Jeep TJ paint job

[fishfullthinking]

Guys,

I am starting to toy with idea of getting my Jeep painted with same color as stock. What is a ballpark figure for a quality paint job which
will last for years. Do you have any recommendations for a high quality paint shop in South Florida. I just want to do it once and don't
mess with it for many years.

Had local shop replace my rusted fenders and they lasted for a year! Now have holes rusted trough. Think learned my lesson.

Thank you,
Fishfullthinking

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Getting it repainted ≠ fixing rust and repainting. Just decent paint will probably cost $5k+.

 

[wigsajumper]

Were the fenders new or from another vehicle? They very well could have already been rusting from the inside and not been noticeable until the rust broke through. Jeep fenders love to trap moisture on the underside of the fenders. There is a walkthrough on here somewhere that explains how to slow it down by sealing where the water / salt gets in.

 

[P man]

10k

 

[TJ4Jim]

Guys,

I am starting to toy with idea of getting my Jeep painted with same color as stock. What is a ballpark figure for a quality paint job which
will last for years. Do you have any recommendations for a high quality paint shop in South Florida. I just want to do it once and don't
mess with it for many years.

Had local shop replace my rusted fenders and they lasted for a year! Now have holes rusted trough. Think learned my lesson.

Thank you,
Fishfullthinking

View attachment 466257

We did my son's Jeep last March and with us doing all the surface prep and transportation it came out to $4,500 at a local custom shop using single stage urethane. If prep is done by the painter then figure at least double that.

 

[fishfullthinking]

Those were brand new fenders. Think the shop did not prep them correctly. Both are rusting.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Those were brand new fenders. Think the shop did not prep them correctly. Both are rusting.

I was more trying to figure out how you are getting that kind of rust in S. FL... our 2005 was purchased 19 years ago with 5 miles on the odo, in Ft. Lauderdale. 2.5 years ago we moved from there to here in N. AL, and there is zero rust.

Are you driving through brackish or salt water, and not cleaning/flushing it off/out? How do your frame rails look?

To answer your question about body shops, there are quite a few in the Margate area that do great jobs, but you also get what you pay for...

 

[PCO6]

Those were brand new fenders. Think the shop did not prep them correctly. Both are rusting.

New fenders will rust out even faster than the originals and I don't think there's a way to stop that with paint alone. Regular rust proofing maybe but not paint.

I removed the stiffeners (if that's even what they are called) from the underside of my new fenders and then painted them. I don't think they're needed at all. That was a few years ago. I drive my LJ through the winter and I've had no rust problems with the fenders.

 

[fishfullthinking]

PC06, I used POR15 around those seams before giving them to paint guy. Does not look like it made any difference. Also rusting in other spots as well.

Artsifrtsi, Not sure why I am getting rust. With original fenders I towed salt water boat and was probably getting salt from the ramp. With new ones I think just very poor prep from the paint shop. Thank you for recommendations. I will research further.

 

[BlueC]

What is a ballpark figure for a quality paint job which will last for years.

There are a lot of variables here, especially since you have had rust issues. Also, your expectations will come into play here. Excluding any major body work, staying with the same color and expecting a "factory type" job, I’d expect $5,000-6,000 from a decent shop.

If you need significant body work, that price will shoot up quickly. If you expect a slicker job, i.e. no orange peel, that will run the price up. If you want to do a color change, that will run the price up.

Just to give you current real world examples, someone backed into the side of my wife's Civic, which left one small dent and scuffed both front and rear doors, which means the entire side front to back will have to be painted. A professional shop that I know does good work quoted $2,500. Here's the damage. It's there if you look really close.

My truck bed side will cost me $1,000 with one of my friends (pro body shop guy) doing the work on the side, but I'm from the car world, and I'm picky, he knows that.

 

[BlueC]

BTW, word of advice to anyone considering body and paint work, stay away from the bargain-basement, or you'll wind up doing it at least twice.

 

[fishfullthinking]

Guys thank you.

 

[Frankm]

Got a friend who s really a good painter …. Been at it literally for 45-50 years. Does lots of custom, show quality paint. Vettes, Hot Rods you name it.

Anyway, good paint work without body work can range from 4K to how much you got ???? For a Jeep, especially if you off-road, etc. , I d personally be realistic and put my budget at $4-5k …. Cut that down a grand or so if you plan to scratch it, door dings, etc. Any less and be suspicious of what you signed up for!!

Paint “ain’t cheap” …..

 

[BlueC]

Paint “ain’t cheap” …..

That's the damn truth. The last two quarts of PPG color that I've bought have both been around $350. That's not for anything fancy either. Add up everything else involved, and it's obvious why a decent paint job cost so much.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

Add up everything else involved, and it's obvious why a decent paint job cost so much.

 

[PCO6]

Good paint jobs are expensive and to me not worth it for the way I use my LJ. It's my camping, trail, winter, etc. and basic beater vehicle. I shot it with Rustoleum single stage enamel, Tremclad actually which is the Canadian equivalent from the same company. Minus some new panels (fenders and windshield frame) I don't think I have $500 into the body and paint. And when it gets scratched up ... and it will ... I know I can easily repair it. I know it's not for everyone but it works well for me.

 

[BlueC]

Good paint jobs are expensive and to me not worth it for the way I use my LJ. It's my camping, trail, winter, etc. and basic beater vehicle. I shot it with Rustoleum single stage enamel

It looks fine in that pic. I've seen a few decent paint jobs using Rustoleum. How did it layout and did you do any sanding and buffing? Post a closeup if you will.

There's an old saying, something like "90% of a good paint job is preparation".

 

[BC Moto]

Hey all, I am fortunate to work a PPG platinum supplier and for a gallpon of waterbourne paint will run about 800 for a gallon. Thats for shale green which is my color. I have been thinking of painting my flat fender and rear corners all shale green and its going to be expensive. If your going to paint everything and not worried about color match then I would recommend single stage, its much cheaper.

 

[PCO6]

It looks fine in that pic. I've seen a few decent paint jobs using Rustoleum. How did it layout and did you do any sanding and buffing? Post a closeup if you will.

There's an old saying, something like "90% of a good paint job is preparation".

If you’ve seen good Rustoleum jobs you know it can be done. Lots of people have done it and of course they require sanding before and after each coat except the last depending on your ability. I only removed the original paint where I had to weld in new metal. Those were the only areas that I primed. I applied 4 coats with wet sanding in between; 1000g prior to the final coat. I haven’t buffed it out and apart from a few minor spots I’m not sure I will.

I couldn’t be bothered with taking close ups. This was an outside job btw.

 

[ragdoll]

My brother's painted my TJ last summer. The paint ALONE was over $800! I should had stopped it right there because removing everything for a complete color change was CRAZY. If you never removed those fenders. HAVE fun but having this type of forum will help you. My one brother says he will never paint another Jeep haha.
I now want it back to original color. I am waiting a couple years to tell him that.