Bodyshop recommendationis cloe to CA
 

Well due to availability/time frame for getting my car into paint, my original plans have changed at the last minute....so I'm scrambling to find another shop to paint the Cuda...

Looking for someone I can trust.... looking for above average but not Ridler quality $$....

I'm in central CA, but am willing to transport the car wherever I need.... closer the better, but I've got a trailer and am willing to travel...

I'd prefer referrals to shops where you actually had a car painted..not " I had a friend of a friend, former roommate have a car painted there and it looked nice" :)

I've got leads on a couple but am trying to keep all my options open.....

Have you checked with Palmer's?

Not yet but it's on my list... Gut impression is that they will be above my budget... But worth investigating

Hey Ned,

There is a little auto body shop right there in your town called Hall's Classic Auto Body. They are located on Walnut Avenue. The owners name is Forrest Hall and he use to paint hot rods and show cars until he opened his own shop there in Manteca. He does a lot of insurance work now but he still likes to work on the show cars when he can. His shop doesn't look like much but, you should swing by sometime and talk to him. He's a true car guy and a pretty straight shooter. There is a benefit to having you car in paint only a few minutes drive from your house.

I've heard Ironworks has a booth now....

Love the car by the way!
:thumbsup:

Well I know its not close to you. I have to recommend Mortenson's Custom Touch in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He is painting my car currently and it should be ready for pick up in a couple weeks.

He came highly recommended by Tim Bruning and Jerry Logan cause they used to work together at Steve's. He left Steve's to go work at Foose. He does award winning paint at a reasonable price. the price is all relative I guess. If you think you want to get above average bodywork and paint that is going to cost you $25k+ with a +/- 20%. You did save some money by doing the bottom of the car.

The hard part is nailing down a good price. Are you planning on trailering your car to each shop for an estimate? The quoted price won't be close if they only go by pictures.

Some examples of his work. More pics of his work on his facebook page.

Jerry Logan ,the owner of Bushwacker, where I work had him body and paint both these cars that were at SEMA.
Mustang
http://www.eckertsrodandcustom.com/projects_gt350s.php

32 Ford Coupe
http://www.rodauthority.com/news/eve...-five-winners/

He worked at Foose, and did body and paint on both Chips Riddler winners.
http://www.chipfoose.com/ws_display....ter=Impression (click on specs)
http://www.chipfoose.com/ws_display....er=Grandmaster (click on specs)

Yeah Bob I'm in contact with Brad and Jason.... no doubt they do nice work..

My only concern is distance.... they are 15 hrs away...so it adds another level of problems....getting an accurate estimate.... getting the car there and back... go over stuff in person.... etc etc etc.... I have no hesitation over quality.... the distance may be a deal breaker...

Things you can do to make it easier.

When you drop it off you go over the car together and go over any areas of concerns you might have.

Nail down a shade of color. Don't waste time asking for red, purple, blue, green spray outs. Pick a color and they can do spray-out of different shades in that spectrum.

Pick a color that's out of the can. During assembly you may scratch or dent something by accident. If your painter is close by that's not an issue. Last thing you want is a custom color and trailer it again hours back and forth again.

just my .02

CW Restorations
Gary's Rods & Restorations
Hotrods & Custom Stuff

Those are a few shops I know of out there...

-Dale

Gino's in Oakland may suit you.