Front Bumper Paint
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
Front Bumper Paint
For the experienced painters in the crowd or people that have had similar experiences.
My Corvette is black, has 56k miles and, along with the normal chips, has one bad area (cracked and flacking), on the front bumber that I'd like to fix.
My question is would it be better to take the bumper off, strip the paint myself and have a shop paint it? Leave it on? Eaiser to match the color?
I've taken it off before and could do it again and strip the paint etc.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance
Rick
My Corvette is black, has 56k miles and, along with the normal chips, has one bad area (cracked and flacking), on the front bumber that I'd like to fix.
My question is would it be better to take the bumper off, strip the paint myself and have a shop paint it? Leave it on? Eaiser to match the color?
I've taken it off before and could do it again and strip the paint etc.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance
Rick
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 2,702
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
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vette
For the experienced painters in the crowd or people that have had similar experiences.
My Corvette is black, has 56k miles and, along with the normal chips, has one bad area (cracked and flacking), on the front bumber that I'd like to fix.
My question is would it be better to take the bumper off, strip the paint myself and have a shop paint it? Leave it on? Eaiser to match the color?
I've taken it off before and could do it again and strip the paint etc.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance
Rick
My Corvette is black, has 56k miles and, along with the normal chips, has one bad area (cracked and flacking), on the front bumber that I'd like to fix.
My question is would it be better to take the bumper off, strip the paint myself and have a shop paint it? Leave it on? Eaiser to match the color?
I've taken it off before and could do it again and strip the paint etc.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance
Rick
JMO.........I would take off the bumper and sand blast it with a very fine material. Cleans the whole thing up in about 20 minutes. I NEVER use paint stripper on a vette. Black is the easiest color to match. Shoot a Hi build catalized primer on it. Block sand it wet with 220. Dont sand thru the primer along body lines. Shoot a sealer, 3 base coats of black, 2 coats of clear. Color sand and buff for desired final shine.
If you take the bumper off, and someone else does it, you only give them the bumper. Vette says at home. Will also be less costly the way, because of not having to deal with overspray issues .
Good Luck.
JMO........ Lots of ways to do it.
Corvette Mike
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
I wouldn't sand blast it!! It's plastic, not like the rest of the car.Fact I wouldn't sand blast anything on my vette.
Search the general section, there was a guy on here a year or so ago who did his, pictures and all.
Search the general section, there was a guy on here a year or so ago who did his, pictures and all.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Black is just as difficult to match as any other color. There are just as many variances of Black as any other color.
The original Black color on my Vette has a brown tint to it.
To answer the Ops question, I would remove the bumper and have the body shop strip it and color match the paint with a sample of the color from the gas door removed from your Vette.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 2,702
From: So. Cal.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
[QUOTE...In case you didnt read this in post # 2...[/QUOTE]
I read it and THANKS for your help! I'm not a painter an so my plan is to go to a good body shop in Tacoma and have them paint the bumper after I remove it and strip the paint. I can take the car in before and they can even have it there during if it would help with paint match etc.
Thanks again
I read it and THANKS for your help! I'm not a painter an so my plan is to go to a good body shop in Tacoma and have them paint the bumper after I remove it and strip the paint. I can take the car in before and they can even have it there during if it would help with paint match etc.
Thanks again
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow Oklahoma
First, to define Sand blasting. You can blast the bumper or the body for that matter, However , it is the material and the type of blaster you use that makes the difference. Plastic media, glass,silica,soda and even walnut shells. Mike has a way that will work if the correct material and blaster is used, and I would say he knows this and has the right stuff.
I saw a demo with plastic media that blasted the metal body and hardly had any effect on the plastic filler that was under the paint.In fact any 2 part primer would have covered any imperfections.
I have chemically stripped C3 Vettes before, it was tricky ,but can be done.The risk with any chemicals is the problem of a reaction later after it's painted.
Black is only difficult if you don't have the paint code and 2 if it has a metallic content.
If it is a solid black color take your gas tank lid for them to use to match.
I saw a demo with plastic media that blasted the metal body and hardly had any effect on the plastic filler that was under the paint.In fact any 2 part primer would have covered any imperfections.
I have chemically stripped C3 Vettes before, it was tricky ,but can be done.The risk with any chemicals is the problem of a reaction later after it's painted.
Black is only difficult if you don't have the paint code and 2 if it has a metallic content.
If it is a solid black color take your gas tank lid for them to use to match.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
I've never had a factory color, match correctly from any automotive paint store even after they've already tried to color match the paint.
Solid colors, Metallic colors they all require tinting even when blending the paint. You have to look at the body panels in the sunlight. Some experienced painters can't even see the difference or know what to look for.
Last edited by GKK; Aug 14, 2009 at 11:25 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow Oklahoma
Paint code or not, the OPs Vette is 17 years old.
I've never had a factory color, match correctly from any automotive paint store even after they've already tried to color match the paint.
Solid colors, Metallic colors they all require tinting even when blending the paint. You have to look at the body panels in the sunlight. Some experienced painters can't even see the difference or know what to look for.
I've never had a factory color, match correctly from any automotive paint store even after they've already tried to color match the paint.
Solid colors, Metallic colors they all require tinting even when blending the paint. You have to look at the body panels in the sunlight. Some experienced painters can't even see the difference or know what to look for.
If your paint store is worth a crap they will do a spray out to check the match. the Sherwin store here in Tulsa can get close enough for this particular application. The person who does the matching has the normal Sun and One of the new 3M artificial sun lamps. The "Flip" that you are referring to is a problem with metallics and 3 stage paint like Pearls. Solid colors you do have to deal with the age factor, But unless the paint is completely dead you should be able to get it close. If he is that particular he needs to spring for a complete paint job.
You at least have to have the code so you will know what toners it consists of to be able to adjust the color.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
All the variations I've received from the paint stores have been close but, not close enough to use. I've Always had to spend at least an hour and a half spraying several samples and re-tinting the variations to get the final color correct.
The problem is, most paint store employees lack the skill or knowledge to properly tint the color, they usually just do whatever the chart or computer tells them to do and don't know what to look for under any type of lighting.
For the OPs bumper respray, A good body shop should be able to get the color close enough by matching the gas door lid.
The problem is, most paint store employees lack the skill or knowledge to properly tint the color, they usually just do whatever the chart or computer tells them to do and don't know what to look for under any type of lighting.
For the OPs bumper respray, A good body shop should be able to get the color close enough by matching the gas door lid.
Last edited by GKK; Aug 15, 2009 at 10:47 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow Oklahoma
GKK,
I agree with you all the way.
Penny at S/W Tulsa has been with the company over 15 years and that is what she does. She is amazing. When I worked there she would sometimes spend hours and multiple spray outs to get it right.
I guess I am just spoiled!!!!
I agree with you all the way.
Penny at S/W Tulsa has been with the company over 15 years and that is what she does. She is amazing. When I worked there she would sometimes spend hours and multiple spray outs to get it right.
I guess I am just spoiled!!!!
