Just got my van!

Hello group! I just bought my 65 E van! Needs a lot of body and paint work. I got quotes yesterday all the way up to $12,000!!! No way I can afford that! I guess the best thing to do is keep it its original color. I think its Caribbean turquoise. I really like the Academy blue but looks like I can't afford it. I think Ill just go to Macco? Does anyone know where I can get replacement rear windows? driving it around yesterday was like and oven. I would love to have some louvered windows in the back to help with air flow.

Congrats on the van ! Mine is in the body shop in paris tx . Been there almost a year . I'm getting mine done for just at $6000 . On body shops to get yours done make sure they don't do insurance claims . Every shop that done insurance claims said it would take 2 to 3 yrs to do . Because insurance comes first . The inside front is being painted and the whole outside is being painted . Plus some panels replace do to rust . I went thru about 10 shops before I found this one . They guy that's doing it said he has the front , roof and one side primed . If I wasn't away from home working construction id be asking him to hurry up . It's going to be 2 tone base is almost gm rally green but a little darker and trim is pearl white . Know it's not the right ford colors but I wasn't trying to go back stock . Keep looking around you might find a cheaper painter . Congrats on your van .

There are some guys on here that has those windows for sale . Post in the wanted section .

Thanks for the response. Why has it been there so long, 1 year? Seems like a long time.

Welcome and congrats.....give me a PM and I will pass along the name to a good painter that isn't super cheap but has a bunch of his own vans so he should treat you right. He is in Costa Mesa.

Congrats HB and welcome!!! Would love to see some more pics! Plenty of helpful folks and advise here.

hbsurfdave wrote:Thanks for the response.  Why has it been there so long, 1 year?  Seems like a long time.  

he had 2 vehicles in before mine . He got them out before Christmas and suppose to be working on mine . I think he works on others that are quick jobs and then falls back to mine . If mine wasn't all in pieces and I haven't gave him half the money up front Id take it to somebody else . I've seen some of the other vechicles he's done and they turned out awesome . But he's been taking a little to long . He said at first 6 to 8 weeks . Trying to be nice . But im getting tired.

Welcome to the forum!
I took my van to Maaco. When I took it in just before Christmas 2014 he said it would be about a month. I just got it back after the wet sanding last week. So almost 4 months although there was a 3 week period for the paint to cure before the wet sanding.
I'm not too happy with the quality. The body shop guy did a pretty good job with the dents and things but the lacky sanding crew's job wasn't so hot. I'm pretty fed up with the whole experience now and have started thinking about it as an "interim" paint job. lol One day I'll get it done at a better place when I can afford it.
That being said...I think if I would have shopped around I could have picked a better shop. My Girlfriend is in the same boat as I was in with her 68 Convertable Bug and we found a different Maaco shop that seems like it's ran by a much better more organized group of guys. Her Bug is in there now for paint.
My biggest regret about my paint job is that I didn't remove the van from the shop just before paint and look at it really close myself. It was hard to see the sanding marks with quick visits to the shop, but now I know where all the mistakes are. If you go to Maaco, do a thorough inspection before the paint goes on and get the epoxy primer coat (my GF is) to hide as much as possible.
Anyway, My van paint job is far from perfect, but it looks good from a distance and it's so much better than it was. I had a ton of small and big dents that have been removed.
Here's a link to where mine was in the paint shop on my thread if you're interested.

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t39211p150-brent-s-van-uante

This is why I started painting my own vehicles. If I had to wait 2 or 3 years for someone to do something, I would be psychotic. I got so sick of dealing with painters who thought they were gods or could only work when the stars were in the right alignment. Most good painters I've met act this way. Now that I've painted my last dozen cars or so myself, I have to ask----why did I wait so long? Hope things work out----good luck.
Mike

Shop around I got a killer paint job for $2600. Make friends share a few beers and you will find it.

Pics!!!?

I have some in stock, give me a call 843-327-7017

Thanks for all the help and advice! Im not sure how to post pics? I tried to drag and drop in this box and it didn't work. Then I tried the icon above and that didn't work?

Welcome to VV. Lots of great help in here.

HB, here's a post about posting pictures. It's a little strange at first but once you've done it, it gets easier. Give it a try and hopefully we'll be able to see your new toy!

On the second image on the following thread, it says use default on the image size but you may want to choose 640 pixels instead so that the pictures don't get cut off. Good luck!

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t119-posting-pictures-using-forum-s-servimg?highlight=posting+pics

GEEEEZZZZ

hbsurfdave wrote:Does anyone know where I can get replacement rear windows?  driving it around yesterday was like and oven.  I would love to have some louvered windows in the back to help with air flow.

If you drive with anything but solid rear windows, the exhaust gasses seem to creep in. The "pop-out" (hinged) windows found in the sides of the Falcon vans can be easily fitted into the rear doors. Unfortunately, one of the gaskets needed for these is not available new.

Hmmmm…Good point. I didn't think of that. It sure got hot in there the other day.

Congrats on the Van and Welcome to VV... ..I also have the same problem finding a "Good" paint and body shop in my area that wont take a year to finish it and was under 8k..!!!.. I have seen a few really nice "Maco" paint jobs and seen a lot not so nice you have to catch the right painter...Unless you install AC in your Van where I am your driving a oven on wheels.. I thought it was HOT inside of my 3rd gen Chevy with a "Big Block" until I drove my early Van past couple of summers. ...I have found the "Satin" paint jobs to be cheaper and less maintenance and becoming more popular lately..Good Luck on your build..!!!...

Thanks Joe van for the response. Maybe if I line the doghouse with insulation that will help. I sure would like those pop out windows back there.

Update: I'm getting all the rust sandblasted for about $350 next week. If I ever figure out how to post a pic, I will. I followed the instructions but to no avail.