Paint

[1990_LX]

ok, I'm looking at doing paint and well my budgets not exactly big so it's just going to be primer for a while..Do you need to go all the way down to bare metal? Right now it has a ****ty Maaco paint job and is piss yellow. I have plenty of time so it doesn't matter how long it takes but i just would like to get sanding and make this winter a productive one. Also, i have to relpace one quarter panel, 2 fenders, and the lower radiator support but overall its solid(floor pans, torque boxes, strut towers)

 

[Stunger]

Instead of using primer use a product called Rust Bullet, two thin coats of it. I painted a guy's car once and the guy laid down the coats with a foam roller and was then sanded before I shot at it.

Never leave just primer, is wicks moisture and will rust your clean metal underneath. And yes take it right down to metal and if you have a sprayer you could easily lay down a base coat while the second coat is tack.

If you don't want to get into spraying, the Rust Bullet is fine at sealing the metal, but your car will be a rather nice silver (only color it comes in). Good luck with it.

 

[306notchback]

I am also in the process of doing the body work on my 88 notch! Its not always necessary to go to bare metal, if the existing paint is good u can sand it with like a 400 grit and then paint. On my car I will be stripping it to metal because the paint is old and peeling.
Heres a pic of my roof to bare metal
View attachment 288747

 

[04YELLOWGT]

I'm in the process of painting mine also. My paint was in decent shape so I'm just sanding with 400 grit like 306 said.

If its been panted by Maaco that means it already has two color on it. I would prolly take it down to bare metal or close to it. I would want to know what is under the maaco personally.

 

[1990_LX]

yup, body work is a bitch to do your self or expensive to have done. I know its not necessary to go right to the metal but will it have a better result in the end? also on a side not, is your roof flimsy? is that just the ways fox roofs are?

 

[1990_LX]

I'm in the process of painting mine also. My paint was in decent shape so I'm just sanding with 400 grit like 306 said.

If its been panted by Maaco that means it already has two color on it. I would prolly take it down to bare metal or close to it. I would want to know what is under the maaco personally.

lol is not so much curiosity as it is nervousness to see whats really under it considering the fact that they took off nothing and i do mean nothing prior to painting it.

 

[306notchback]

Yes the fox roofs are flimsy!

 

[306notchback]

yup, body work is a bitch to do your self or expensive to have done. I know its not necessary to go right to the metal but will it have a better result in the end? also on a side not, is your roof flimsy? is that just the ways fox roofs are?

As long as ur existing paint is smooth the results should be just as good, also something to think about is the color of the car close to or the same as what ur going to paint it because if its not it might take alot of coats to cover it!

 

[1990_LX]

no, totally different colors but its light yellow right now..

 

[306notchback]

no, totally different colors but its light yellow right now..

Should be ok then since its a light color it will cover easy!

 

[1990_LX]

so you don't think there is really a benefit to starting with fresh metal?

 

[306notchback]

so you don't think there is really a benefit to starting with fresh metal?

Well I guess it probably best to go to bare metal because u can see whats underneath the paint, and it might be a little thick if u add yours on top of it depending on how thick it already is. I know its work but if it was me I would feel better about taking it to bare metal!

 

[1990_LX]

Well I guess it probably best to go to bare metal because u can see whats underneath the paint, and it might be a little thick if u add yours on top of it depending on how thick it already is. I know its work but if it was me I would feel better about taking it to bare metal!

yeah, lol 3 layers of different colored paint may be a bit much.

 

[cenok is family]

i take almost all the cars i work on to bare metal. here's how my car's been for about a month

 

[1990_LX]

yeah, i figured that there is no rush, its not a daily driver so i might as well take my time and do it right. How much would it cost to have a quarter panel installed? It's like 150 for the panel and i can only imagine how much for the labor. ****ing NY snow and huge ass globs of salt.

 

[1990_LX]

how much primer do you think I'll need to do the whole car?

 

[smokin joe]

You might want to consult a professional body shop in your area to ask about how much primer you need. I have been out of the body shop for too long to remember.

I did help a friend of mine repaint his Vette about five years ago and we blocked it three times to get it straight.

I agree that you do not need to take it to bare metal.

One thing that you do need to consider is that paint like everything else adds weight to the car, so the closer to bare metal the less weight. Also you can correct bad body work if there is any.

 

[1987stangman]

Yes the fox roofs are flimsy!

I was about to ask the same question. I did notice that my 87' GT's roof seems less flemsy than the 91' 4 cyl LX I just bought. I agree Maaco's jobs are not that great but most people are buying their el-cheapo service advertised on TV. I let them paint my 87' but opted for the 2 stage base and clear. Cost me a good bit but it still looks good even 4 years later. That came out good but there are a few issues I had with some of their body work. I just started in body and paint last year and if I had a car that was painted with maacos cheap package I would take it down to bare so I could see any old body work that they may have done. Make sure u use some guide coat before you spray the base.