I've decided that, since I've got access to all of the necessary supplies: two nice guns, a nice compressor, a paint booth and furniture finishing and spraying experience (who knows how helpful that will be ), I'm going to paint my '86. However, before I go to it, I have a couple of simple questions to which I had difficultly finding answers with the search function:
1.) I realize that I should use flex agent on my rubber parts, but I've heard that using too much can alter the colour of the paint which would cause my bumpers not to match the rest of my car. Is this true?

2.) I'm contemplating painting my first car with some nice paint that may require some relatively fine prep sanding if it's not going to look like garbage. (Chrysler Platinum) Like I said, I have a lot of experience prepping and finishing various expensive hardwoods, but I'm afraid it's not the same. That being said, I do know a few people who have painted cars for a living that might be able to come check out my work, but will definitely not be willing to help without being paid. (Which I really can't afford to do unless it is in beer ) Do you think that I should go with a colour like this in which small dings, etc. will be obvious, or should I start with an easier colour, e.g. red?

If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading.

 

I successfully painte my engine bay satin black during the last motor change without any problems, so changing colours shouldn't be an issue at all. However, I'm wondering if I should pull the hood and mask off the entire engine bay in order to obtain perfect coverage in the driprails/hood edges, etc. I'm going to paint the underside of the hood anyways, so...