how much to repaint a westy?

[albiwan]

I'm in Los Angeles; looking to get a reasonable price on a repaint of my westy. Body is flawless; no rust, no dents; just severely oxidized paint. What should I expect to pay for a repaint with good materials?

[bucko]

You'll get what you paid for.

Good old Earl Shibe used to advertize that he'd paint any car for $99.95.

It was a $99.95 paint job.

Go out and do some homework. Visit as many paint shops as you can. Ask to see their work. Get prices. Talk to others at shows, swap meets, club events, etc. and talk with the owners that had paint work done.

You're looking for a neat, clean, and organized paint facility. If the paint place is dirty, walk away.

Since you have no body work, that will save you plenty. You can spend more on body work than the paint process itself. Don't cheat yourself; if you have rust, get it taken care of; it will only come back to haunt a new paint job soon.

You can also save some money by removing the bumpers, outside mirrors, etc prior to taking the vehicle to the paint shop. Saves on "prep time".
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Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[BIRD84WESTY]

I have a 84 Westy that had oxidized paint. I paid for 2 professional details over 6 months that did a wet sand process on the paint. It woke right up, and now shines and feels silky smooth. If I were in your shoes, I'd find a reputable detailer that has experience with restoring paint that has oxidized. It will be considerably less than a paint job. VW used a baked enamel finish on at least the 84's, and it can handle removing a little with oxidation. My detailer used a product that breaks down the oxidation, then he spent hours with many different pads and a varible speed buffer. Check a detail shop out, LA area should have some good detail options.

[RCB]

California will be switching over to water based coatings the first of the year. In other words, no more solvent based coatings.
I have seen some fine examples of water based fininshes and Ive seen some that look nice at first but then turn to crap.
Lotsa variables with water based finishes compared to solvent coatings.
The question that I would be most concerned with is the one about adhesion compatability.
Will a water based coating that has been applied over a solvent based coating ( the factory finish ) hold up for year upon year ?
How many paint jobs have you seen that have turned chaulky and are litterely peeling and chipping right off the surface.
If you choose to go with a water based coating be sure the body shop is a reputable one and that they use the best coatings available ( $$$$ )
and be sure to get a guarantee in writing and also follow the maintenance schedule to the T.
Best 2U

[r39o]

Here' s my story. I did this in the OC, bet you can do it in LA, too. I took most of the stuff off my van. That included the front part of the pop top. I had some body guys do the body work on the weekends. $100/day/person. With materials I spent $600. I then took it to a "good" Maaco. (You must seek out a "good production" shop. I used the one in Costa Mesa which is VERY busy and had to wait.) My out of pocket price was $1200 total. Still is holding up well a few years later. This is about an 8 year service life everyday use paint job. I am happy with the outcome.
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[md2020]

I too am in LA most of the year, along with my van. I got quotes for a full repaint on my '91 westy in 2004 and they were ~$5k for all the windows out, all the trim off, and repaint on the front door jambs. Then all reassembly. Fixing one rust bubble under the rear window seals was included.

We didn't do it then. I just got three more estimates (from the same shops I went to before) and they all quoted $7,000 +/- $300.

Seems that a lot of the indy body shops are using the 1day paint places for their paint now. They just do the prep and trailer it over for a quick paintjob.

[albiwan]

Thanks for the replies.

I got a quote for $5000. not too impressed by the shop, but I know it's on the low end.

I like the Maaco idea.

[klucz]

[PDXWesty]

I had a 77 Westy painted at a Maaco type shop. I did all the prep, removed all the lights and accessories, etc. I think paid $600 at the time for their polyurethane paint job and it truned out great. It lasted 7-8 years with little maintenance.

Most of the cost of a paint job is in labor. If you talk to the shop owner and tell them how much you're going to do and have the van almost paint ready, you can get a much lower price.

[j_dirge]

[albiwan]

For me, it's a matter of principle. It won't kill me financially to pay for a good paint job. But the van can't be worth more than $10,000, and to spend $7,000 on cosmetics is hard to justify.

Am mulling over the idea of repainting the fiberglass pop top myself; looking at threads where others have used Rust Oleum products for a decent finish.. Van is blue; white top would be quite cool.

Then, I'm looking at just leaving the color on the van as is; it is the dove blue but the problem is the clear coat is damaged by the sun. Can't see how I would get the color back. Thing is the original paint along with the faded decals, etc., make it clear that the van has never been crashed, repainted, etc. to put a low quality repaint over that would not really improve the value.

[Zero419]

Flood penetrol for the top
It is liquid magic in a can.
There are many posts on this.
I would like to get a sand blaster and go to town on the seems. There’s not much showing at all, but you know there is something very ugly lurking behind it all.
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1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[j_dirge]

[ckissick]

I should think you could get a very decent paint job for about $5000 somewhere in LA. I know you could in the Bay Area.

When I got my '83 westy painted recently, a good friend got his '83 westy painted at the same time. Both cars were in pretty much identical condition in terms of dents and rust. I went to a good body shop and paid $8000. He went to Earl Scheib and paid $2000.

Mine looks awesome. His looks like it still needs a paint job. And they painted both front grills the color of the car. While I paid a lot, he poured his money down the drain.

Proof, one again, that you get what you pay for.
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Charlie
1950 Beetle
1983 Westfalia
1989 syncro Tristar
1966 Porsche 912
1989 Beck Spyder
2007 GTI Fahrenheit

[Jon_slider]

There is a guy named Dan Fleming, [email protected] who lives in San Diego.

He is a Vanatic, owning more than one, even has subaru and TDi conversions.. very savvy on the whole vanagon thing.

He has a connection to a Tijuana body shop. He does all the prep removing handles and turn signals and such, then drives it to TJ..

His prices are 50% lower than US prices, and Im told his quality is actually better, due to different paint available in Mexico.

He is not fast, but he has a great reputation. Im having a van painted as we speak... should be done in a couple more weeks.. if you have not chosen a shop by then, feel free to remind me to post pictures.

[j_dirge]

[albiwan]

That's very encouraging. I'll shoot him an email.

[MarkWard]

Make sure all the "pot" is removed when you retake possesion of your van if it ends up being painted Mexico. Sorry for the stereotype.

[albiwan]

Why would I want to do that?

I'd keep whatever bonus left over "materials" were on board when I picked it up in San Diego.

[klucz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQiPTiLWpOU