Dana:
I can't believe it, but here is a topic that I may actually be of some worth (albeit small).
The key to a great paint job is preparation, and if you are going to wait until November for someone to look at it anyway, you can do a lot in the preceding months to help reduce the cost of the paint job, ensure that everything is removed correctly, bagged and tagged, and placed/stored where there will be minimal damage to piece parts. The damaged paint will have to be removed, as I am sure you know, and this can be done with a myriad of techniques. Believe it or not, my favorite is sweat and muscle. Bead blasting can warp/damage panels if not done correctly, chemical stripper can find nooks and crannies and reek havoc later, an overzealous sander with a D/A can wave a soft panel, etc. While it sounds like a nightmare (which it kind of is), blocking down a car as small as these with varying grits of sandpaper isn’t really too bad. You certainly get an intimate relationship with your machine!
A reasonably sized air compressor, and a few air tools make the job much easier, but it can be accomplished with mostly patience/love if you are so inclined.
I live in Lucas, Texas near Lake Lavon if you would care to discuss further. I would be happy to show you what I am talking about, if you want to give me a call. I learned to paint cars and do body work as a young man (used to hang around after work as a sander/taper, the guys took a shining to me and taught me their trade). It has served me well. Not rocket science, but requires touch/patience more than anything. Shooting the color is the easy part (with some caveats). Maaco can put down a stunning job if the prep is right. Think about it, those guys squirt paint, one car after another, all day every day. They can be absolutely robotic in their movements, a thing of beauty in a way.
To your original question: Wade’s Rod and Custom in Wylie is absolutely the finest artisan that I know of in this area. His work is unsurpassed, and I say this after restoring classics myself over a 30 year period. He makes me look like a hack (which I am, albeit a good-natured one that only works on my own stuff). He is temperamental, so if you are thinking of giving him a call, call me first and I’ll give you some pointers in dealing with him.
Long answer, sorry. There are a lot of options here and I would be happy to meet with you and talk it over if you ever want to stop by.
Ed Fisher
Lucas, Texas
972-995-6305
P.S. Attached is a photo of my Mustang that I painted in a two-car garage using box fans for exhaust and furnace filters for intake cleanliness. I promise you, prep is the key.
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