Buying An Unfinished Project, How much for basic Respray ?

[Arlie71]

Hi

Am seriously considering buying a Transit LWB thats being converted into a campervan and about 70% complete.

The body is in good nick (its newish at 2008) with pretty much no rust, but the paint work is like a patchwork quilt. Mainly due to bad home attempts at repainting panels after removal of previous company logos etc.

So how much would you knock off the price to allow for a basic Respray/blow over ? Not looking at perfect, just somthing to bring the whole van into one colour, prob dark grey or dark blue. Exterior only and would be happy to do as much prep as I could. Would just need to last a year or two, then if we decide the van is right for us we will do a proper respray (and lots of other work) but if not would still be able to sell it as at least one colour rather than the multicolour look at the moment.

And if anyone knows someone in the North West who could do it let me know for a good price.

Cheers

Andy

[J4CKO]

On a Transit, done properly I would expect two and a half grand plus, there is no real thing as a "Blow Over", it is just a way of saying a poor paint job, painting is an art and requires a lot of preparation. I have done individual panels with rattle cans and had some very pleasing results, better and flatter than the factory paint but it involved a lot of flatting and polishing and to be honest it never lasts that long.

It can be done relatively cheaply at home, but its a lot of effort, Google Rustoleum, people have had some decent results.

[Arlie71]

Thanks for the reply.

£2.5K is way over budget. Van only costing a few grand.

Can I ask how bad a "blow over" really is. Its going to be a family van that will get scratched and dented and parked next to hedges and have bikes leant against it.

Am just after the cheapest way to make it look one uniform colour, outside only, not bothered about fiddly door hinges, joints etc as can do that with a touch up brush, just after a cheap and cheerful spray.

Will have a look at the Rustoleum, problem being that dont have a garage so not sure I could paint the van out in the elements. (But a happy to be told otherwise)

Cheers

Andy

[Rollcage]

You might get someone to do a blowover for six or seven hundred quid. I know somebody that would do it for that sort of money, I'm sure.

[B17NNS]

I'd imagine £1k would tidy your van up a treat.

[Arlie71]

Hi Rollcage
Are they based anywhere near Manchester, if so please do PM the details.
Cheers
Andy

[davepoth]

Arlie71 said:

Thanks for the reply.

£2.5K is way over budget. Van only costing a few grand.

Can I ask how bad a "blow over" really is. Its going to be a family van that will get scratched and dented and parked next to hedges and have bikes leant against it.

Am just after the cheapest way to make it look one uniform colour, outside only, not bothered about fiddly door hinges, joints etc as can do that with a touch up brush, just after a cheap and cheerful spray.

Will have a look at the Rustoleum, problem being that dont have a garage so not sure I could paint the van out in the elements. (But a happy to be told otherwise)

Cheers

Andy

£2.5k is probably about the lowest you would want to go with a van for proper paint. It was pretty bargain basement on a smallish car a few years ago.

A blowover is literally a case of keying the paint, and then putting a couple of coats on top. It'll be much cheaper, but realistically the van will have to be the same colour as it is now because any colour underneath will probably show through. Assuming what you've got is a collection of various mismatched shades of off-white, a blowover may look OK. Do you have any pictures of the vehicle?

[Arlie71]

I think what I am trying to find out, is what goes bad when you just do a blow over?
Iam happy to admit I know nothing about paint, and the last car I had resprayed was a bright orange mini 20 years ago. That was done by a mate in his dads truck yard for £50 and while no show winner did the job of getting the whole car one colour again after new wings had been fitted.

Is it that the paint will fade within a year, or more serious ? Can live with a bit of fade, but dont want to risk the current rust free body if a quick blow over can cause rust to develop quicker.

Sorry for all the questions, just honestly dont know whether its just a case of a poorer shine and finish with a cheap job, or something more serious.

Cheers
Andy

[Arlie71]

Hi Dave
Not got pictures I can upload at the moment.

But what you describe is exactly what I am after. In general the van looks ok, but has various patches that are either bodged painted (like around the Vent for the Fridge) or areas where the company logos used to be that just stand out a bit. Its the annoying thing of knowing that by the time I had fixed each patch it would be quicker to do just a blow over.

