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New Guy on the Block

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neilwin

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Hi All:
I just joined the forum, though I've been reading it for several months.

I've been working on 'frame' up rebuild of a 1980 MGB. I've got everything stripped off the unibody (it is now a bare shell) and I'm completing stripping the undercoat and rustproofing the bottom. I'd like to get the top side professionally painted and have a few questions:

Should re-mount the front fenders, doors, trunk lid, and hood and have the assembled car painted? Or should I have the paint shop paint those items off the car so I can mount them after they're painted?

Can anyone recommend a good paint shop in the NYC metro area (NJ/NY,CT)? I'm not sure where to begin to select a shop to paint the shell.

thanks in advance. Glad to be a member.
neilwin
 
These guys are very high quality, even if you aren't going to use these guys for your paint job, it is definetly worth it just to stop in and see the cars they have there.

Automotive Restorations
1785 Barnum Ave, Stratford
Connecticut 06947
USA
Tel: (203) 377-6745
Contact:Kent Baine

Here is a comment about them:
Jim Pinto recommends: Small work to Full Blown Restorations. Concours quality (Clearly one of the Best shops the Country has to offer). The panel shop consists of 2 Brits one with Rolls Royce factory experience and the other I believe similar british car factoryexperience. There is nothing they can not make or repair. Light weight jags, healeys etc. Upholstry shop contains similarbackground. Best paint work I have ever seen. Race shop within Restoration shop. So many craftsmen in one company I can not outline it here.

Edit: I just found thier website: https://www.automotiverestorations.com/
 
Welcome to the Forum...I'd like to see how some of the experts her answer the question about assembing before painting or not. This could be very intersting...thanks for joining up and writing in!

Bruce
 
How do your door jambs look, and all of the hard to reach places, if the paint is still good and it will be painted the same color than you can probably leave it all on, if you want it ALL re shot then it would be easier in my opinion and experiance to take it all off. have a good one /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif
 
Welcome neilwin,

I'm a new guy, too and doing a frame up resto on a '57 MGA. My advice would be that since you're going to all the trouble to strip the car down, go ahead and remove the bolt-on panels. it's not that much more work and the results will be worth it.

Dave
 
Welcome, Removing panels is the way it should be done if you want it done properly, I think it might be cheaper to have it done in seperate pieces. Thats the way my dads gunna do his TC when it's ready for paint.

Zack
 
Hi and Welcome neilwin!

I am in the midst of restoring my 75 B, and at the painting stage right now.

My guys are doing a combination,....painting the panels and doors off of the car,..then assembling, lining up and finally sanding, finish painting/clear coating the whole she-bang.

I don't really know much about the process ( I'm a chef, not a mechanic /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif),..but I'm learning alot as we go through each step.

They seem to know what they're doing, and have been going the extra mile to do this for me.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Cheers!
Jerry
 
thanks for the welcome and the info.

I've called around several of the restoration services in the NYC Metro area. All three quoted $7K-$10k to paint the car -- even with it stripped down to metal to begin with. I also got a quote from a collision shop, recommended by MGT in New Jersey, for $2200. Can you get a nice paint job for $2200? It seems sort of crazy to pay more for the paint job than for the whole car.
 
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