Body General body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modifications.

colors that hide imperfections.

Old 04-25-2006, 01:24 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Dracul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Connellsville, Pa
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1983 Camaro z28
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 5spd
colors that hide imperfections.

As i get closer to getting ready for paint, i'm realy getting stuck on a color choice.. 1st i was going to go corvette blue, then i got set on black since i'm going to tint and put light covers on it and totally black it out.. but i was talking to the guy that's gonna paint it for me yesterday and he said i might want to reconsider black since its hard to paint and will show body work..

both of us are doing the body work on the car, this is my first time ever doing any body work and i think he's done it a few times, and this will be the 3rd or 4th time he's painted a car.

so going by all of this, what are my choices for colors if i want to hide any screwups in the bodywork or the paintjob?
Old 04-25-2006, 01:28 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (45)
 
Stevo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 3,970
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: Pair of 92 Z28s
white does a pretty good job...
Old 04-25-2006, 01:31 PM
  #3  
TGO Supporter

iTrader: (2)
 
Jim85IROC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Readsboro, VT
Posts: 13,574
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
The lighter the color, the more it'll hide. In other words, paint it white if you're not completely confident in the quality of the body work.

Black looks terrible unless the body work is flawless.
Old 04-25-2006, 01:32 PM
  #4  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Dracul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Connellsville, Pa
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1983 Camaro z28
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 5spd
don't wanna go white, my last car was white and i was never happy with it..

would blue or like a gun metal gray show bodywork?
Old 04-25-2006, 01:34 PM
  #5  
TGO Supporter

iTrader: (2)
 
Jim85IROC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Readsboro, VT
Posts: 13,574
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
I'll repeat.

The lighter the color, the more it hides. That's the information you need. Whatever decision you make with that information is entirely up to you.

White is the best, black is the worst. Everything else is somewhere else in the middle. A light silver will obviously be better than dark blue, etc.

If it was me, I'd just make sure the body work wasn't so shoddy. But that's just me. I realize that's not the norm for most thirdgenners.
Old 04-25-2006, 01:39 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (30)
 
BlueZee28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: O'Fallon, MO
Posts: 6,258
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 1991 Z28 convertible built 3/1/1990
Engine: Cammed 6.0L LSX
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: custom Ford 8.8", 4.10 gears
Originally Posted by Jim85IROC
I'll repeat.

The lighter the color, the more it hides. That's the information you need. Whatever decision you make with that information is entirely up to you.

White is the best, black is the worst. Everything else is somewhere else in the middle. A light silver will obviously be better than dark blue, etc.

If it was me, I'd just make sure the body work wasn't so shoddy. But that's just me. I realize that's not the norm for most thirdgenners.
get the body work done right the first time around, and then you can get whatever color you want
Old 04-25-2006, 01:40 PM
  #7  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Dracul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Connellsville, Pa
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1983 Camaro z28
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 5spd
yeah, i'm gonna try to get the body as good as possible i'm just trying to have a backup plan incase i don't do something right.
Old 04-25-2006, 01:56 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
 
TheWesman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's true, the lighter the color the better bad body work is hidden.

Also, there is a opposite side also. Darker colors hide shooting paint in dirty environments and lighter colors show dirty spraying more. (i.e. the garage).

TheWesman
Old 04-25-2006, 02:42 PM
  #9  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Dracul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Connellsville, Pa
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1983 Camaro z28
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 5spd
well that makes my decision even harder since its getting painted in a garage which is far from the clean level of a good paintbooth..
Old 04-25-2006, 02:49 PM
  #10  
TGO Supporter

iTrader: (2)
 
Jim85IROC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Readsboro, VT
Posts: 13,574
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
I have not found lighter colors to be any more susceptable to showing dust and other debris in the paint. Either way, wetsanding and buffing the paint will eliminate all but the most obscene debris anyway. Since the basecoat goes on fairly dry, it's very unlikely that you'll have any dust or debris issues... it's almost always in the clearcoat, and as long as you lay that on good and heavy, you'll have enough there to be able to safely wetsand and buff the finished product.
Old 04-25-2006, 05:35 PM
  #11  
Junior Member

 
Formulabruce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"if it aint right, paint it white"

still can shine but will not show warping as bad
Old 04-25-2006, 06:06 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
purpleZ-28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Springfield, Oregon
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 85 Z28, 88 GTA, 68 Cutlass S
Engine: 305TPI X2 ;), Chevy 250
Transmission: T5, 700R4, powerslide >:(
Axle/Gears: posi, and posi w/discs :D.
black will be the worst at showing body work, like mentioned above. black is a witch because it gets dirty very easily, and it will show any inperfections. white is another color that gets dirty as hell. but it wont show the inperfections so much. if your doing the body work yourself, try and get the work done right. obviously though if its your first time doing this kinda stuff your going to have problems, and thats ok. another thing to think about is whos painting it. if someone is painting your car that doesnt have much expiereince dont use a mettalic color. its very easy to mess up a metallic job if you inexpierienced. i think a good medium between black, and white, and metallic may be silver. its a super sleek look if you can pull it off too.
Old 04-25-2006, 06:58 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
r0nin89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Point Pleasant, NJ
Posts: 633
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1987 Chevy Stepside
Engine: 350 TBI w/ a Cam
Transmission: 3 Speed Stick w/ granny low
Dont forget the lighter the color the less scratches it will also show. So if you drive in areas where theres alot of debris like sand and pebbles on the road go for a lighter color also.
Old 04-25-2006, 07:17 PM
  #14  
Member
 
theboilermaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 camaro sc
Engine: 357 w/ cc qjet
Transmission: 700 r4
if you paint it white be prepared to wash it ALOT
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Linson
Auto Detailing and Appearance
25
09-25-2021 07:55 PM
Bubbajones_ya
Auto Detailing and Appearance
24
10-25-2015 08:01 PM
PAFORM350
Wheels and Tires
2
10-02-2015 07:21 PM
Linson
Auto Detailing and Appearance
12
10-01-2015 09:50 PM
Dragonsys
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
2
09-25-2015 03:51 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: colors that hide imperfections.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:40 AM.