Truth be told, there are very few shops that are willing to take on an old car or truck paint job. It’s just not that profitable. So when you find one that will, the cost can be eye opening. But it is what it is. They have to make or they go out of business. Me, I am ok with something less than perfection. So I bought a pair of paint guns from Eastwood that were designed for those of us with smaller compressors, and learned how to shoot a little paint. Turns out, with some reasonably decent prep, an easy touch on the base coat and a few coats of clear, by the time I get done, it does not look half bad. Far from perfect but not terrible for hacker work.
Same with the pickings when it comes to a machine shop, really getting thin.
