I started this build last year as a graduation gift to my kid. I did an LS conversion for him (original thread https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ula-vin-h.html). So now the build has progressed to the body and paint so I figured I move this part of my build over to the body section. Got my booth set up in the garage



Intake fans. I get a nice positive pressure with 2 fans.



Exhaust fan



Exhaust routed outside. Made a plug for the door to keep the heat in.



Parts ready for primer

 

I'm using SPI epoxy primer, 2k Highbuild primer, SPI Red and SPI universal clear. After laying down the epoxy on the hood, I wanted to see how the paint and clear would lay down. I have to say I am very happy with the results.


The base and clear flows out very nice. If it lays down this nice on the rest of the car there will be next to no wetsanding the clear.

 

That's a pretty cool little booth you made. Well done.

 

Very nice way of making a booth. I had something similar planned but that is probably better than I will end up with. Nice job.

 

Hi DAD!!! Im your long lost son, will you do an LS conversion for me???

 

Damn thats a fancy booth..... you forgot to protect your floor

 

lol nice try, my own firebird is next inline

Not worried about the floor. It will get polish and acid etch once projects are done

 

Oh, that looks nice! What gun/settings are you using? I am going to use the SPI line soon.

 

Thanks. For the primer I'm using a cheapie purple Harbor freight gun. For base and clear I'm using a Devilbiss finishline set at 25psi with trigger pulled and 3 turns for material flow.

 

May I suggest two exhaust fans blowing out that door and zero intake fans. You'll achieve laminar flow a bit better if you're able to maintain the cubic ft from the exhaust fans to the door. (i.e. eliminate the 6" flex duct and adjust you booth closer to the door and have the exhaust fans blowing out the door) Oh, and wet that floor down...helps to keep the dirt in check.

 

I appreciate the feedback but laminar flow creates it's own issues. One I'm not looking to create a boundary layer in the paint and two I want the dirt be kept out of the booth. 2 fans create a positive pressure and "pushes" the air out the exhaust. The booth clears any fog in under 3 minutes.

 

Interesting. Ok.

 

nice booth! can't wait to see the finished product

 

Nice! But, shouldn't fellow 87 Formula owners get first dibs?

 

Where did you get the SPI paint? I haven't seen any colors on their website at all. Maybe I'm just missing it though. Seems like you have to get it directly from them? Looking great btw.

 

This is cool.

May I suggest putting the filters on the intake fans on the intake side of the fan?

Simply because it will be much easier to ensure it stays sealed.

 

You'll have to call them direct and they will hook you up. They only have red atm.

 

My car just so happens to be bright red originally. Yours is looking so good that I just might have to go with SPI on my car. Thanks for this thread btw

 

Any updates on the progress? I'd like to see how that SPI red looks.

 

Just doing the bodywork at the moment. Should have the first coat of high build primer on this weekend and I will start blocking the car on Sunday if the weather cooperates. The body is very straight to begin with so I don't think the blocking will take very long. I'll update with some pictures when I'm done with the first round of blocking.

The one thing I can tell you about the SPI red is that it is very bright in the sunlight. It's definitely the brightest red I have ever seen. Makes you squint when you look at it in direct sunlight.

 

What are the dimensions of your booth? Looks great!

 

I think it's 14x24 or something along those lines. Lots of room to move around.

 

Primered



First round of blocking done

 

Looking good! So you got the grey epoxy and grey 2k? That's what was recommended to me.

 

yes grey epoxy and grey 2k and will seal with reduced white epoxy.

 

Color shot, will be clearing shortly. I'll get better outside pictures once the clear dries. I'm off on a business trip for the next couple of days so I'll post outside shots when I return. This red is very bright although it doesn't show well indoors.

 

cleared. pictures don't do this red justice. Still needs to be cut and buffed.

 

Damn love the color

 

Looks very very good! Can't wait to see it all together again!

 

SPI makes some nice paint. I been looking at cars on chevelle tech, a lot of them use it and swear by it. I used a bit of the clear from SPI, best for the price! I would put it up with the big boys anyday!

 

Couldn't agree more. It's super easy to spray and flows out very nice.

 

Got doors hung today and gapped along with the hatch glass and new weatherstrips along doors and hatch. Fenders only hung temporarily and not bolted down yet so gaps are all goofy. Waiting for new hardware before I get those lined up. Starting to look like a car again.

 

I really love this color!!

 

Crazy jealous of your skills... And your garage haha.

