"he's already been paid," you my friend are pretty much scuppered.
Body work/paint work at the best of times a disappointing process.....A fast turnover shop will do a cheap fast job that looks ok from 10 feet. A quality shop will cost more than the car is worth except for real high end cars. Doing it yourself until it is time to spray might help....
for 2K you can get a car prepped and spayed but it won't be anything more than adequate....
paid 2K for body/paint on my 220, they got the color wrong, they had to re-spray, then they got fish eye...they had to rub down and re-spray, final job was alright but I don't think the primer was done right as the paint will chip off to easily....did not pay a cent til it was all done....If I paid up front, pretty sure the wrong color would have been all I got.
Best bet may be to be there often offering to help move the job along
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Patrick, '68 220 , '53 GMC 4104, '97 VW Transporter.