@BigDaddy89
I ended up going with Earl Scheib. I know it sounds crazy, but corporate went out of business a few years ago, and any franchisee was allowed to continue using the name. So... the shop near me is run by some pretty talented painters.
The more I thought about taking my cruiser to Reno or Carson city, and how I was going to find rides, being 100 miles away from checking on it, etc. made me look local.
A friend of mine recommended a Macco near me. He'd said he'd seen a lot of good looking paint jobs come out of it. I went and got an estimate, and for some minor body work and base & clear paint job, they wanted $4500, and they only guaranteed the paint job for 90 days.
When I checked Earl Scheib, the quote came in at $2200! Plus, they guarantee the paint for 6 years. They also did 2 coats of clear, and for an extra $500 they did a wetsand and buff (looks way better than without it). They had a couple of cars they had just finished, and they looked great.
Remove as much trim as possible before taking it in. I pulled the grill and bezels, vents, and any lights I could and still drive it. That will help with the cost, and make sure there won't be lines around everything. Remember, they want you in and out quickly so they can get paid. The only thing I wish I would have done was to also pull the bumpers. The rear bumper had some paint worn off near the bumper end, so they just masked the bumper and sprayed. So it doesn't look that great there, but you really have to look for that spot.
Bottom line for me was I didn't need a show paint job. I don't need it to be perfect. It if was, I'd be too nervous to park anywhere let alone take it on a trail ever again.
I think it turned out great. I keep it in the garage most of the time, and hopefully I'll get a good 10 years out of it (if not longer).
Check my Instagram page for more pics... allthingswooden
