First off, if I am posting in the wrong section, please forgive and advise me the proper section....Thanks!

I have a 1st gen with Persimmon Red. I plan on keeping the same color.

It has numerous dings around the entire vehicle with only one dent, which is on the hood and left fender. This is the only place where paint is missing and you can see the primer. There is rust where the dent is on the fender, and that is all the rust I can see.

My first plan is to go to someone who does paintless dent removal and fix as many dings as I can - in hopes of saving a few $$ by not having the bodyshop do it - - thoughts? Am I better to have the shop do ALL the work or doesn't it matter?

When I do the repaint of the entire car, am I best to take the entire car down, or am I ok leaving the original paint where there is not rust. Ideally I imagine it is best to leave as much original as one can, but I didn't know if that would be a bad idea because I do not know what may be under the paint. Can it be rusting UNDER the paint and I won't see it?

So far I was given an estimate of $3000.00 to remove emblems / trim / etc, fix dings, address dent and rust, and paint. - Fair price if done right? I imagine I could save a little by removing as much as I can myself BEFORE turning it in to the shop.

Given the year and how close it is to becoming a classic, will a repaint lower the value?

I know these may sound like novice questions, but I am not familiar with painting procedures / bodywork and am hoping there is someone here who IS.

Lastly if anyone knows of a VERY GOOD (not just "decent") shop to have this done in the SW Florida area let me know. I am in Naples, and I am willing to go as far north as Tampa, and east to Lauderdale / Miami.

Thanks in advance

 

May want to go post this here: https://www.rx7club.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

Mods will probably move the thread there anyway.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/se-rx-7-forum-35/time-repaint-766596/
https://www.rx7club.com/se-rx-7-forum-35/time-repaint-766268/


I can tell you that if you cross-post like that, in three places, no less, you're guaranteed to post in the wrong section(s).

 

Well If You Intrested You Can Pm Me And Give Me Your Number My Cousin Is A Great Painter And Body Guy.and We From Chicago So We Dont Play Like Some Guys I Been Hearing Down Here.,about Been My Cousin Is Real Good.he Starter Im Guessing When He Was About 16 Up North And He Only 28 And He Bad ***, So Pm Me And We Can Talk. You Can Strip To The Metal But Remeber Paint And Primer And Bondo Work Hides Alot Of Dents. Just Pm We Can Talk. He Really Good.