Painter with final finish work

[Cobrakit]

Hello! My name is James and I live in the Nashville area. I’m getting close to finishing up the final touches on my MK4 before it’s ready for paint. I’m looking for someone to do the paint and final assembly as far as body fitting, emblems and windshield. Prefer close to the east coast. I’ve found a few painters, but nobody that is willing to do the finish work. Any help is appreciated! Thanks

[rich grsc]

No mater who you find, they are going to be busy and backed up. Jeff Kleiner might be the closest to you, but I'm thinking he is booked almost a year out. Search for him here on the forum.

[Jeff Kleiner]

All painters are different. Some don’t even mount doors, hood and trunk. In my case I perform full final assembly on every one that I paint. I tell my customers “All you need to do to complete the exterior is screw on the license plate.” That said I couldn’t take you on until next year. I know Whitby can and will do it all although I think he also has a long lead time but give him a call.

Jeff

[Cobrakit]

Jeff, you do amazing work and I’d love to have you work on my car! I have a friend that has been on your list for well over two years and I just can’t see myself waiting that long. Thanks

[philg]

Check with Mike Everson
katam25@comcast.net

[CaptB]

Jeff, you do amazing work and I’d love to have you work on my car! I have a friend that has been on your list for well over two years and I just can’t see myself waiting that long. Thanks

Me too. I would, without hesitation, have Jeff do it but I can't wait that long!

[Cobrakit]

Check with Mike Everson
katam25@comcast.net

Thanks I’ll check with him!

[nuhale]

Check out spotlight customs in Dahlonega, GA. Mike is a great guy to work with.
678-316-9231

[Cobrakit]

Check out spotlight customs in Dahlonega, GA. Mike is a great guy to work with.
678-316-9231

Thanks I’ll check with him as well!

[Cobrakit]

Check with Mike Everson
katam25@comcast.net

Thanks I’ll send him a email. Where is he located?

[rich grsc]

Put the car together, get on a wait list, drive it till it's your turn.

[Cobrakit]

Put the car together, get on a wait list, drive it till it's your turn.

That was the plan originally, but I know that if the windshield is not mounted exactly right it could crack and the cutouts for the exhaust are rubbing on the body.

[phileas_fogg]

Hey James,

Installing the windshield & getting the cutouts close is pretty straightforward. If you built the car, you can do these tasks.

There are lots of posts about installing the the windshield & keeping the frame stress-free. In addition, get a paint stick & cut two 1" long pieces. Use those pieces as shims to rest the windshield frame on when you do the installation (you'll need a helper for the other side post). When you've got the bolts snug, slip the shims out & the frame will "float" above the body. Be sure to drill & tap the side posts to make installation easy peasy.

For the cutouts, take 1/16" off at a time using a paint stick wrapped in sandpaper (you'll be amazed at how easily sandpaper shapes the fiberglass). Or you can use a small drum sander chucked in your hand drill.

This work will only take a day or two, and then you'll be driving & smiling so much everyone will wonder what you're up to!


John

[egchewy79]

as John said, open the windshield openings enough so it's not rubbing on the post and slowly enlarge the side pipe openings so they just clear. if you find a body and paint guy, they'll do it the rest of the way. I know JKleiner prefers that you don't start any of your own bodywork as it sometimes makes for more work for him on the back end. I've been on his list for a bit (hopefully short list at this point) but plan on driving in gelcoat until I get the green light to come over.

[Cobrakit]

Hey James,

Installing the windshield & getting the cutouts close is pretty straightforward. If you built the car, you can do these tasks.

There are lots of posts about installing the the windshield & keeping the frame stress-free. In addition, get a paint stick & cut two 1" long pieces. Use those pieces as shims to rest the windshield frame on when you do the installation (you'll need a helper for the other side post). When you've got the bolts snug, slip the shims out & the frame will "float" above the body. Be sure to drill & tap the side posts to make installation easy peasy.

