Thread: Houston Area body-shop needed.

We don't have a "Body" Section, so "Off Topic" it is.... Now that I think about it, I am posting this in the Regional Section as well. I fully realize that it is posted twice, however, I will leave it at that. Sort of like a "For Sale" Thread, I would assume (yes, I can diagram "assume") that posting this twice will be acceptable.

My Classic was in a wreck in March 2007. It is currently being restored, reborn, and resurrected. I have a pile of parts (G-Spec) up to my eyeballs. I have already paid my mechanical shop with cash in advance of the work to be done.

I need a reputable, dead honest, high-quality, body-shop in the Houston Area to fix my beloved Classic.

See thread below for pictures of the damage:

http://www.sr20forum.com/general-sr20/184843-car-nage-pics-body-experts-please.html

I want the front end damage fixed to OEM. Frame (yes, I know it's a unibody) pulled straight if necessary. New OEM Superblack paint. Sunroof either replaced with a seam-welded in panel, or one of the Bolt-In-Bars sunroof panels (which I already purchased with this eventuality in mind). I will source a non-sunroof headliner from a junkyard and have it re-covered and installed. While doing the work, the body-shop will be installing an IKEA brace. All windows and glass to be removed and reinstalled, I have all new window trim, seals, and door seals via G-Spec.

I am *guessing* that I will be dropping between 2K and 4K on the body-shop. Yes, I know that is technically worth more than the vehicle, and I do not give a rats ass. I want MY Classic back on the road, I'm an Original Owner, and The Badger will be fixed, fixed right, and putting big smiles back on my face. Cost be damned to a certain extent. I am not looking for a 6-10K custom 18-layer paintjob. The body-work must all be superbly done to OEM specifications, the paint can be a "good quality" paint-job, but does not have to be Pebble Beach Concours level painting. My Classic will be a Daily Driver again, subject to road debris, bugs, and general hard-driving. Nor will the vehicle be in a garage, at least not for the next several months to a year.

The body-shop will NOT be doing the mechanical work. They will repair the body damage and primer the vehicle. The vehicle will then be dropped off at my mechanics shop for the engine-bay work and new parts to be installed, tested, and then the vehicle road-tested. The vehicle will then be returned to the body-shop for final painting.

Afterwhich, I will finally have my Classic back under my ass where it belongs.

Who knows a reputable, high-quality, honest body-shop in Houston?

Yo Bro,
You should contact Mario's Paint and Body in Richmond, TX. Talk directly with Mario and tell him Joe sent ya. You get great warranty on workmanship and paint. They are a little pricey but the work is stellar hands down.
see?

how much was that paint job? i'm the new owner of a certain forumer's nx, but it needs new paint and i'd definitely like a decent job like yours there. (not that i'd be driving to texas, i'm just curious on a price)

that's beautiful as hell... can't wait to get mine looking as good.

Thanks for the compliment!
Hey there. I paid about 3200 for the paint job on my NX. It's guranteed for 5 years against fading and workmanship defects. I had both door pillars repaired, they had rust. They even went as far as to make drain holes in the pillars so water wouldn't collect. 200 went towards remounting the windshield. With no rust work, you should expect to pay about 2500 for a quality paint job imho.

thanks for the info from an oversensitive n00b, hehe

man for that much money (2k-4k) you havent found anyone or called around to estimate repairs there locally at all? Houston is a lot bigger than dfw and there are body shops galore out my way!

I am sure you can bring it to some shop here in ft worth or find something down that way for the price your looking for. Hell if you got all the parts on hand im sure a gathering of us could just bang it out for you in the driveway...

Have you tried taking the body stuff off and getting in there yourself? Id do as much as I could before I took it to the shop, the less they have to deal with, the easier it will be on your wallet.

LMK how everything turns out and good luck. If you cant find anything down there ill start asking around up here and one way or another you will have this thing back on the road in pristine condition.

(hope this isnt a late post and your already having her fixed, in which case GOOD FOR YOU!)

-Aaron