jeff spahn

Why is it so hard to get a good body shop to commit to doing work? I had a firm quote for $10k to put on the gts flares and a do a same color repaint on my car in December with the car done May 1. Car is still at my shop at he says "he will call when ready". I want the car done before the Porsche Parade and he doesn't care. Now I have to start over again to find someone. My friend told me about the guy who painted his ferraris so I am headed there Wednesday. Jeesh, you'd think these people would want the work. This guy got interviewed by me on the phone today and I like what I hear. We will see when I go down there.

dr bob

When you spoke with him in December, before that big chain-reaction crash on the ice, his schedule was open and he was a little hungrier for the business. Now with bent metal all over the shop, he pushes your hobby job out of the way.


Like any other contractor, add schedule LD's to the agreement so he has an incentive to meet the schedule. $10k sounds like already it has a lot of bonus already built in. Of course I have no idea how good your painter is or how well regarded [he feels] he is.

Nicole

I don't think that a $10k estimate for all the work includes a lot of padding - not even in Iowa.

In CA, $10k is the minimum you would pay for a quality repaint, plus another $2500 in rubber and trim pieces. In fact, I think the labor and paint would be more like $12k these days.

This does not include replacing any sheet metal.

Agreed on the timing of estimate versus starting work.

White Lightnin'

Shops like to exert control once your car is in their doors... asking for more money, but can't demonstrate progress; insisting on "better results" by recommended costlier process(es) after the initial quote; stopping work on your car when you pay a surprise visit; waiting to the last possible minute to rush the job finished and then, when the inevitable tweaks need adjusting they suggest you can bring it back after your event... like you'd want to wait another 6 months.

Yeah, get a lot of personal recommendations AND PROOF of their quality & timeliness before you bring them your car!

digs

You need a restorer not a collision shop . Good luck !

911user

Jeff
Several shops in Mpls could do the job. Was at one on sat, many cars in the total restore mode.
Hope to see You on the road to the Porsche parade.
steve

safulop

One shop I've used for competent damage repair and other minor jobs has specifically told me "we don't do full repaints." At least they're honest about it up front, instead of leading somebody on and never actually accomplishing the job.

jeff spahn

So I went to the Ferrari restorer (and Jag and Landcruisers). He looked at my car and he's on board.
He's going to do the fender flares for T&M and he's going to paint the car.

I have it taken apart and started to sand off the paint. He's going to fill the holes in where the rub strips used to attach like he did on friends Jag Drophead coupe. Weld the alum and grind and weld the steel and grind. He said it's really the only way to do it right.

He' taking the trim off the windows too. After he's done I am going to put new rubber on everything (except rear quarter windows as that it all good).

I want to kill whoever made the decision on the door locks and how much room you have to work. Worst part of taking this car apart bar none.

What a fun car to take apart. You need tiny hands for some of the nuts. The nuts for rear bumper cover behind PSD and those under the headlights were a true joy. Glad I have a lift!

Here's how she looks today after sanding. Told the restorer that it was as far as I was comfortable sanding. Didn't want to warp any panels or hit the trim. He told me to not sand the bumper covers as he would handle that.

Funny thing is he used to plow snow for the company I bought as something to do during slow times in the winter. Small world.

ROG100

That will buff out no problem!!

Rob Edwards

LOL, Ron Perry will have a heart attack when he sees this. But I'm sure it'll be great when it's done!

dr bob

Ron was not tat thrilled about the paint on the car when he owned it. There was a resprayed front right wing and door, black with clear coat, that didn't age the same as the rest of the car. I'm sure he'd have nothing but good to say about a proper repaint. He wasn't thrilled about the turns in life that caused the car to move on. Considering all the interesting cars he'd photographed and driven, it's impressive that the 928 held his attention and loyalty.

OTR18WHEELER

after looking at the pics, I understand why he said STOP!. and something else about tiny hands.

Lizard928

While you are doing this, eliminate the side marker lights as well.

You should have done the Louie Ott fender flares!

jeff spahn

I have fender flares sitting in the trunk in the last photo. I took them to the body shop (3rd one and kind of on the high end). They said they won't put a fiberglass flare on the car. Afraid of what the long term results will be at the joint (like 15 years on). They are going to custom flare the fenders themselves to fit my larger rear wheels.
Since they are restoring some high end cars and the finish product looks pretty good I am going to trust them. I have known this shop for about 25 years and they are well respected. Bums me out it takes so long to get someone to actually commit to your car.

They are welding the holes in the doors (alum for alum and steel for steel).
Going to let them put the damn locks back together too. I'd love to punch the dude that designed the Rube Goldberg system of tiny levers and such for our locks and latches.

Hope to have it back by October. They are pulling all the glass except the windscreen (its new and I don't want to risk a crack). I did ask them to preserve the factory stickers inside the driver door including the original delivery bar code. I don't care if the paint won't match exactly, it will be a bit of history.

They are also pulling the lower cladding and will reapply when done. Told me they wouldn't even consider any other way of doing it.

How much now you ask. Since I am reassembling the bumpers, they gave me a pretty good price. $8700. Also going to do a bit of barter and repair their lot, coat it and stripe it for them for a yet undecided amount.

Now, let's see if it goes in June 1 like they estimate.

Since I really don't care if people get my personal address or phone I have attached my estimate to this post so others can get an idea of what is involved.
- Estimate for Jeff Spahn Porsche 928.pdf

jeff spahn

Car is finally in the paint shop! They are also going to put the door locks back together for me because I am so done with those little freaking parts in there. Let the body guys figure it out.
They are going to return the car to me with the bumpers off and I will put them back on as well as the rest of the underbody parts.
Guess I better get the flush dash done that has been sitting in my office for 8 months.
I promise to get your parts back to you MJ.