For the cutouts, take 1/16" off at a time using a paint stick wrapped in sandpaper (you'll be amazed at how easily sandpaper shapes the fiberglass). Or you can use a small drum sander chucked in your hand drill.

This work will only take a day or two, and then you'll be driving & smiling so much everyone will wonder what you're up to!


John

Thanks for the information John!

[BadAsp427]

Check out spotlight customs in Dahlonega, GA. Mike is a great guy to work with.
678-316-9231

I can 2nd this. I've transported several cars down to Mike. He does great work. I know he has a bit of a que right now. But you should contact him directly as things change daily with that que.

[Cobrakit]

I can 2nd this. I've transported several cars down to Mike. He does great work. I know he has a bit of a que right now. But you should contact him directly as things change daily with that que.

Thanks!

[Alec]

I visited Mike Bowen at Spotlight Customs a few weeks ago. He told me he has about 1 year-long wait to get a car into the shop as well.

[frd2]

Nobody has mentioned it - but with record FFR sales recently, I bet painters familiar with these cars are tied up for some time!

[Build14fun]

Check out spotlight customs in Dahlonega, GA. Mike is a great guy to work with.
678-316-9231

Mike painted mine and I'm very pleased with him and his work. Great Guy.

[j.miller]

i'M AT ABOUT A 5 MONTH BACKLOG BUT i'M A LONG WAY AND A LOT OF SHIPPING FROM YOU...DA bAT///.....,,L;;POPP[;[[;;'[PL;;;';''[ dang caps LOC. Sorry I was yelling at someone before I replied.....deal with it... da Bat

[Gale K]

1,200-ish mile drive to da Bat, worth the wait!

[Cobrakit]

i'M AT ABOUT A 5 MONTH BACKLOG BUT i'M A LONG WAY AND A LOT OF SHIPPING FROM YOU...DA bAT///.....,,L;;POPP[;[[;;'[PL;;;';''[ dang caps LOC. Sorry I was yelling at someone before I replied.....deal with it... da Bat

You would be a great choice, but a 2,000 mile trip is a massive trip!

[BadAsp427]

I think the key take away from all of this is that there are several paint and body shops that do fantastic work on our Factory Five builds. But, you must get on their list ASAP so that when you are ready, the wait will not be as long. Most of these painters know that things change, as it does for them as well, and flexibility is important. If you starting your build, get on someone's list. It's the same for transport plans. I've had to adjust my plans for individuals to get their cars either dropped off or picked up from the body shop based around their needs.

[michael everson]

My painter only has a backlog of 2 right now. One for me and one for Ron.
Mike

[Alan_C]

As was mentioned, open up the slots for the windshield posts just large enough to clear without contact. The "secret" to minimizing the cracking of the windshield is to properly shim it. Ask me how I know as I went through two before doing it right. McMaster Carr sells shims that you can use to fill the gaps between the windshield posts and the frame. These gaps must be filled with shims, or the equivalent, or tightening the bolts will stress the posts and the windshield. I used a feeler gauge to determine the size of the gaps and then built up shim stacks for each side. I found that the use of a bit of silicone to glue the shims together made the installation a lot easier. The shims I used were slotted making assembly easier.

https://www.mcmaster.com/shims/slotted-shims-7/

[Cobrakit]

As was mentioned, open up the slots for the windshield posts just large enough to clear without contact. The "secret" to minimizing the cracking of the windshield is to properly shim it. Ask me how I know as I went through two before doing it right. McMaster Carr sells shims that you can use to fill the gaps between the windshield posts and the frame. These gaps must be filled with shims, or the equivalent, or tightening the bolts will stress the posts and the windshield. I used a feeler gauge to determine the size of the gaps and then built up shim stacks for each side. I found that the use of a bit of silicone to glue the shims together made the installation a lot easier. The shims I used were slotted making assembly easier.

https://www.mcmaster.com/shims/slotted-shims-7/


Great thanks

[harry5080]

Jeff,
How far out is your current schedule for MK4 paint and body complete job?

[Jimmy B]

Jeff, I am also interested. Thanks.

[rich grsc]

About a yr