I know that for a Quality paint job I need to spend a few grand, and if the camper life suits us and we decide to keep the van and fit solar, upgrade interior then at that point we would get a quality paint job done. But for now would just like the van to look a bit more presentable hoped a blow over would do the job.

Cheers

Andy

[hogfisch]

My father owned a paint shop for 30 odd years. If you were looking for a respray that might actually last a while, you'd need to consider labour costs as required for decent prep (removal of trim, flatting existing paint, masking, spirit wiping / tack ragging) as much as the cost of the paint itself.

If the van is a patchwork of various paints, the existing paint (once prepped) may also need be sealed to prevent reaction to the primer to be used (using something such as Barcoat). Then primed. Then painted. Then any removed trim to be refitted.

It's been a few years since my father retired from the trade, but I would estimate anything between £300 and £350 alone for sundries, stopper (sealant), primer, 2k paint + hardeners and thinners (you could use synthetic paint which I believe is still available and possibly cheaper). Then you have labour costs.

I'd probably budget at least £1k for anything approaching decent / long lasting.

Edited by hogfisch on Wednesday 14th November 00:38

[Arlie71]

Hi hogfisch

Thanks for replying. But am not looking for Decent & long lasting. Am after cheap and mediocre, which is just enough of a step up from patchwork quilt. If you said to me your Dad could make it look "ok ish" for £500 but would not last 2 years that is exactly what I want. Then in two years we will have decided if we want to keep the van and then pay for a proper job.

How much prep is able to be done by me at home ? Iam time rich and cash poor so happy to put the hours in, but would need guidance of what to actually do !! Told you I know nothing about paint.

Cheers

Andy

[AdvanceRoadcraft]

I am old. Does anyone else remember that US franchise (Ray Scheid, was it?) whose advertising claim in Exchange & Mart - back in the '70s - was "I'll Paint Any Car for £30"?

Apologies for thread diversion!

[SMcP114]

For those quoting £2500, have any of you actually ever had a car painted?

You will get a basic job local to you for £600-£700, if you ask around with those in the know. It won't be an oven baked sparkling finish, but it will be more than suitable for what you need.

[MK Ultra]

SMcP114 said:

For those quoting £2500, have any of you actually ever had a car painted?

You will get a basic job local to you for £600-£700, if you ask around with those in the know. It won't be an oven baked sparkling finish, but it will be more than suitable for what you need.

This. A normal car, say a Toyota Avensis round here costs approx £600 in some basic colour. So a transit wouldn't cost more than a grand.

[Furberger]

A friend and I were doing a single cab pickup for Run to the Sun about 10 years ago. We used emulsion and a roller and got a cracking finish. Cost us about £20 in paint and couple of days doing it. How tidy does it have to be?

[Raize]

MK Ultra said:

SMcP114 said:

For those quoting £2500, have any of you actually ever had a car painted?

You will get a basic job local to you for £600-£700, if you ask around with those in the know. It won't be an oven baked sparkling finish, but it will be more than suitable for what you need.

This. A normal car, say a Toyota Avensis round here costs approx £600 in some basic colour. So a transit wouldn't cost more than a grand.

Why would company directors such as us use "local services"? It would be immensely distasteful to me to have mine vehicle worked on by peasants.

[Riley Blue]

My Audi A4 bonnet cost £160 to paint at a local back street place. Based on that I'd say a Transit with a colour change has to be over a grand.

[Rollcage]

Arlie71 said:

Hi Rollcage
Are they based anywhere near Manchester, if so please do PM the details.
Cheers
Andy

Sadly not! I'm in the deepest Southwest.

[98elise]

Why not buy a cheap spray gun and compressor, and prep/spray it your self. I did a car myself with no experience. It wasn't perfect, but was significantly better than the original paint.

[98elise]

Why not buy a cheap spray gun and compressor, and prep/spray it your self. I did a car myself with no experience. It wasn't perfect, but was significantly better than the original paint.