this is my 91 rs. I will be posting pictures of the car throughout the course of the painting (sanding, priming, ect.) I plan on starting this week but need to locate a bumper cover and front ground effects before the project can be finished. I would really like some advice though before and as I go through this project. I have all the tools necessary but have never painted a car before so some tips would be greatly appreciated. i was wondering what brands of primer and auto paint i should use? i plan to airbrush the car. also it would be helpful to know if its really worth the time and energy to swap colors? i know that means i have to be much more thorough but do i need to strip the interior and paint inside too and remove all the body panels? original color is a dark blue but id really like a glossy black or arctic white. also i wanted give it custom racing stripes. i wanted them to run from the front ground effects up the hood like the conventional stripes but split apart on the hood go down the fenders just behind the front tires and run the length of the car along the sides. any advice on how to paint these stripes with straight level lines so both sides match up would be awesome as i don't have the slightest clue how to do that.

 

I got $50 that says this wont end well

 

You should seriously consider practicing on a fender or something that's not gonna go on your car

Also, for your first paint job...tackling something like custom stripes is not a good idea, at all...

You would be better off sanding the car down and painting it all one solid color. Try a paint with no shine to it though stay away from flat black as that is one fad I'm looking forward to going away

My neighbor has a 3rd gen Firebird. He did the bottom half flat black and the top half he kept yellow (or vice versa) Looks ok...

 

[quote=blackgloves;5608668]You should seriously consider practicing on a fender or something that's not gonna go on your car

i think i still have the original drivers side fender, replaced it with an aftermarket because it was bent up and wouldn't let the door open all the way. if its still in my garage ill practice on that. thanks.

 

[QUOTE=my91rsproject;5608671]
I know regular type of paint (not air brush) You keep the end of the paint gun around 6 inches away from the surface being painted and keep as steady and even stroke as possible. There are youtube videos. Watch some of them so you can pick up some pointers. Watch how slow/fast they are using the paint gun. Lots of factors play into a quality paint job.

I would rattle can it until you have the money to hire a professional

 

[quote=blackgloves;5608672] i do a lot of sketching and other forms of art so i think i can do ok with the steady even strokes but ill defenitly watch a lot of videos before i start it. thanks.

 

[quote=my91rsproject;5608689]if you want to paint your car paint your car. just know there is a lot to setting up the paint guns, the air pressure on that gun, and the mixing of the paints. do your research. take your time. prep work is key. don't rush it just to get paint on it. good luck. nice drawing btw.

 

[quote=Eddie1986z28;5608710] for sure man i was planning on starting this week but i don't expect to be ready for the first base coat for atleast 3 weeks. some of my dads friends used to be professional car painters back in their day so maybe i can recruit some help thanks.

 

quick update on the progress, its only been a day since ive created this thread but I thought id show everyone what I found today. its not so clear in the pictures of my car but the front bumper cover has some massive cracks the front ground effects are busted apart and im missing the grill. well today I stopped by a junkyard close by and picked up this whole nose for $50 paints pretty good but still needs to be repainted to match the car, no chips, or waves in it and the only crack is a small clean one on the drivers corner of the ground effects (totally repairable) and the grill is still attached not at all damaged. I think I got this for a steal and just in time they crushed the car shortly after I left.

 

Good deal! Another one bites the dust. As many of these cars that are parted each week, its a wonder that there is any left. Hawks third gen goes through numerous cars...each day

good luck, keep us posted

 

I know man there are several junkyards nearby and the stories always "we just crushed it" or "we sold that part" ive been looking for a nose like this for months there not easy to find and when you do find them theyre almost always busted up. thanks bro ill post when the first coat of primers on im thinking ill paint this nose, then the car and assemble afterwards.

 

another update. progress has been slow but im almost done pulling and filling dents. ive been driving it occasionally in the meantime and I noticed that when I lay on the gas from a complete stop theres a noticeable and powerful jerk almost like its shifting hard. looked the car over real quick tranny fluid isn't low but it smells burnt so im thinking my transmissions on its last leg. I will continue with the painting as planned but if the transmission goes this whole project may need to be put on hold until I can replace it this is my only car and im dependent on it to get to work aside from the week I plan to be painting it.

 

as for your bumper cover, the front clip looks like it is cracked, the bottom spoiler is shot, CamaroCentral.com sells the bottom spoiler and clip seperate, the clip is about $499 and the front spoiler,(bottom piece on the front end) sells for $200, i am pretty sure they sell bumper covers as well, but they dont look as good. for the money you would spend on the cover, your better off buying the parts, only website i have been able to find at a resonable price. Keep me updated on how everything goes!

Kolba

 

My dad painted a camaro in a home made plastic paint booth in our driveway for his first paint job with a 3 stage candy paint. A lot of people said that wouldn't end well. Ignore those people.
RESEARCH EVERYTHING, then do it again.. Take your time with everything.
Know what grit sand paper to use, Mix ratios, Dry times, optimal temp to paint in ect.
Brand x base coat might react weird with brand y primer. Other times they work fine. sticking with 1 brand for everything might be your best bet. There are alot of options out there.
Paint gun set up is a huge part especially with metallics and candies.
Practice on old parts a few times.
There are also some good painting forums out there that might help.
EDIT: Oh and mix in a flex agent or else the paint may not hold up well on the bumpers.

 

Doubt anyone still follows this post, its been an eternity since my last update but the cat is painted and im doing sanding and touchups rights now. Will post more pictures shortly but this is all I got right now and its too dark outside to take more. it looks good from 10 ft

 

We would love to see some other shots of the finished product.

We all love a "finished" project, although it can be said we never finish.

 

More pictures on the way im almost done sanding the orange peel out. The bumper covers will need to be sprayed again unfortunately