As someone in the paint/body business for 17yrs. now , I think it`s about right for what you`re getting. Yes , the paint (incl. primer , sealer , basecoat , and clearcoat) can EASILY cost $1000-$1500 (or more , esp. red!).

Yes you could do it yourself , and you could have a Macco type shop do it for less , but you will definately see a difference in quality , and how long the cheaper paint will last.

It`s like anything else , you get what you pay for.....

 

The origional paint on my 94 started to peel off pretty well all over but the body was still perfect as it hasnt seen any winter salt so I took it to the best body shop in town and they stripped it down to bare metal with all handles, bumpers, glass etc off and base coat/clear coat . The price was $5700. Expensive but a nice job. Going to keep the old truck for many years yet.........

 

A lot better than signing up to $40K Here, Here and oh Here...

 

I don't know... I'm beginning to think it's more worth it to just buy a new truck. To restore an older truck can easily cost $20 + the cost of buying the truck used. The only thing is that "they don't make them like they used to."

 

FWIW I have a 97 CTD in my sig since I blew the motor I have had an 06 powerstroke and I still have two dodges an 03 1ton and an 07 3/4ton fix your truck there will never be any more like it. I am about to drop around $10,000 on m y old 97 replacing the motor...repainting and adding a flatbed. There is no substitute for a 12 valve with over 400HP and the smoke that accompanies it.

Back to the paint issue where can I find new door handles and inner fenders????

Timmay is that the same red as the new 07's?

 

The cost off paint has almost doubled in the last 5 years.When I repainted my car 5 years ago,the price for a quart of paint was $70.That same quart is now $145.You have to remember that reds and yellows are the most expensive due to the pigments they add.Then if you decide to add pearl,thats a extra charge.I got a price to paint my truck at $7000.That was just to paint,no body work nothing.Good thing I could paint my own vehicles.This last summer I totally restored my truck.I used RM red,because they seem to have the nicer reds.Has anyone priced out house of Kolor paints?Now thats expensive paint,but has nice color.I guess you get what you pay for.I found this in clears.The cheap clears are cheap and will not last.The good clears could run from $150 a gallon to $500.I used lesonal clear a division of Sikkens.It was more a in between the high end and low end.So far its holding out ok.

 

Yes, PR4 Flame Red (AKA "Arrest me red")

I've converted to a flatbed, and so far I love it! I've made 6" and 18" sides so far. If you haul hay or firewood, you just pop a side off and sweep out all the junk in two seconds rather than the old bed where it would get caught in the corners for months. Heck I've even had grass growing off some of the junk I had in that old bed.

16' lumber and long ladders are a breeze with the headboard. Plenty of ratchet straps behind the seat!


Look here...

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/DSC00333.jpg



The other beauty to painting is lower insurance and taxes.

 

Nice......

 

That's an awesome color your truck is now painted...if I got mine repainted I was thinking of that sorta color, like a deep charcoal or anthracite...like you have there...

gotta question for you folks...if reds and yellows are the most expensive colors, what are the cheapest? and where do colors like silver, gray, charcoal (metal - like colors) fall in the spectrum?

In terms of paint brands, PPG and Sikkens both have great names in the business but are expensive...what would be some brands which are very good but don't break the bank so to speak?

 

Where did you get the flatbed at? I always thought a dumping stakebed would be nice. And if you don't mind, how much was the paint job?
Thanks

 

http://www.cadettruckbodies.com/

My paint job was $2400

That was the expesive red which included welding in new door skins on both door bottoms. It also included new pins and bushings and rubber window moldings.

 

The idea is to turn this,
into a ten year old single cab version of this.Same bed and all.

Thats why I asked about the shade of red I want my two to match I think its kinda cool to have one of the last 12 valves and one of the last 5.9s exactly ten years apart. I guess I'm just sentimental that way.