BKelby

I'm looking to repaint my 79' and was wondering what would be the best way to sand it down just to repaint it the same yellow it currently is. I've read about people using chemicals or razor blades? Would I be fine just sanding it down with sand paper to the paint? It's the original 79' paint so it has some fade and layers of clear coat have been worn down.

oldsarge

You can sand the paint to a dull finish, but if you want to do a better job, it is always recommended to remove all the paint for a better finish. JMHO

81pilot

If it has clear it is not an original 79 paint job. They changed to a base clear half way through the 1981 model year when they moved to Bowling Green, before that it was a non cleared process.

BKelby

Ah, well I guess it has just gone through layers of paint then.

RIO68

any pic's of what you have? You need to try and determined how many times it has been painted. If you have multiple paint jobs on the car you need to strip it down to glass and start over. My 2 cents-

929nitro

jesse10886

Also

BKelby

It's the original paint job from 79'. Hasn't been re-painted, yet. I'll post a pic when I get home. My avatar is the car.

cgc

I agree the best would be to get down to glass BUT are you looking for show quality paint $$$ or fresh driver quality paint? I had mine sanded down and shot over the original paint some 25 years ago. IMO it still looks as good as it did then no pealing bubbles cracks. I didn't have the money or time to strip it all off. The guy that did it is still amazed every time he sees it. He says he should have charged me more.

My point is you don't have to strip it to have good looking paint. Again I agree it would be best to strip and start over.

With that being said I know nothing about today's paint and it's characteristics. Maybe you should listen to the "paint generation".

BKelby

Doesn't need to be show quality... I just want a driver quality paint to just make the car one solid color again... the back fenders are faded a bit and lighter than the rest of the car... along with the front skirt. Plus... it has some scratches in the paint that I would just like to fix, and also add some clear coats to some new layers of paint to protect the paint/car better.

BKelby

Just took some quick pictures right when I got home.

chadronvette

You could start with about a 200 grit sand paper and a good sanding block. Sand until you get to mostly primer. Go over it again with about 400 grit. This takes a great deal of time but if you do it yourself, you will appreciate the results. I suggest a good stereo and plenty of cold beverages as well as patience. I did a quarter a day as a goal.

My two cents.

Mike

BKelby

Sounds like a good time to me. Did the same thing with my old Mustang...

Alan 71

Hi BK,
Even if you're not looking for a 'fabulous' paint job I'd think removing all the original paint will result in a better looking/ longer lasting paint job.
If you can do the paint removal yourself it's basically just your time and effort.
Regards,
Alan

BKelby

Thanks for the suggestion and advice, Alan. Guess I'll sleep on it and decide what to do. I know this paint job won't be the "amazing" paint job that will be the car's official paint job. Just one to get it by until I can afford a better one in a few years and so it can at least be one solid color without any fades or chips in the paint.

CHarper

I thought when had my 82 stripped down to the glass that most of the work was over. Was I ever wrong, after shooting epoxy primer I am block sanding it. If done correctly this is almost as difficult as sanding off the original paint. Maybe I'm being too **** about it but after all this effort I hope a painter can match the quality I'm putting into this car.

David c3

Was car sanded by block or da? What grits of sandpaper was used?

randy ransome

This was posted 6 years ago.

RJ1AZ

Wow. Takes a long time to sand to bare glass.

Mr D.

Car is ready for a repaint by now.