"Flame Red" Failed paint?
#1
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Car: 1989 Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 5.7L 350
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
"Flame Red" Failed paint?
On my 1989 Firebird, I have the color option called "Flame Red". As you can see, it is very worn out.
When I purchased the car, I asked if the paint had been exposed to a lot of sunlight and heat. He said that it was, but the contributing factor was that the paint style they had used that year had a faulty overcoat.
I was just wondering if that was true? The car is great except for the paint, and it doesn't bother me much (makes me feel like a teenager still), but it'd be interesting to know the details...
When I purchased the car, I asked if the paint had been exposed to a lot of sunlight and heat. He said that it was, but the contributing factor was that the paint style they had used that year had a faulty overcoat.
I was just wondering if that was true? The car is great except for the paint, and it doesn't bother me much (makes me feel like a teenager still), but it'd be interesting to know the details...
#2
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
Yep, the original factory paint on 3rd gen is notorious for clear coat peeling and color fade. Yours is pretty typical of what you find on a lot of 3rd gens with original paint unless they were kept garaged and out of the weather most of their lives.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
On my 1989 Firebird, I have the color option called "Flame Red". As you can see, it is very worn out.
When I purchased the car, I asked if the paint had been exposed to a lot of sunlight and heat. He said that it was, but the contributing factor was that the paint style they had used that year had a faulty overcoat.
I was just wondering if that was true? The car is great except for the paint, and it doesn't bother me much (makes me feel like a teenager still), but it'd be interesting to know the details...
When I purchased the car, I asked if the paint had been exposed to a lot of sunlight and heat. He said that it was, but the contributing factor was that the paint style they had used that year had a faulty overcoat.
I was just wondering if that was true? The car is great except for the paint, and it doesn't bother me much (makes me feel like a teenager still), but it'd be interesting to know the details...
#4
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Car: SOLD IT. Mopar guy only now.
Engine: gone
Transmission: gone
Axle/Gears: gone
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
clear coats peel. any clear coat. sun does damage. if the car isn't kept inside the majority of the time your clear coat isn't going to last forever.
also burgundy/this color red has one of the higher color fade. just the way it is. get her painted and enjoy or don't get her painted and enjoy!
#5
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Car: 1989 Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 5.7L 350
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I will inevitably paint her, just kind of interesting to know the history of this stuff.
I'm not planning on selling it since it's my first car. Just the tradition in my family to keep classics and work on them for the remainder of our lives.
I'm not planning on selling it since it's my first car. Just the tradition in my family to keep classics and work on them for the remainder of our lives.
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Car: 1971 Camaro
Engine: 427
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
24 year old paint on a driver, yeah, its gonna fade and ear away.
Imagine how many times it has been washed, waxed over the years.
Not too mention the drastic changes in sun and temperature it has seen.
Good looking color, will look great with a fresh coat.
Imagine how many times it has been washed, waxed over the years.
Not too mention the drastic changes in sun and temperature it has seen.
Good looking color, will look great with a fresh coat.
#7
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
My black 89 was all primer gray on its top surfaces when it was 2 yrs old.
Due to the wonderful restrictions by our government paint quality took a dive for awhile.
Due to the wonderful restrictions by our government paint quality took a dive for awhile.
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#8
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
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Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I had original Original white paint up to about 4 months ago and I thought the paint was fine until I put on a new front bumper cover and right front fender on,when the shop tried to feather in the paint it was surely old and faded but the clearcoat was still intact so I had the whole car repainted.
#9
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Car: 1989 Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 5.7L 350
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I'm probably going to paint the car silver when I get enough cash to do it. I like the color now, but it's always been my dream to own a silver car from the third-gen era, whether that be a Camaro or Firebird.
Plus I have orange racing seats. That would look killer with a silver exterior.
Plus I have orange racing seats. That would look killer with a silver exterior.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
Ugh.. keep it the orginal color! Its good looking when done properly. It's also cheaper than doing a complete color change.
Its also a color thats not seen much on 350 cars. Yours is the 2nd or 3rd Ive seen in 20 yrs or so.
Orange racing seats???? Y, school colors????
Its also a color thats not seen much on 350 cars. Yours is the 2nd or 3rd Ive seen in 20 yrs or so.
Orange racing seats???? Y, school colors????
Last edited by TTOP350; 02-15-2013 at 04:25 PM.
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Car: SOLD IT. Mopar guy only now.
Engine: gone
Transmission: gone
Axle/Gears: gone
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
Hmm. I have seen it a lot. I got one sitting here at the shop right now
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I agree 100%! Paint it the original color. With modern paint, it'll look great and last a long time if you take care of it.
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Car: 1971 Camaro
Engine: 427
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
Agreed, great color, keep it!
As stated, a color change, done right takes a lot more, time, effort, and cash, especialy if you're paying someone to do it.
A color change without jamming, just looks embarassing.
I'm going to repaint again, in a fee years, thought about going to that color, but might go back to the original bright red.
As stated, a color change, done right takes a lot more, time, effort, and cash, especialy if you're paying someone to do it.
A color change without jamming, just looks embarassing.
I'm going to repaint again, in a fee years, thought about going to that color, but might go back to the original bright red.
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Car: 89 Formula 350
Engine: Forged 385 H/C/I
Transmission: 700R4-4300 Stall-lockup
Axle/Gears: BW 9 Bolt 3:70
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
here's my 89 Formula 350 in the same color...I converted to 91-92 nose...I like the color and haven't see it to much.
#21
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Car: 1987 TA GTA, 1987 IROC 1988 Formula
Engine: 350 tpi/305 tpi/350 tbi
Transmission: All have 700r4's
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt with 3:73's
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I agree on keeping it flame red, to do a correct repaint in silver would be a pain. If you want silver just paint the lower part of the car silver
#22
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 350 TPI RAMJET COMING
Transmission: T56
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I had a flame red plain jane LG4 1986 Z-28 then a loaded 1987 flame red 350 TPI IROC I like the color but it never really got any respect.. ...people always said why didn't you get red or black? what I wanted was Yellow but couldn't find one. And I didn't want red or black.
#24
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
I have heard there arn't many formula 350s in that color but thats unconfirmed.
#25
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Car: 1989 Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 5.7L 350
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
Nope. I just like orange.
#26
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Car: 1987 T/A WS6 T-Tops/92 RS
Engine: LB9/3.1
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73/3.23
Re: "Flame Red" Failed paint?
What he said. My TA is flame red and would not ever want to change it. My paint is faded as well, but not as bad as some I seen. A color change is always going to be a ton more work and money if done right.
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