T-Top repainting
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
T-Top repainting
Hello. I was thinking about re-painting my T-Tops on my 1979 Corvette. I would like to keep the original Factory GM Red Colour, and would like to do the stripping myself, then have someone professionally shoot them.
The questions I have are, how would I strip them, sand them, etc.. What products should I use? Block sand by hand, some type of stripper, what?
Also, since I am just doing the Tops for now, and not the rest of the car, is it ok to paint them the original colour then do the car later? Will I have matching problems? Could they be reshot easily when the entire car is done?
I was kinda hoping to do the tops as a way of gaining experience into what it would be like to do the entire car myself at some point.
Also, how can I determine the exact GM spec colour for this car? Thanks!
The questions I have are, how would I strip them, sand them, etc.. What products should I use? Block sand by hand, some type of stripper, what?
Also, since I am just doing the Tops for now, and not the rest of the car, is it ok to paint them the original colour then do the car later? Will I have matching problems? Could they be reshot easily when the entire car is done?
I was kinda hoping to do the tops as a way of gaining experience into what it would be like to do the entire car myself at some point.
Also, how can I determine the exact GM spec colour for this car? Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Rexton New Brunswick
Hello. I was thinking about re-painting my T-Tops on my 1979 Corvette. I would like to keep the original Factory GM Red Colour, and would like to do the stripping myself, then have someone professionally shoot them.
The questions I have are, how would I strip them, sand them, etc.. What products should I use? Block sand by hand, some type of stripper, what?
Also, since I am just doing the Tops for now, and not the rest of the car, is it ok to paint them the original colour then do the car later? Will I have matching problems? Could they be reshot easily when the entire car is done?
I was kinda hoping to do the tops as a way of gaining experience into what it would be like to do the entire car myself at some point.
Also, how can I determine the exact GM spec colour for this car? Thanks!
The questions I have are, how would I strip them, sand them, etc.. What products should I use? Block sand by hand, some type of stripper, what?
Also, since I am just doing the Tops for now, and not the rest of the car, is it ok to paint them the original colour then do the car later? Will I have matching problems? Could they be reshot easily when the entire car is done?
I was kinda hoping to do the tops as a way of gaining experience into what it would be like to do the entire car myself at some point.
Also, how can I determine the exact GM spec colour for this car? Thanks!
The colour code should be on a plate mounted inside the driver's door jam
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
That should be an easy one, if the paint that is on there is not too bad, flaking peeling, or checked, then you could probably get away with block sanding SEALING and painting. You would only want to strip if the paint is not good enough for a base. if you are looking for an exact match, take one of the tops to the paint store first and have them computer match it, but if you're eventually going to repaint the entire car just use the factory paint code because it has probably faded a bit since new.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
That should be an easy one, if the paint that is on there is not too bad, flaking peeling, or checked, then you could probably get away with block sanding SEALING and painting. You would only want to strip if the paint is not good enough for a base. if you are looking for an exact match, take one of the tops to the paint store first and have them computer match it, but if you're eventually going to repaint the entire car just use the factory paint code because it has probably faded a bit since new.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If they are in pretty good shape...and you don't know the first thing about doing this...leave it up to the pros to do them, also. It shouldn't cost that much for just sanding and sealing those tops; and the job will be a good match for the car underneath them. If you want to strip the trim and the interior panels to save a couple of bucks, that you can do.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
If they are in pretty good shape...and you don't know the first thing about doing this...leave it up to the pros to do them, also. It shouldn't cost that much for just sanding and sealing those tops; and the job will be a good match for the car underneath them. If you want to strip the trim and the interior panels to save a couple of bucks, that you can do.
Called the local body shop in town that everyone seems to like and they said assuming I take the trim and seals off, 3 hours so of prep or $150 and like $90 or so on the paint.. He figured not more than $250 total..
I think I'm gonna go for it and drop them off in the morning.. As far as lead time, he said they could just do them when they fit them in. No biggie for me since it is ZERO degrees here outside TITLE TOWN USA!!!!
I'll be watching the packers this weekend anyway.
I guess this will give me a good chance to see these guys work as well since I want to eventually get the whole car painted..
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
Well I started pulling everything off the T-Tops.. Watch the dollars disappear! Anyway, I started block sanding them as I figure I will save a few more bucks.. What a PITA!!!
It's still gonna be about $300-$400 in replacing the weather strip, trim and the liners.. OUCH!!! Anyway, I can envision how nice they are gonna look and it will be well worth it.
It's still gonna be about $300-$400 in replacing the weather strip, trim and the liners.. OUCH!!! Anyway, I can envision how nice they are gonna look and it will be well worth it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
Ok, I took all the hardware/trim off my T-Tops.. Sanded them down too in the hopes of saving money, though the place I took it kept with the same quote they gave me even after I spent two days sanding these damn things...
Anyway, I have some questions.
Since there is nothing on the door of a 1979 Vette to indicate what the color is, my research on line leads me to believe that it is simply Code 72 Corvette Red.
Is this correct?
Also, as for those pesky trip pieces that go on the T-Tops, how hard is it to install the replacements? Is there a particular place I should get them from? The guy at the body shop said they are an absolute bitch to put on... I asked that they do it since I do not want to screw up the new paint.
Thoughts? Thank you!!!
Anyway, I have some questions.
Since there is nothing on the door of a 1979 Vette to indicate what the color is, my research on line leads me to believe that it is simply Code 72 Corvette Red.
Is this correct?
Also, as for those pesky trip pieces that go on the T-Tops, how hard is it to install the replacements? Is there a particular place I should get them from? The guy at the body shop said they are an absolute bitch to put on... I asked that they do it since I do not want to screw up the new paint.
Thoughts? Thank you!!!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: yarmouth ma
open the driver door and look at the body (not the door) just above the top hinge, there should be a chrome pop riveted tag there, that has the paint code on it. post the code here and someone will tell you what the correct color is.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
Will do, thanks! Is it really gonna be unique though, I mean every place I have looked shows only one code for that year/model to be 72.