Well, this is my first post here, and I just wanna say that this seems like a really cool and really informative site. I'm (very hopefully) buying a 1983 Camaro soon, and if not, I'll just wait for another 3rd gen.
Anyway, I know next to nothing about car paint. I've been thinking though, and I think I would want to sand down the Camaro I get and just prime it either black or dark gray and leave it like that. I don't know why, but I think the primer alone on a 3rd gen. looks really really good; it gives it a very aggressive look to me. So, does anyone know if this is possible? If so, should I get some clearcoat to put over it? Is this even a good idea, and if not, what can I do to get that color/look? Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks especially if you can answer me.

 

If you want a primer look, I would suggest at least just spraying it single stage flat black paint. It will come out a lil better looking than primer since there is no black primer, just really dark gray.

 

You definitely need to put some clear over that primer. Primer itself is porous and holds in moisture, this leads to rust. You can also buy a semi-gloss two stage paint. In fact, there are a few users on here with flat black cars. But you really shouldn't just leave it primered.

 

Ok, thats what I was wondering. The car I hope to get is a flat black right now, but the paint is a bit rough. About how much do you guys think it would cost to get a flat black paintjob?

 

500$ at cheapest to have someone else do it

 

DP90 and you will be fine.

two good coats of DP90 Primer/sealer to give it that nice satin black vintage hot rod look. Its a epoxy primer.

 

Dp 90 flat black is the best way for sure. I did this paintjob myself cost me about $200 for all of it.

 

haha, i remember when i had just got my sportcoupe back in '04, and it was about 5 different colors. I took ten cans of rustoleum satin black, and except for the blotchiness look from the rattlecan, i loved it!

now its got a black interior, viper red paint, zr1 rims, and a crate engine, but here's its more humble days.

 

Same story here i have no pics right now, but i too love the flat black look, but I think im going to get it painted to sell it for more

 

Same her, rustoleum flat satin black. I LOVE the way it looks. Another benefit of my paintjob is the low maintenence. To wash it, i spray it down with the hose to get all the dirt off, then wipe the whole car down with paint thinner to get the pine sap and bugs off. No clear coat to damage lol. If i get a scratch, I just whip out the rattle can , and in half an hour you can't even tell where the scratch was.

 

mix 30% gloss with 70% flat primer and you'll get the primer look with some protection, not sure if its going to be outside at all? My 88 was painted with just epoxy primer and after about 8 months outside looks like im going to have to redo it, small rust spots coming up nothing major but needs to be taken care of.

 

looking sharp, shouts work in progress. love it!

 

I was wondering about that Rustoleum stuff, because I work at NAPA and we have it there so I could get a bunch of it for pretty cheap. Those cars look really really good, thats exactly what I was going for. I might have a problem though. I live in Yuma, AZ, and if you know anything about it we're in Guiness for the most sunshine in the world and in the summer it gets around 115-120 on good days. Do you think this heat and the constant sun exposure would be bad for the primer?

 

It will fade in the sun. If you use the DP90 you will not have to worry about rust. It will seal out water unlike that rattle-can stuff wich will absorb it.

 

That's why i used the enamel instead of the primer. I wanted it to be a permanent job.