Having my new-to-me '96 GMC K2500 Suburban completely repainted

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

South VA

K2500 454 Long Roof
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2022
Messages
764
Reaction score
2,632
Location
Dinwiddie County, Virginia
My '96 went into the body shop today for a total redo - minor bodywork, and a complete paint job. I'm sticking with the original color, which I believe is emerald green metallic. It has only 102,000 miles, runs great, and is basically rust-free as I bought it in AZ. I got three bids on the job and this was the most expensive, but not by much. Also replacing the grille, fender flares, side molding, rear bumper cover, and front bumper strip. He'll also polish the headlights, which I'll upgrade with brighter halogen bulbs. I'm pretty excited :D
 

97Z71BOSS

Newbie
Joined
Aug 9, 2022
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Location
Fresno
How much is that gonna cost you? Been thinking bout redoing my 97 K1500. It’s starting to lose its clear coat on roof and bed rails
 

South VA

K2500 454 Long Roof
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2022
Messages
764
Reaction score
2,632
Location
Dinwiddie County, Virginia
The paint on mine is mostly intact, except for some surface rust on the roof rails. The clearcoat is shot. Paint and labor is $6200, and I'll have another $600 or so in parts.

That includes removing all most exterior parts, including the door handles and emblems. The windows are staying in, but the window belt moldings are being removed.

Also includes using top of the line clear coat, which is expensive, but makes a huge difference in appearance and longevity. Materials will come to around $1700.

So, all in, just under $7000.
 

South VA

K2500 454 Long Roof
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2022
Messages
764
Reaction score
2,632
Location
Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Also, mine has some minor body damage: behind the left rear wheel, a few dents on the hood, and some small dings on the sides and on the rear doors. Repairing those added a bit to the cost.

What I found when getting bids is that the body shops, at least those around here, don't like to do complete paint jobs anymore because they make so much more on collision repair. The shop I wanted to do the job was a couple of thousand cheaper, but he couldn't guarantee that he'd be able to work it in this year at all. I bought the vehicle for towing our camping trailer, and want it ready before spring. So I went with my second choice, but expect that he will do a fine job.
 

HotWheelsBurban

Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
9,686
Reaction score
17,572
Location
Houston, Texas
When we picked up our Burb from the collision repair shop before Christmas, the bill for replacing the right front fender, grille, bumper and lenses on the right side, plus repainting the fender and R&R on everything, was over $2500(which thankfully Allstate paid since the wreck was not our fault, the guilty party admitted responsibility AND they had insurance!). I asked about repainting the roof and hood on the crew cab(clearcoat has faded pretty much away). The service writer said they could do it for $2000....
 

someotherguy

I'm Awesome
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
Messages
9,793
Reaction score
14,144
Location
Houston TX
Sounds about what I'd expect for a decent quality full paint job with minimal bodywork, and quality materials. Good move on the clearcoat. Hopefully your painter is also considering how well the clearcoat choice works with the base - most paint guys worth a damn know what plays well together for long-lasting results.

Every now and then somebody bugs me about selling the SS, and I've thought about it here and there, but I probably put as much money into bodywork and paint than I paid for the truck in the first place; I pretty much need to drive the wheels off it to get a decent ROI. :Big Laugh:

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


Richard
 

TreeGeared

I'm Awesome
Joined
Apr 18, 2022
Messages
112
Reaction score
194
Location
Ohio
When I had the truck in my avatar painted last year it needed some body work such as cab corners, rockers, and dent repair. Total cost was around $6500 so in the same ballpark as you.

I also had a hard time finding a shop willing to do a full repaint. Even then it took almost 3 months since they were working around insurance work.
 

TonyM

I'm Awesome
Joined
Oct 15, 2020
Messages
155
Reaction score
353
Location
Canada
The profit is low due to the high cost of the materials. Last full paint job I did on a 1999 k1500 suburban lt, just the materials, ONLY PPG, AGAIN ONLY PPG, cost $2000 with masking paper, plastic, tape, edge foam, bc, cc, and primer.
Wow, if you only paid that for materials, you're doing dam good. I realize that's US $$ but thats still cheap by comparison. I actually own a bodyshop and we use RM paint. Onyx HD waterborne (which I hate btw and might be jumping to PPG) and I just ordered a gallon of paint for a customer that's getting a complete paint job, and my cost on the basecoat alone was $1700can. The clear coat alone without any binders is almost $500/gal. Just the primer/base/clear all rts, is close to $3000.

I feel like a Dr. sometimes when I have to give people the news that "refreshing" their old vehicle, because they don't want to spend the money on a new one and get another 5-10 years out of the current one, starts at $8000 and goes up from there
 
Top