First of all, it should be said that I am in no way an experienced body mechanic. This is pretty much my first full-blown project (and honestly I got in a little over my head).

I'm getting ready to paint my t/a, but I have a few questions I need answered first:

First of all, the current surface is mostly painted with plenty of chips and scratches (plan on sanding of clear, of course), beside the areas I've stripped back the paint to do repairs (and a bare metal door). I don't know much about paint types, but I assume I'd want to go with urethane over acrylic/enamel. As for the primer, I'm not to sure about the different types. As far as I can tell, I'd use a general urethane primer, but on the sections of the car that I've worked on (bare metal or filler) I am unsure whether I'd have to use an etching primer or polyester/epoxy primer on those spots first. As for the basecoat (black, by the way), I'm not sure whether I should go one-step or base+clear.

I also have the bumpers removed (both with a few bare patches) and a recently obtained set of gfx (all but one piece are black (other is silver) but all probably need paint). What's the method for painting these parts (ie. primer, paint, additives...)?

It should be stated also that I plan on doing the primer in my garage with my small compressor and a cheapo paint gun (friend dumped it on me, so I figured I'd get some use out of it). I also plan on doing it incrementally, section by section (due to small compressor). The rest I'm going to try to do myself in an aquaintance's shop, or get done professionally if I must.

Thanks for any help or advice.

 

I would like to see some answers to those questions also. I am planning the same project soon.

 

There is so much to know about painting a car properly that there isn't enough room here to tell you what you need to know. There may be some painting basics here if you do a search, but what you really need is somebody to learn from- a hands on guy who can SHOW you how things are done. With that and some patience you can paint your own car.

 

go here and join this forum as they are the real paint people, they will
help you step by step as I was where you are last year and got mine all done with there patient help www.autobodystore.com click on forums and ask away......

 

search this title for a complete how to

project resurection..

jeff

 

what article is that??

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ct+resurection

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ct+resurection

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ct+resurection

simple search

 

I just went thru the same thing. I dropped off my 87 IROC 3 weeks ago for paint and body work. I followed the same strategy of stripping and sanding etc. THe guys at the body shop said that i did ok with it, but they like to see the whole body sanded with 400 grit sandpaper BEFORE we start priming. I think i had used 250 or so.. So it needed another once over before primer. I don't know how it turned out, but I'll post some pictures here when i get her back.

I am picking it up this week so I'll know the results..

 

coat the whole car with primer/surfacer and sealer,sand and paint,don't forgoet to add the flex additive for the bumper covers