There is no cheap paint option actually.   Paint is expensive.   I just
spent ~$250 for materials to paint a smallish motorcycle, and that was not
the most expensive paint option.   And then there was the 3 full days (32
man-hours) of sanding to get the surfaces ready for primer....the prep work
is dependent on what is there to begin with, but as is often said, the
paint job fully depends on the prep. being done just right....
   A vanagon would probably take at least 5 times as much paint...probably
not so much prep time because of the body shape lending itself to using
power sanders.

   Kids are now using a product (or variation there-of) called
Plasti-coat,   This crap you can put on fairly easily, without extensive
prep, and it supposedly sticks and looks OK.....I just painted another moto
that was done this way, and it was really really hard to get that crap
off...If someone is looking for an alternative to a real paint job that
product might be worth taking a look at....The bike I just finished was
'flat black'  finished and I rode it for a few months like that.  I was
amazed at the way that finish shed dirt, stains and resisted scratching.
For an off road or a hard-used van it might be good.
  Don Hanson

On Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 9:10 AM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:

> Jon,
>
> I am also in Huntsville, AL.
>
> David Allen Body Shop did some great work for me many years ago but I don't
> know if he still has the same painter. And the key is the painter more than
> the shop.
>
> Then there's Maaco who is famous for their el-cheapo paint jobs but the
> truth is they will do whatever you are willing to pay for & they can do
> quality work.
>
> The real cost is not in the paint, but in the prep. A proper paint job with
> prep can easily cross $2000. And most of these guys will not paint over
> sprayed on primer because they don't know what the primer is made of, so
> check with the shop you want to use first before doing anything to the
> body.
>
> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
>
>