I just bought a 2004 F150 Lariat and the top has a small strip of paint missing with minor rust in it, which I assume is from being left in the rain or something. A body shop just quoted me at $652.50 to fix and I feel like that is really high. Could I repair this myself? should I shop around for a better deal? or is that a good price?

picture below

 

[IMG]<a href="http://s1155.photobucket.com/albums/p560/SicEMLariat04/?action=view&amp;current=roof.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p560/SicEMLariat04/roof.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

 

How nice do you want it? A few vids on youtube could show you how to fix it up well enough.

If you want flawless - nearly perfect work you'll have to pay for it.

Yes you could find a cheaper repair,

Is it a lowrider where your roof is at chest level and everyone can see it?

What I'd do,
Tape it off, grind out the rust and splotched paint, sand it smooth, prime it and spray some rustoleum super gloss white.

And then forget about it.

 

I am over 6' and couldn't see it until it was on a second story looking down. thanks for the advice I'll get some more quotes but probably just end up fixing it myself.

 

If you can't see it, I'd do what he said. It's an 8 year old truck, so I wouldn't want to spend that kind of money.

I'd get a spray can of the Duplicolor matching paint instead of white Rustoleum. Maybe even clear coat it as well.

 

I am in the same boat as you with my 04. I don't have any rust though......considering it doing myself now

 

I'd consider some tremclad in a can, not a spray can. Park the truck so its level, and pour the tremclad in. It will self level. Don't fill the channel obviously, but a couple small pours 6 hours apart will seal it up nicely. The next day, brush some touch up paint on it.

 

That seems kind of high... but for what it's worth, try fixing it yourself. If it don't come out how you like it, then pay.

Painting yourself is always a gamble.

I've painted things before and they come out absolutely perfect... other times, it comes out horrible --- worse than if I just left it alone. It seems as if I put effort into it comes out horrible, and if I don't care it comes out great. Go figure...

I want to get some dings and scratches fixed on my truck next year, but I'm dreading the costs. But I've got a ton of bodyshops to choose from, and I will let them know when I do my "shopping" that, "Hey, you are just another one in my list that I'm getting a quote from.", and they'll be quite competitive. It's different than getting into an accident, and you rely on your truck as your transportation and you need it fixed, and on top of that insurance money is what bodyshops go after. Very few people bring their car/truck into a bodyshop to have just a dent/ding or paint job done. 90% is all insurance/accident related.

You see, what you are trying to do should be cheap in reality -- if you find the right shop. Now, I'm not sure how many bodyshops are in your specific locale.