Might sound like a dumb question, but how much paint does it take to paint a whole third gen? I'm getting ready to paint and I'm wondering how many quarts I should buy.

 

Are you painting it the same color or changing it. To get away with less paint you want to tint the primer a color close to your new color that way you need less paint to cover. With a HVLP paint gun to do the jams and a non t-top camaro with tinted primer takes 3 good coats or 3 quarts for me, that's base coat and 1 gallon of High solids clear.

 

I've already primered it with rattle can primer, then I wet sanded it down. It's all smooth and ready to paint. I'm gonna paint it jet black, just don't wanna paint and then realize I need more and have to go to the store to get more. It's a t-top. So it takes about 1 quart for 1 coat? I plan on 3 coats base and 3 coats clear.

 

I own a small bodyshop and I've painted plenty of black cars. Trust me I know you don't want to hear this but if you want a good looking black car with the least amount of waves possible then you are going to have to prime that whole car with a good high build primer then guide coat it block it and prime it again. 3 quarts is not going to be enough to completly cover gray primer. When the sun shines on the side of the car you will see thru the black. And you want a good 4-5 coats of clear so you have enough to wetsand and buff. I had to learn the hard way back when I was 16 but now I'm a pro lol. Good black base is PPG and good HS Clear is TranStar MTR, use the Med temp hardener and reducer. That's my simple setup that wins awards.

 

I used black primer. It was that duplicolor hot rod black. Will 3 coats cover that or should I do 4?

 

Ok, if you used the black primer then you are good to go. 3 coats should be plenty but on your last coat just take a spotlight and shine it on th lower part of the door or fender just to make sure you have it covered. Get a lil extra base paint just in case something happens (better safe then sorry). Good luck and send us some pics

 

I'll definately show pics. Under members firebirds I have a thread in there. '84 Trans am project. Showing pics in there, but between work and being broke all the time, it's taking awhile.

 

be very veeeeeeerry careful, once u spray the paint u more likely end up with a chemical reaction if u spray ir too wet right away b/c of the rattle can primer .. i would NEVER use rattle can before a complete paint job but if u wanna be on the safe side spray two-thre dry coats before u spray the medium coats trust me ur primer will start to wrinkle and will start to flake off

 

Really? Why would it do that? You'd think they would put a disclaimer on the can or something. I thought primer was just primer. What's the difference between rattle can and the spray gun type?

 

If so, no one would buy it. I am in the same boat right now and I put a thread up, but I might go back and sand it down and give it a coat of 2k primer.

 

the difference is the chemicals used, with polyester, urethane or polyurethane primers u have to add a hardener to it witch make the chemicals solidified and dry, watch try poring a lil bit of lacker thiner or acetone to the rattle can primer in ur car and ull see what happens, as opposed to the spray gun kind, once it dries the chemicals in it basically "die" so they don't react with the ones from the new paint (unless u primered the night before and u come back in the mornind sand it down and spray wet coats of paint * don't ask how i know lol)

 

That sucks. I spent about three weeks sanding and primering. I don't feel like sanding all back down to prime again. I'm gonna try the 2-3 dry coats and see what happens. If it wrinkles, I'll be pissed and sand it all back down. If not, I'll be happy.

 

lol yea just shoot it dry couple times and ull be fine, if u don't have enough air circulation just let it flash for 10-15 before u apply the next coat.

 

Should not take long, I already started sanding down my cam and in an hour, I got the hood, fenders, front end and currently on the pass door. Patience is key, it will be worth it once its in painted and you are turning heads.