I have began to think about having my '81 painted and was wondering is it best to removed the body from the frame? If so, are there plans available for a dolly?

There are a few stress cracks showing-up and of course the nose point. No body damage. Body was repainted before I acquired it...not a real good job....driver quality. Does the old paint need to be completly removed? Any good sources out there that will quide me?

Thanks.

 

If you don't have to remove the body, don't!!! It's not necessary for a paint job.

 

You'll want to paint it ON the frame....too easy to scratch it up putting the body back on....

 

If you have stress cracks showing up I would remove all the paint.

 

And this is something most people can do themselves. There are many different methods of stripping paint. I used a single edged razor blade... others prefer chemical stripper. Do a search here and you'll find many threads. Body prep (stripping, etc.) is laborious (and as a result, spendy) so the more you can do yourself, the less $$$ goes out the door!

kdlp

 

I had planned on doing as much as of the prep work as I can; removing trim, lights, lenses, etc....but I am not even going to try to repair the cracks.

And from the replies I got, leaving the body on is the way to go.

But should the nose and rear section come off so that the edges can be painted or paint the body as a whole?

Thanks...been doing lots of reading in the Paint and Body section....never even knew that section existed until yesterday....

 

I am in the process of a repaint now. In regards to the bumpers, my bodyman is going the paint my front bumper (1973) in basecoat off the car and then install before the clear is applied.
Dale in Badgerland

 

Are you painting the car yourself or intending to have someone else do it? If you are intending to have someone else do it, follow that person's advice about paint removal, body repair, paint prep, etc.

 

I would not even think about trying to paint the car myself...no facilities, no equipment, no way.

I took all the body panels off of my 96 and had it painted, then put it all back together.

Now I just need to locate a paint shop here in the Tucson area that knows what they are doing with fiberglass...

 

Okay....so have decided to at least get some estimates for the painting...

So what questions/answers determine that a shop knows what they are doing with regards to fiberglass repair and painting of a C3 Corvette?

I need to hear more than, "Yeah...have done lots of them Vettes...."

 

Painting a Corvette isn't much different than painting a metal car. Really not much to ask in that area. When you call around, ask the shop if they make fiberglass repairs. Ask for references of Corvette owners they have done work for.

Your C4 was designed to have body panels somewhat removable. C3s are not so designed.

 

Yes, take the bumpers off.