Recommended places that know how to paint a Fiero ... (Page 1/2)
FastCassius APR 05, 03:32 PM
Good Afternoon Everyone.

I have been working on restoring my 1987 Fiero GT Fastback and I am getting close to where I will need to find someplace to have the car repainted. I am confident in my mechanical skills but when it comes to painting a car I would rather find a professional to do the work. Since our cars are not sheet-metal but plastic, fiberglass and mix of some other materials I am hesitant to take to a traditional body shop to do the work. I live in Ohio and I was wondering what places people have taken their Fiero to have it painted. Would you use those places again?

Thank you in advance for the replies.

Good day and God bless.
steve308 APR 05, 05:38 PM
If your budget can support it, go to a place that repairs and paints corvettes.
Skybax APR 05, 07:42 PM
What color are you painting it? (then I'll answer your original question)
FastCassius APR 06, 09:48 AM
I am thinking about keeping it black. I do like some of the ceramic grey colors that are not there now from Kia and Porsche. I know it has been repainted at least once because during some of the repairs I have seen a dark red on the car.

I appreciate the feedback.
Phirewire APR 06, 11:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by FastCassius:

Good Afternoon Everyone.

I have been working on restoring my 1987 Fiero GT Fastback and I am getting close to where I will need to find someplace to have the car repainted. I am confident in my mechanical skills but when it comes to painting a car I would rather find a professional to do the work. Since our cars are not sheet-metal but plastic, fiberglass and mix of some other materials I am hesitant to take to a traditional body shop to do the work. I live in Ohio and I was wondering what places people have taken their Fiero to have it painted. Would you use those places again?

Thank you in advance for the replies.

Good day and God bless.



interested in sky's opinion, but i would recommend anyone you can see there work quality and you enjoy talking to. I'd avoid any collision shop not that they can't do it but there money is in turning insurance claims.
Skybax APR 06, 04:59 PM

quote
Originally posted by FastCassius:

I am thinking about keeping it black.




I started my auto career as a body man in the early 80's, so the reason for asking what color is because it can make a big difference in cost/savings depending on which paint system to use. If you said a metallic color than you would have to go with a 2-stage paint system (base coast / clear coat) which became popular in the 80's and still used today. However, since you are painting it a solid color you can save a lot of money by going with a single stage urethane, which is essentially the same as bc/cc but they are mixed together and the painter applies it the same as enamel or lacquer was applied in the pre-80's days.

In addition to the cost savings, there is another huge bonus by going with single stage urethane black that non-professionals overlook. When you paint a car black with bc/cc all the little marks/scratches that develop from washing, drying, etc, are highly visible because you are not scratching the black, you are scratching the clear coat, which is white in color, so that is why all the swirl marks and scratches are highly visible. Whereas if you have a car that is painted black with single stage urethane, enamel, or lacquer, its solid black paint (no clear on top) and it scratches black, so all those flaws are stealth and your eye doesn't see most of them because the light is not grabbing the edges like it does on the clear coat painted ones. This is why higher end restorations on vintage cars use single stage urethane when it comes to black, because it has a more authentic look to it resembling enamel or lacquer, which is also very similar in appearance to the factory original bc/cc paint on a Fiero, because the Fiero bc/cc didn't have the same bc/cc luster you see today because it had a flexible enamel clear coat. You also want a "little bit" of orange peal in the paint texture when finished because that gives the paint character, as most people make the mistake of over-wet-sanding and removing it all. Last but not least, because the Fiero has enduraflex and fiberglass panels, the shop will add a little bit of flex additive like they do with all plastic bumpers.

In regards to finding a competent body shop, most body shops nowadays are busy with insurance jobs on newer cars and won't touch your car, and professional restoration shops are going to be very expensive, so you need to find a small independent operation (one or two man outfit) that does this type of work and has a good reputation. It helps to know some older people in vintage car scene in your region, because they know about outfits that are not advertised. If you find a small trust-worthy operation, remove most of the trim before dropping it off, have them use single stage urethane, and you can cut the costs in half compared to normal operations.

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 04-06-2022).]

Dennis LaGrua APR 07, 11:46 AM
Done correctly full paint jobs can cost $4,000-$6,000 . Black is one of the hardest colors to paint with as it shows every tiny defect. Best to use one shot urethane, wet sand, compound and buff afterwards. Except for small panels I no longer go to body shops for paint. I purchased a small portable paint booth on Amazon and do my own work in the backyard.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

hyperv6 APR 07, 12:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by FastCassius:

Good Afternoon Everyone.

I have been working on restoring my 1987 Fiero GT Fastback and I am getting close to where I will need to find someplace to have the car repainted. I am confident in my mechanical skills but when it comes to painting a car I would rather find a professional to do the work. Since our cars are not sheet-metal but plastic, fiberglass and mix of some other materials I am hesitant to take to a traditional body shop to do the work. I live in Ohio and I was wondering what places people have taken their Fiero to have it painted. Would you use those places again?

Thank you in advance for the replies.

Good day and God bless.



Where in Ohio are you?

Any good shop can paint your car. The rear issue is how much are you willing to pay. Generally you get what you pay for and a good paint job is not inexpensive in most cases.

The time for prep, the color the quality of the paint used, doing the jambs etc. all play into this. Many cases the paint job can be as much or more than the cars value.

If you can do the prep to the level they need and wet sand and polish it out you can save some money and get a good paint job.

Often I point people to pay extra to buy low mileage cars with good paint and interiors as in the long run they end up being a better deal as you can spend more on a car fixing it up if you are not careful.

Most paints are not hard to paint even black. You just need to get the prep right as anything under the paint will show. With clear coats today you can wet sand the color and then clear then sand and polish it. The results can be excellent.

Half my car is factory GM black paint and the added panels have been painted by a number of different shops. Just a year ago I won best paint at a Pontiac event against cars with more in their paint than I have in my car. Good shops are worth the extra you pay.

hyperv6 APR 07, 12:59 PM
Here is what I have. The black panels are a good match the door and quarter panel are factoybthe hood and fender are painted. I know all paints look good in the web but this paint is actually better in person.

[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 04-07-2022).]

FastCassius APR 07, 03:48 PM
Wow that looks great!

I am in the Centerburg area which is somewhat close to Columbus. I have some numbers of some places to call in Ohio. They are not collision repair places but more like restoration places. The are scattered everywhere from Mansfield, Celina and Ashland. I going to make some calls and see what I find out.

I really appreciate all of the feedback that everyone has given. I have a budget in mind and the numbers that are being tossed around in this thread are helping me in that area.

Thanks again for all of the advice and suggestions. You guys are awesome.