Hows everyone doing. I curently am planning on painting my 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula WS6. Initially I was gonna have someone do it, but I have since changed my mind. Im a "do it yourself" type of guy and Im somewhat of an artist so that has influenced my descision. I've painted many things in the past but never a car. So I'm here asking on what I need to do as far as steps, supplies, amount of paint, etc.... I have a sparehood that I got from a Junk yard that I plan on practicing on before I tackle this project. Im shooting to start this some time late march (if weather cooperates) or April. As for colr its either Red or Black, Im leaning towards Black Right now though. The car is a dark, maroon like red and the paint is in bad shape, faded with some surface rust. I have about 1500 to play with but would rather spend well below that if possible.

My friend has the paint gun and copressor.

1. What do I need to get? (Supplies and how much of each)
2. When I pick a color, how much of it do I need? (plus other relavent stuff like primer or clear coat or whatever is required)
3. How long does something like this usually take? Im not looking into getting too crazy and completely stripping the car. Im ok with taking off fenders, hood and maybe doors.

Last once I have everything I need to get started, what are the steps in order?

I would greatly appreciate all help in this. I will get pics up of the car soon if anyone is interested in seeing her now as is. I will also do many shots before, during, and after.

Thanks.

 

I have the same questions for the same reasons

 

Does your friend have a DA sander, die grinder, and if your car has rust that stuff needs to be sandblasted off.

Does your friend have the associated filters and pressure regulators to go with his paint gun.

Gonna need some long flat sanding blocks to sand the primer as well.

All of that stuff is neccessary to prep a car for paint, and remember your paint job can only be as good as the body work underneath it.

 

Pics would be helpful.
If you have only light surface rust,thats easily fixed with a da sander and course paper(80 grit) only on the rusty spots though.
If the rest of the body is in good shape then you're ready for primer.
I would use an epoxy primer whether it be a 1 or 2 part(1 part is cheaper and will still give good results)
you then need to block sand the car and repeat the primer and block sand again if you are going black.
You will need a couple rolls of sandpaper.
For my car,I bought a roll of 150,320,400,and then 800&1500 sheets for wetsanding and buffing.

 

your gonna want to take all your ground effects off too, theres always rust hidden under there.
as far as supplies, I'd say a gallon of each will be more than plenty, and if you want to save money you may want to look into single stage instead of base/clear as it is cheaper and (in my opinion) easier to spray. also just to let you know, black will show a lot of the flaws in the paint.
for primer I used Omni mp282, this is a high build primer so it will help hide minor flaws such as sanding scratches.

as for tools, your going to need a DA sander as stroker_ss said, but you'll only need a die grinder if you car has serious rust/rot, and I dont know why you'd need to sand blast anything?

are you planing on this being a nice driver or a show car?

.

 

I appreciate the advice. Im not sure if he has the filters, I'll have to ask. Just incase he doesnt know because its his dads really, what type of filters/regulators and what are they called? If he doesnt have then, where can I get them? Im not very familiar with body work. Im gonna practice this stuff on a set of fenders and a hood that I have in my garage. Im a novice when it comes to body work, so if you can please when you explain thing do so in detail? Half the time I probally know what you are talking about, I just dont know the proper terms. I think I have an idea as far as sanding the car down goes. What I really need to know is the actual steps in painting I think. Like what do I lay down first. I hear terms like expoy primer and all that. I want to know what they are for etc... Primer? if so what type how much. I need to know how to paint the car step by step. Like what goes on in order. Oh yeah and I have decided on a black. so i guess i need step by step painting instructions for black
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Im planning on this being my nice driver.

 

Tmic,give this guy a tutorial please.

 

I suggest using this setup or one similar on the compressor.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45009

And do you have a clean place to spray this car, like a garage or pole barn with a concrete floor, because you don't want dirt blowing up from the ground/floor and sticking to your car while painting it.

 

I guess I can give it a try...

first off I'd sand off all the surface rust with a coarse grit (anywhere from 60-80). then I'd sand all the clear off, heres where I took it a step further and went to bare metal, this is not required, but if you want to take it to bare metal you should get an "etching primer".
after this you should spray your regular primer (I'd go one coat everywhere, 3 coats over bare metal). next do all your filler work, any dings/dents you need to fill take to bare metal and apply a filler such as bondo. if you have any decent size dents you should invest in a stud welder to pull the dent out so you don't have to pile lots of filler on.
after all your bondo is sanded (80 grit then feather the sanding scratches out with something around 180 grit) I'd sand all the primer with something around 180-220 grit then re-prime the car, this time do maybe 3 coats on everything. at this point you can opt to apply a "guide coat" (an opposite color primer), you spray this on the car and block sand it with a long hand sanding board, this will show all your high and low spots, you don't have to do this however.
once your here your ready for your base coat, so wet sand your primer with 400-600 grit, clean the car off, then blow the car off really well (make sure to get all the gaps), as well as clean the garage, wet the garage floor and spray your base coat, 3-5 coats, then spray your clear (3-5 coats)
and remember when spraying, the first coat should be a light "dust coat" to prevent running the paint, then with each coat apply it a little bit heavier.