I am just finishing the restoration on my 72. Most of the exterior metal has been replaced, fenders, hood, quarters, and the paint has been removed from the rest. I am going to start getting estoimates but I thought I'd ask, what can I expect to spend?

 

no limits on cost....

but if you really "use" your bronco i would not get carried away with cost.
paint job wont last..

 

dodmort is right here.... You can trash a paint job your first time on a trail.

But it also sound like you have really put some money into the metal......

Here is where you will spend money.... with the tub off the truck and upside down.... epoxy prime the whole bottom with at good epoxy primer, if you go BASF glazurite, the paint alone is money. The get the the 3M seam sealer gun and spray seam sealers in the quarters and where the door strikers are too, starting at the bottom and working up, coat the whole thing. Hit the front area near the door posts as well. Hit all the weld stitches too while you are in the neighborhood. Re apply primer to the tub and get the inside area of the fenders, and backside of the hood and grill as well. Apply top coat to all these items and clearcoat if needed.

Flip the body onto the truck, mask off the areas you already painted, hang the doors and windshield and do the inside and outside.

Hang the fenders, grill and hood, hardtop and finish the paint.

Install interior and glass.......

That is and A1 resto paintjob. If you get a place capable and willing to do that , the paint part alone will be at least 7-10K. If you have a budget.... skimp on the topcoat. The priming and sealing protects the work... the rest makes it look pretty

 

Metalman--Hope not to take this off topic too far! Suppose this could be linked to PRE-PAINT
I have a 72 and most of the problems have a parts or patch available. I have done a search and cannot come up with any new parts or patches or even much info on the window frames (welded to door frame on 72's). Cant even find any info on the earlier bolt on window frames except thats what they were.

Mine are rusted right at the weld. I would be interested in if you had this problem and how you handled it------Then Paint! Hope I havnt hijacked too badly!

 

I think until I do a body off restoration, I'm going to do my own paint job.

 

I just priced one to just paint, no body work BC/CC $1500. That will give you a starting point.
benshere: No replacements available, best bet is find a set of used doors with good window frames. Drill out the spot welds and replace. You can make them removable at the same time.

 

One thing I've learned from restoring dozens of cars/trucks over the past 40+ years is.

Whatever you estimate the costs to be, double it, then add another 10-20%.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I have several estimates and they range from a low of $1500 and one week to $3100 and six weeks. I think I am leaning toward the higher end paint, I have put a lot of work in this truck and it will not see the trails a lot. Not because I don't want to, I just don't know any good places around Atlanta.

 

If your not going to see the trails a lot, or most of your trails aren't covered in brush, Get a good high end paint job. It'll be stronger, last longer and look better. If you think your gonna wheel a bunch.... don't paint it. the only thing uglier then an unpainted truck, is a nicely painted truck with nasty gouges/scratches in the paint.