A question for those that have had their side sills painted....

[cyaford]

Before I go out and get bent over with no lube, what is a fair price to get a set of side sills painted? I pulled my side sills last week to see about cutting the cats off. While they are off, I figure I might as well have them painted. They have a few heat blisters, and several major scratches due to my own stupidity. I called up a local body shop and asked how much would it cost to paint 2 aluminum pieces from a car, around 5' in length? I tried my best not to tell him what kind of vehicle it was for, but had to tell him after he asked for what specific car. "A Viper!! Wow! Well, bring them by and I'm sure we can work something out. Painting aluminum can be tricky, and sometimes pricey."

I just want a quality job, without getting hosed. Any other advice? Should I drive my car out to let them do a paint match? Thanks!

 

[Warfang]

Next time, tell them it's for your rain gutters, but you're inspired to make them flashy. Hard to avoid the Viper tax.

As soon as you heard "WOW"... time to move on.

Dunno what the cost is, but wouldn't mind knowing myself.

 

[PDCjonny]

FWIW I paid $350.00 to have my drivers side sill reformed (after creasing a 3' length of it going through a toll bridge rubbing the curb) repainted and cleared. It looked good as factory new and they had to spend some time reshaping it. This is on Long Island.

 

[cyaford]

As soon as you heard "WOW"... time to move on.

My thoughts exactly. I thought I heard, "Here's a 50% over cost job!" Then it hit me that he only said "WOW!" I'll have to remember to tell the next shop I call that I want some gutters painted.

 

[cyaford]

FWIW I paid $350.00 to have my drivers side sill reformed (after creasing a 3' length of it going through a toll bridge rubbing the curb) repainted and cleared. It looked good as factory new and they had to spend some time reshaping it. This is on Long Island.

Thanks! I'm hoping my side sills do not require repair. The first day i had the Viper, I pulled into a gas station I had never used before. When leaving, I noticed the exit had a huge lip when getting back on the road. I thought I had taken it at a pretty good angle, but all I heard was a horrendous scraping sound. I almost cried when I got home. I bottomed out pretty good on both side sills, but they appear to be only several major scratches. I'm sure I'll find out soon if any repair work will be needed.

 

[revived_gearhead]

Paid $365.00 for both side sills and front facia. Actually had this done twice on two Vipers and paid same price, $365.00.

 

[cyaford]

Paid $365.00 for both side sills and front facia. Actually had this done twice on two Vipers and paid same price, $365.00.

That's alot better than what I was thinking, especially since you had the front fascia done as well. Was that a "friend" rate? I'm guessing the front fascia included the stripes also? Hmmmm. I have a few small rock chips on my front fascia.....

Thanks!

 

[EllowViper]

$365.00 is a GREAT price!!! Heck, I just did my own and I bet I have that much just in materials.

 

[Asp Man]

Geez! I paid over 1200.00 for single colour on my Dakota front bumper cover. Am expecting $2000 or more for Viper facia...
Must be nice to live somewhere where things are reasonably priced. It is boom town here and everything is super-expensive.

 

[Jack B]

To make the job go easier do the sanding prep for them. Use a mouse sander with some fine sand paper and feather out the scratches. This does two things: you will do a better job since you are not on the clock; all the auto shops realize they cannot ask for an outlandish fee for painting two small objects since most of the labor is in the prep.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I was quoted $350 each from the 5* Dodge bodyshop here

 

[venms96]

cyaford,

I wouldn't worry about the "Wow" expression...jeeeez, everyone does that. The "tricky" and "pricey" words do stick out, but hey, you got some actual numbers from the others, so now you have a ballpark figure. Don't write em off because of the first phone call. Go down there, let em give you a price, decide from there. I'd like to hear more stories though, after you drive it down there to those folks. See what the "quote" is !

Hey Warfang, when'r you gonna post an Avatar Pic ? I know you are a paranoid California'n, but jeeeesh, a pic of your car wouldn't hurt. Quit hidin out there !!!

venms96
1996 GTS Stock
SDMF

 

[EllowViper]

Word to the wise and a thought to pass along to whomever does your side sills...I rushed puting my passenger side sill back on after I prepped, base coat, clear coat, color sanded/buffed/polished. I did all this from Noon Saturday (final clear coat spray) to a late afternoon install on Sunday. I drove the car today (basically 72 hrs after final clear coat step) and the entire sill from about the end of the cat forward has crinkled. Looks like the ripple/rock guard coating on the underneath side of some vehicles. I guess the clear hadn't totally cured before experiencing the intense side sill heat. Oh well, at least the driver's side is OK since I had finished that earlier in the week...so I know my technique is OK, just rushing the job a bit too much. Bottom-line, let your sills cure before re-installing/driving.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I was quoted $350 each from the 5* Dodge bodyshop here

Correction--I was quoted $300 each from Dodge. Sorry for the typo

 

[Warfang]

cyaford,

I wouldn't worry about the "Wow" expression...jeeeez, everyone does that. The "tricky" and "pricey" words do stick out, but hey, you got some actual numbers from the others, so now you have a ballpark figure. Don't write em off because of the first phone call. Go down there, let em give you a price, decide from there. I'd like to hear more stories though, after you drive it down there to those folks. See what the "quote" is !

Hey Warfang, when'r you gonna post an Avatar Pic ? I know you are a paranoid California'n, but jeeeesh, a pic of your car wouldn't hurt. Quit hidin out there !!!

venms96
1996 GTS Stock
SDMF

I've posted plenty of pics of my car here... just don't want an avatar. Besides... you KNOW what a Viper looks like right? Mine looks just like yours, but red with white stripes.

You must be registered for see images

 

[venms96]

Warfang,

Tried to PM you, you have that option turned off, no surprise)....I can see thru that blurred license plate by the way ! haha.
Dude, that is one nice pic with the Pacific in the background. 4 days of hard rain here, cloudy skies...nice to see that Pic right now.
Nice lookin wheels by the way. Also, you can PM me, explain how to post a Pic under a posting. I thought a big Pic of the B/W would have looked nice under your R/W.
Alright then California Kid....keep the wheels straight.

venms96
1996 GTS Stock

 

[Warfang]

Warfang,

Tried to PM you, you have that option turned off, no surprise)....I can see thru that blurred license plate by the way ! haha.
Dude, that is one nice pic with the Pacific in the background. 4 days of hard rain here, cloudy skies...nice to see that Pic right now.
Nice lookin wheels by the way. Also, you can PM me, explain how to post a Pic under a posting. I thought a big Pic of the B/W would have looked nice under your R/W.
Alright then California Kid....keep the wheels straight.

venms96
1996 GTS Stock

Huh? My PM is NOT turned off... I've gotten PM's from plenty of people. Try again.
btw- that plate is already no longer valid.

 

[revived_gearhead]

Paid $365.00 for both side sills and front facia. Actually had this done twice on two Vipers and paid same price, $365.00.

That's alot better than what I was thinking, especially since you had the front fascia done as well. Was that a "friend" rate? I'm guessing the front fascia included the stripes also? Hmmmm. I have a few small rock chips on my front fascia.....

Thanks!

Got to know the body shop manager at the local GM dealership when he repaired the wifes car after an accident. Did such a good job on that car, I tried them out on my RT/10. $365.00 and the finish was perfect. When I bought my GTS a couple months later, it had a couple of chips in the facia and started to see the signs of minor blistering around the exhaust cat area. Took them to the same place and he did them for the same price, including the White stripes.
(97 Blue/White) I guess it's all about relationships.