Paint it yourself.

Honestly.

It's WAY easier than you think. It seems complicated but its just a bunch of really little easy things you have to learn. The most skill you'll need with normal paint is being able to sand. Read up on it, try it. If you fail you can redo it about 9 times before it costs the same as a macco paint job.

Painting is mainly sanding. Buy a good orbital sander and you're set. If there is alot of paint or you want a high end job, take it down to the metal. Old filler should be replaced, you don't know how well of a job the last guy did.
Then expoy primer, finish filler, and you're basicly good to go. It gets more complex with candies and pearls, but not much.

It's easy enough you'll kick yourself not considering to pay someone else to do it when you're done. Not to mention it is the FUNNIEST part of the whole build! You get to see it all come together, plus the pride of doing it yourself! Almost all the work is in the prep, might as well do the best part! It's like spending all day setting up a high-def state of the art entertainment system and not watching anything on it yourself.

I used this gun to paint my car, if I was painting 100 cars I'd upgrade, but it worked beautifully with the primer, sealer, base, candy and clear. (the $130 one)

FinishLine HVLP StartingLine Kit and Starter Kit

 

The big problem with painting it yourself is owning a big enough compressor to do the job. The newer HVLP guns require a lot less air, but you still will not have enough with any 110V compressor on the market. Next problem is the fumes. Many of the modern paints (most any 2 part mix) are highly toxic and require a full face mask with outside supplied air to make sure you live to enjoy your paint job. There are places that rent out their paint booths, you just supply the gun and paint (and labor), but I doubt you could find one less expensive than a Macco job. As said the biggest downfall with a cheap paint job is the prep work. Most of their painters paint so many cars that they get pretty good at it. If they produce a lot of redos and touchups, they don't paint for long.

 

The big problem with painting it yourself is owning a big enough compressor to do the job. The newer HVLP guns require a lot less air, but you still will not have enough with any 110V compressor on the market. Next problem is the fumes. Many of the modern paints (most any 2 part mix) are highly toxic and require a full face mask with outside supplied air to make sure you live to enjoy your paint job. There are places that rent out their paint booths, you just supply the gun and paint (and labor), but I doubt you could find one less expensive than a Macco job. As said the biggest downfall with a cheap paint job is the prep work. Most of their painters paint so many cars that they get pretty good at it. If they produce a lot of redos and touchups, they don't paint for long.

 

I say do it yourself, I did it on my 60. The hardest part of a paint job is literally prepping. And like they said, once it's done, you appreciate what you've done with the truck.

To take the paint off quickly, buy some aircraft remover. It's nasty stuff but it makes short work of paint. just make sure you wear some long heavy rubber gloves. Luckily water deactivates it so it all washes off.

 

For the cost and time saved, also soda blasting might be an option. It will remove all the paint down and you can leave your windows, trim, and everything else in place as it just washes away. But be prepared for hours and hours of sanding. We just rolled a 67 mustang out of the booth this morning at 7am. Had about 80 hours of prep/sanding work done, and 28 hours of paint. Now, sand 4 more times and polish 2 times. About another 20 hours. And thats with 3 people working on it.

It is fun though. To see that shine after you have done all the work. Like someone else already mentioned, there are booths for rent. I am a professional car builder and we don't even have our own booth. Its cheaper for us to rent one at $150 a day, then have one built and bring the building up to code.

I had a car done by Maaco once before. The orange peel was horrendous. For a cheap paint job that is not going to be in shows, its ok I guess.

 

I realize that painting your own car may be scary and dirty....but painting is something you can always do again......and most paintjobs are done more than once.
I have sprayed my share and you can paint anywhere you can...garage/driveway/shop/paintbooth.....just realize that dream you have to fullfill and how much dirt you are wiling to sand out and respray.
I just coached my 17 yr.old neighbor with his 69falcon,and it came out real nice. It is acrylic enamel with hardener,and it has high gloss,and very little dirt and he sprayed it in the driveway.
Most guys don't do it this way,but he had little cash and no garage,to use.
So if you prep it nice,and make sure the day will be calm and warm,and no neighbors hanging out their laundry...go for it......LOL
Painting is an ART and many pros paint differently. Patience is a virtue and read the cans of paint and primers for directions and you will be greatly rewarded.
Bill