Dyno, I know it's none of my business and I understand if you don't want to say. Tell me to get lost if so, but are you willing to say what a paint job like that costs? It's gonna look super I think. Brent
Brent, Don't have a final cost as we aren't done yet. Started out with a guesstimate of 18-20 k , Hmm that's in rear view at this point. Moved to this area about 6 years ago and really don't know the shops around here and it is a more expensive area. Body shops don't want this type of work anymore they all want the quick newer stuff . One shop cancelled themselves while I was talking to them, the old primer was peeling up on cowl area and they were just going to use it as a base and block then paint car. That being said this was blasted to bare metal as you can see in the build. Some minor patches were welded in and some replacement panels sourced, as you are aware they aren't made so you are sourcing from places that place a value on these parts. Note Auto Metal Direct is making more parts available for the 68-69 fairlane/Torino and worth checking them periodically. If you want to go concourse restore then multiply above costs. " Good work ain't cheap, cheap work ain't good ! ' Ask questions worst anyone can say is no. Dyno
Thanks for the info Dyno. I appreciate your willingness to share. I expected it to be costly from what you've posted. It's helpful in setting expectations for my own refurbishment. Not calling it a restoration. Can't wait to see more.
Brent, I'm calling mine a restification ! Body back to original, Interior minor add on's steering wheel and gauges. As you can see engine compartment is partially what came with car MSD, vacuum tank, intake, flowmaster exh., I added aluminum Cyl. Heads, rad, elec fans. Wheels and tires will be another departure. The changes are all bolt on/off and have most of the original parts here. Still pisses off purists, had some when heard what I came up with offer help to get parts until I wouldn't go 100% original. Oh well my toy do it my way. LOL The body shop came about in a interesting coincidence. Bumped into them at chrome shop and while talking found he goes to the car show in Ridgely, Md also. He usually escorts Linda Vaughn around area when she is in and has done the work for her cars. Now he knows I will be expected to take car there and get a good spot for show being tied in with the old racers that are there. So he's going a little deeper on paint then I am used to going but how he does it at his shop. As I noted wet sanding primer with 800 paper , I'm used to using 400 at finest before paint. Adds time the finer you go and that equals $$. After paint will be another $$ depending on how fine you go with sanding and I'm pretty sure his minimum will be 3500 probably finer. I'm ok with that as it will make the paint job "pop". My plan is drive this thing and that gets more difficult the better the paint is.
Dyno, that's a real good point you brought up about going to the point on a restomod where you end up always thinking of the money involved every time you want to take your ride out for a cruise. It's a huge challenge to not go overboard. I am guilty of doing that numerous times thanks to prodding by Dad to go that extra mile. Yeah, the cars turned out to be show winners but agonizing over bug splats took away some of the fun of driving them. Trailer queens might as well be expensive paper weights if you can't flog them as the original build was intended. A good quality paint job that can easily be repaired if chipped is enough for a driver. Ask Linda if she remembers Steve Honnell next time you run into her. There's some good storys to be had there.
I think you guys may find this humorous; it's the bill that came with my car's pile of paperwork. I'm free of driving angst for sure.
Hillbilly That's been my point on this ride the whole time I'm doing it. Drive it YEP, show when it comes up why not just don't expect I break out Q-tips to clean nooks and crannies. Rare car , numbers matching yes but it is a Ranchero , only a select few are really into them. The value isn't there to most collectors, even. Basically it's not a mustang/fairlane/torino/comet or cougar. I was looking for something to do up being the only Ford guy in the bunch, when my buddy heard about this one I got the call. Will try to remember to ask Linda. She always has stories to tell ! Beer belly I really like that one! Way back gave a quote like that to a guy that was going to pay out of pocket after his daughter backed into me. He got the quote and then decided to use their insurance. That was the first car I had ever painted myself. Man was I pissed at the moment of the hit ! Insurance paid way more. Boiler 92 You can always go for it and paint yourself. Prep is the key. Worse that can happen is ya don't like it and then ya pay someone to do it.
That color is just cool! On Brittany, the paint shop wet sanded to 1500. Then buffed. Looked good when I accepted it, but as I began final assembly, I began to find those flaws. Ended up wet sanding to 2000, and then buffing with 3 levels of Mequiars. Medium cut, swirl remover, and finally show room p0lish. Was so glad I did. Probably be able to shave using yours.
Thanks for comments, guys. Here's some new pics Body painted !!!!! Door buffed out ! Got excited when I pulled up driveway and saw painted fenders on car. First I've seen car with Fenders on her. Be a few weeks before cutting and buffing paint, let the paint set up nice before all that work.
Went to body shop yesterday to drop off a few parts. Here's a few more pics of the body all buffed up, first time I saw her with a gate on her. They aren't sure they will be done before they have to move out of this shop and into new shop. Told them no worries take the time you need so it's right. Besides hunting season is coming and the cold weather I don't work in my garage when the weather gets cold.
I am jealous too! But I am waiting for the "C"... That's when its really going to pop. Like Mine did... Before (Tuesday): After (Wednesday):
Thanks all !! She got my attention when I walked in and saw it looking nice and coming together. PER the stripe definitely makes a difference. Waiting for time they want to put mine on. The body shop guys like the way the car is coming along and they really like the way she fires right up and they can move her around. Only part that gets them are the dumps in front of rear axle blows the dust in shop every where on fire up.
Well here's a couple more pics. Hot rodded the kitchen table! Scoop together with all new components. Got it done Friday after work and decided to head for the "Grove" for the Reading Nats on Saturday. Got my speed fix done , well for a little bit anyway.
I really love that style of 'induction;' Chevy's 'coward induction,' I mean, 'cowl induction,' just looks like a swollen hood. This scoop tells you this rig means business! And the shop work on the body is going great. Tell them a mechanic said that if they kept a cleaner shop, the exhaust wouldn't get a chance to kick crap up....
