Anyone in the DC/VA/MD area paint cars? Also some budget painting questions...

For my '88 Porsche 924. Over the past few months I've been working on the body to get it (in my opinion) about 9/10, which is sufficient for my skill and planned uses for the car. Car is not going to be for shows, just want it to look decent for some road trips and occasional other driving. So basically, I'm ok with a "decent" paint job that will look good from 10 feet

I've wet-sanded the entire car at this point, Bondo's up 3 or 4 smallish dents and nicks, primed those areas and a few others to check for level-ness, and while I haven't truly "blocked" the car with the large blocks, the whole car is done down to 400 grit with a hand-block.

So at this point, thinking about actually painting it. While my rattle-can skills are pretty decent, I'm not interested in going that route and want to get it done semi-professionally (i.e. somone with the correct facility and equipment). Maaco or other budget shops is always an option, but figure if someone here is good at this stuff and local, maybe would be interested in doing it (for pay, of course!). My plan would be to have the car completely stripped and masked for priming/sealing/painting to a good extent (all the rubber removed, seals, most windows, door handles, etc etc) when it arrives. Plus would have the bumpers and pop-up light covers and mirrors off and ready to be painted "off the car" since they would be hard to paint on the car.

Other question(s):

1. Paint on the car is original, but for the touch-up spots I've basically been using whatever automotive primer I had around (Rustoleum, I think). I've heard that you shouldn't paint over this stuff for a while until it has hardened completely (like, weeks...), or can use a sealant on it.

2. The car is red (and I want it painted the same red, and will buy genuine Porsche paint for the sake of color-matching, I think). THe primer touch-up spots are mostly in gray/black primer. So some worry about the dark areas shwoing through? Or will this not be a worry if the car is fully spray-primed (via a gun, nto a rattle-can).

3. I know many of you have had "pro" paint jobs done that are perfect. But my budget is pretty small for this (i.e. Maaco-level) - so while I appreciate suggestions and advice, please don't bother suggesting thigns that are going to cost thousands and thousands of dollars. This ia a $1000 car. If it ends up looking like a $5000 Porsche, I'll be fine with that :)

pics is from a few weeks ago so more work has been done. But since threads with pics are better, this is a pic :)

Remember that a Maaco paint job, if you go for the higher end, isn't that bad. They have crappy taping off and prep but the paint is good. You can't spray your car, yourself for a cheap. Paint, the actual materials involved, are expensive. Then factor in the cost of a booth..... Just food for thought. 

Point taken. It's less about trying to do it "cheaper" than Maaco, and more about actually participating in the process myself I guess. My plan would be to disassemble and tape off/mask everything at my house (where I can take my time and do it right), and then just stick the car in an enclosed trailer (borrowed) and take to to get painted, basically. Then get it all back and reassemble everything. I've never had a car painted at a shop before so wasn't sure what the "process" is per se.

I've had a few cars that I prepped myself and then took to Maaco to be painted that came out fine. I think each one is a franchise though so stop by one and look at their work.  See how they look as far as shine, runs, etc.

I paint cars in my gravel driveway. 

Just sayin

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Dusterbd13 said:

I paint cars in my gravel driveway. 

Just sayin

 

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My rally car is all rattle-can and hand-cut vinyl in my driveway. That works for a rally car since it's dirty and has stickers covering any "mess-up" areas lol. But, can't really paint in my driveway (under a big oak tree, with a constant breeze up the street, and concrete underneath it)! SWBO already is annoyed at the small spots on the driveway that got overspray on it from painting small parts and such :)

In reply to markwemple :

I found that a higher end paint job from maaco would quickly exceed the cost of this vehicle, and that paint is really not the expensive part, 'prep' is. No matter how much you do yourself, maaco will charge some amount for more prep that they feel is necessary. Also, I have not been thrilled with the result I got out of maaco... I did better for cheaper in my driveway with a spray gun from harbor freight, certainly 10ft worthy. Your limitation is your location, not your skill. Maybe you have a buddy who lives out in the woods and you can visit one day.

I have a buddy who has a buddy who has a paint booth, but I hate to ask a friend to ask a favor of another friend, lol. So checking here first before I go to him.

Look at the small buy here pay here lots with a bunch of salvage title cars.

They usually have a good, CHEAP redneck doung their paint and body.  Thats how i met my friend art, who taught me most of what i know about doing paint and body. 

Dusterbd13 said:

I paint cars in my gravel driveway. 

Just sayin

 

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If your prep is good you can (with some practice) do a very nice paint job yourself by waiting for the right conditions. I painted this car outside.  Wish I had a pic of Johnny Hunkins face when he was shooting it for a PHR feature and I told him it was painted outside on a dirt driveway. Paint was 15 years old when the cover was shot and 20 years old in the last pic.

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Firebird/004.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/PopHotRodcover-1.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Firebird/14less008.jpg.html][/URL]

I am just west of Gettysburg, Pa and could spray it for you. Iwould want o coach you on the prep as that is critical to how the job turns out. You can get paint at your local NAPA store that will be cheaper than genuine Porsche paint and just as good for what you want.  In any case you can call me for advice no matter what direction you go. I had a body shop for 35 years.  7one7 two53 fivezero77

Rally farm would likely make a DIY paint booth space available. 

Don49 said:

I am just west of Gettysburg, Pa and could spray it for you. Iwould want o coach you on the prep as that is critical to how the job turns out. You can get paint at your local NAPA store that will be cheaper than genuine Porsche paint and just as good for what you want.  In any case you can call me for advice no matter what direction you go. I had a body shop for 35 years.  7one7 two53 fivezero77

Don, much appreciated. Do yo have an email I can contact you at? If you're going to give me advice and coaching, it would be best written down so I can go back to it and read it 20 times, lol. I'd email you through GRM, but it blocks yahoo addresses. My address is my username "at" yahoo.com.

So far, I've wet-sanded the whole car, filled a few small spots with bondo and sanded/primed that area, and for a lot of little dimple areas have been doing multiple instances of high-build primer. There are parts of the car that were "touched up" by the PO with some rust-oleum (Sunrise Red is an exact match for Porsche India Red, according to the interwebs). So yeah, I will definitely want to know what to do and what not to do at this point!

captdownshift said:

Rally farm would likely make a DIY paint booth space available. 

I'm sure they would. I can find space (my parents own a marina with a huge boat-repair building)....skill and equipment is what I'm lacking haha.

NOT A TA said:

Dusterbd13 said:

I paint cars in my gravel driveway. 

Just sayin

 

.

If your prep is good you can (with some practice) do a very nice paint job yourself by waiting for the right conditions. I painted this car outside.  Wish I had a pic of Johnny Hunkins face when he was shooting it for a PHR feature and I told him it was painted outside on a dirt driveway. Paint was 15 years old when the cover was shot and 20 years old in the last pic.

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Firebird/004.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/PopHotRodcover-1.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s240.photobucket.com/user/NOTATA/media/Firebird/14less008.jpg.html][/URL]

that's a beautiful ride, sir!

Irish,

My email is my user name @aol.com

MOre than the paint, I'm impressed with panel condition. Very well prepped. I've seen may pro jobs that screwed up panel straightness and had a wavy finish.