71 LT1 Paint ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 131
Likes: 9
71 LT1 Paint ?
I am soon sending her in for paint
I am going to have it completely stripped and re-done
The gaps currently are not perfect but to me they look fine
Im told that they would have not been perfect 43 years ago
Body shop can of course add fiberglass and have all gaps perfect > Of course that would be more money
Part of me feels to do it, and part of me feels to keep it as it is
I do drive the car(limited), Im not looking for a show car only, but I will be spending alot of money and want it to look great
I value everyone's opinion so let me know your thoughts
I am going to have it completely stripped and re-done
The gaps currently are not perfect but to me they look fine
Im told that they would have not been perfect 43 years ago
Body shop can of course add fiberglass and have all gaps perfect > Of course that would be more money
Part of me feels to do it, and part of me feels to keep it as it is
I do drive the car(limited), Im not looking for a show car only, but I will be spending alot of money and want it to look great
I value everyone's opinion so let me know your thoughts
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Western Loudoun County VA
I am soon sending her in for paint
I am going to have it completely stripped and re-done
The gaps currently are not perfect but to me they look fine
Im told that they would have not been perfect 43 years ago
Body shop can of course add fiberglass and have all gaps perfect > Of course that would be more money
Part of me feels to do it, and part of me feels to keep it as it is
I do drive the car(limited), Im not looking for a show car only, but I will be spending alot of money and want it to look great
I value everyone's opinion so let me know your thoughts
I am going to have it completely stripped and re-done
The gaps currently are not perfect but to me they look fine
Im told that they would have not been perfect 43 years ago
Body shop can of course add fiberglass and have all gaps perfect > Of course that would be more money
Part of me feels to do it, and part of me feels to keep it as it is
I do drive the car(limited), Im not looking for a show car only, but I will be spending alot of money and want it to look great
I value everyone's opinion so let me know your thoughts
Just talked with my painter about that this week. He said that if the gap at three of the 4 corners was even, that was close enough for it to look good. On my driver door, the rear gap is even but the front one slowly gets a bit bigger as it goes up. His opinion was that the cars came this way so there was no need to go to great measures to change it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 131
Likes: 9
Just talked with my painter about that this week. He said that if the gap at three of the 4 corners was even, that was close enough for it to look good. On my driver door, the rear gap is even but the front one slowly gets a bit bigger as it goes up. His opinion was that the cars came this way so there was no need to go to great measures to change it.
Thx for the reply
On mine for example, the top and the bottom of the door next to the front fender are tight and look good
The middle of the door to the front fender is however wider
Around the hood is widish, but more or less consistent all the way around
Decisons, decisions!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 607
Likes: 122
Depends on what there going to charge you for it. Say the total is 5k for the total strip and repaint, and for another 1K, it could be perfect. Mine had multiple hits over its 46 years and some good repairs, some not so good. Most all of them had to be redone and the guy working on mine was pretty **** about making all the panels fit better than when it left the factory. But when the paint gets stripped off, will the body shop find some hidden surprises that need attention? Hard call to make and good luck with your paint job.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,682
Likes: 3,135
From: Shamong, NJ
Now is the time to make the gaps perfect! If you decide later, that you want them right, you're stuck.
If you do them, and they're perfect, most people will never even notice them. Unfortunately, if the gaps aren't perfect, especially on a quality paint job, they'll likely be pretty obvious.
Actually, I'm a little surprised that the shop is willing to do a car, and not make them perfect. Most of the Corvette shops I know, wouldn't do a paint job, without doing the gaps. It reflects on them and their work, when a car leaves their shop, and it isn't done correctly.
It's easy for me to sit at my keyboard, and spend your money, but if it was me, I'd want the gaps right.
If you do them, and they're perfect, most people will never even notice them. Unfortunately, if the gaps aren't perfect, especially on a quality paint job, they'll likely be pretty obvious.
Actually, I'm a little surprised that the shop is willing to do a car, and not make them perfect. Most of the Corvette shops I know, wouldn't do a paint job, without doing the gaps. It reflects on them and their work, when a car leaves their shop, and it isn't done correctly.
It's easy for me to sit at my keyboard, and spend your money, but if it was me, I'd want the gaps right.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
Making the gaps perfect could mean so many things...is it a realignment of the doors or does the front clip have to be reset? I've learned that paint is really just a reflection of the work to the body. If you're not concerned about selling the car you can save a lot of money. If you're going to try and get top dollar for an LT1, the gaps have to be right.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I think there's a "middle ground" here.
The fit of the doors/ hood (smooth transition from fender to hood/door) and the size and consistency of the gaps (hood/door) can be massaged to look like on THIS car the factory got it pretty close to 'right'.
Regards,
Alan
I think there's a "middle ground" here.
The fit of the doors/ hood (smooth transition from fender to hood/door) and the size and consistency of the gaps (hood/door) can be massaged to look like on THIS car the factory got it pretty close to 'right'.
Regards,
Alan
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 88
From: Easton Pennsylvania
The gaps on my car were pretty much not acceptable in my opinion. Especially when I knew the level of paint work I wanted, So it was a no brainer for me to fix them. I rebuilt the hinges and adjusted the doors to achieve the best gap and then broke out the laminating stuff.
This is what I had pretty much on both sides. Even after many adjustments. The top gaps measured a around 1/2 inch!
After
This is what I had pretty much on both sides. Even after many adjustments. The top gaps measured a around 1/2 inch!
After
Last edited by persuader; Aug 10, 2014 at 11:33 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I believe the same paint was also used on LS6 cars.
It needed to be special because the rougher idle the 2 engines had would shake the normal paint loose from the body.
Regards,
Alan
I believe the same paint was also used on LS6 cars.
It needed to be special because the rougher idle the 2 engines had would shake the normal paint loose from the body.
Regards,
Alan