That car has really come along nice and you have a great gift to your son going there. Hopefully he'll cherish it for a long time!

How long is the que for getting a paint job done? haha. Ide like my blue car to be black... Thats should take what...a few days?

J.

 

Thanks The line is only one deep, but the wait time is somewhere around 100 years

I'm redoing the white firebird I picked up this winter (will be black btw), then I'm done painting (at least in my garage). Even with the booth, there is a fine mist of paint all over the garage. Getting a bit sick of the mess.

I'm hoping to have this one done by June 9th. We have a car show I'm trying to get it ready for. I just painted the decklid and hood last night and will be clearing it today. That leaves me with only the wing to paint (new one from hawks). So I think I will make it, I only need a day or two to cut and buff the remaining parts.

 

Got the clearcoat sanded...started with 600 grit and worked my way up to final grit of 1500. Still have to buff and polish.




Nice and straight. Even with 1500 grit the shine is coming back.

 

Got the hood and decklid cleared last night



Decklid not attached yet



and my kid sanded down the bumpers with 180 grit. Took him a couple of days. Whoever owned the car previously had someone paint it multiple times so it took a while

 

Nice work! I hope to be in that position in a few weeks.

 

Looks great man! Keep up the nice work.

 

bumpers done



New weather strip installed and started laying down some fatmat rattletrap



Started changing the color of the interior plastic. This stuff is amazing. Stuff looks brand new. Went from this:

to this:


Comparison shot of how well this interior plastics paint covers with just two thin coats

 

Ooo...thats looking nice!

What did you use on the interior panels? Was that sprayed from a gun or rattle can (guessing since its you its not rattle can )

Any idea how durable its going to be? Ive used some "plastic paint" before on some test pieces on my interior and it was pretty easy to damage even after trying a few different prep procedures.

J.

 

great project. where did you get the new weatherstripping from?

 

What kind of weatherstrip did you use?
Also curious what kind of interior paint that is.

 

It's actually out of a rattle can, but you'd never be able to tell. I used SEM plastic and vinyl paint (satin black). As far as durability, well that remains to be seen but from all the research I've done it seems very durable and wear resistant/proof.

The prep is the most important piece of durability and longevity. First all the parts were scrubbed and washed in warm water with dish soap, then allowed to dry. Then before I sprayed the pieces, I wiped it all down with wax and grease remover and then tack rag.

As far as weatherstrip goes, we used Metro and I can't even begin to tell you how well they fit. The doors require a little more muscle to close right after the install, but will soften up/settle overnight and will shut with normal force after that. T-Top seals are top notch, no gaps no extra "bridging" required.

 

SEM is good stuff. I used it on some of my panels. It won't come off too easy. I did an armrest in my DD way back in 2003 and it's still holding up. As long as you prepped the panel properly it will last.

I think Metro gets a bad rap from improper installation. It looks like quality weatherstripping.

 

The car looks fantastic. Can't wait to see it all finished. The SPI stuff seems to be the way to go for a quality DIY paint job.

If you don't mind me asking, How much did it cost to build the booth?

Thanks

 

Maybe a $100 or so for pvc tubing and the plastic sheeting and then $40 for the fans and filters. Round it off and call it an even $150 I guess.

 

I posted on your other thread. I think it's awesome what you've done for your son. I can't wait for this car to be done, as well as almost everyone else on here. How much clear coat did you put on the car? I was a little concerned when you said you started wet sanding at 600 grit. When I was working in a body shop before I joined the army we started at 2000, and only went to 1500 if the paint had really bad texture. Either way, love the car. Great job, engine swap and body/paint and interior work.

 

not to thread hijack, but I couldnt agree more about the SEM paint and prep. I did a dash and interior plastic set for my 4th gen in satin black. It has held up great the last few years, even on the kickpanels and dash. I used soapy water, then SEM soap, then their Plastic and Leather Prep to get oils out, then their Sand-Free prep, and then paint.

 

Thanks...I put 4 coats of high solids clear on it. So there is lots of material to work with. Only reason I started at 600 was to make sure I cut the clear flat, but you are right...you have to be very careful or you WILL cut through. Anything higher than 1500 would just follow the contours not to mention I would reach retirement before I was done sanding

I finished with 1500 as this is fine enough of a grit to where the buffing compound can take it the rest of the way and polish would get rid of swirls from the compound.

Car is close to complete. I just have the wing left to mount and install the interior. The ride is going to be in a carshow this weekend so I have to have it done....no pressure from the kid