Contemplating a Bowling Green 1981 4 speed
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 106
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From: Iowa
Contemplating a Bowling Green 1981 4 speed
Hi everybody, I found an 81 Corvette 4 speed Bowling Green car in my area for pretty cheap. It's going to need a repaint. The owner says that the car has the original paint on it. I'm on sort of a tight budget, and was wondering that since its a Bowling Green car (basecoat/clearcoat enamel), if I really will have to take it all the way down to the SMC. I know that the acrylic paints used in St. Louis corvettes will crack and spiderweb if you just scuff and shoot over. Does the basecoat/clearcoat make any difference? If I scuff and shoot over the original basecoat/clearcoat paint on the car will I find spiderweb cracks all over the car years from now? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
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From: Mundelein Illinois
Not sure if a tight budget will work. These cars will let you spend more than you will ever want to spend. My 81 was pretty clean, I sanded the body and sealed the body with a primer/sealer. Then painted, car is 8 years old and looks brand new. Materials were 3K, 8 years ago.
My 2 cents
My 2 cents
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,616
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From: No Where USA
Hi everybody, I found an 81 Corvette 4 speed Bowling Green car in my area for pretty cheap. It's going to need a repaint. The owner says that the car has the original paint on it. I'm on sort of a tight budget, and was wondering that since its a Bowling Green car (basecoat/clearcoat enamel), if I really will have to take it all the way down to the SMC. I know that the acrylic paints used in St. Louis corvettes will crack and spiderweb if you just scuff and shoot over. Does the basecoat/clearcoat make any difference? If I scuff and shoot over the original basecoat/clearcoat paint on the car will I find spiderweb cracks all over the car years from now? Thanks
The car is over 30 years old, if the paint was going to crack it would have done it by now. You also may mot own the car years from now. I would still take the paint off. Southern Polyurethanes sells epoxy primer and 2k primer and they also have a line of clearcoats. They also sell some colors. Their prices are very good and the materials are great. They are all I use now. Depending on the color you paint the car you could probably do it for around $1200 for paint materials. Then sandpaper and buffing supplies will add another $400.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 106
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From: Iowa
Thanks,
If I was going to paint the car without stripping it, would I not have to put primer on since there is already paint on the car? Would I just have to spray on some sealant, then basecoat, then clearcoat? Thanks
If I was going to paint the car without stripping it, would I not have to put primer on since there is already paint on the car? Would I just have to spray on some sealant, then basecoat, then clearcoat? Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Have you posted in the Paint Forum? If you intend to paint without stripping the car, at a minimum a good coat of good quality primer/sealer should cover the existing finish.
