Having car painted
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC
Having car painted
I am having my 00 Coupe painted next week! Staying with the factory color but there are some nicks and scratches from normal driving that I want taken care of so the car looks new! How long does the painter usually need to keep the car and any suggestion on what to look for when he is done or suggestions on what I should tell the painter or questions I should ask him?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 0
From: Lynn Haven, FL Sunshine State
St. Jude Donor '08
I am having my 00 Coupe painted next week! Staying with the factory color but there are some nicks and scratches from normal driving that I want taken care of so the car looks new! How long does the painter usually need to keep the car and any suggestion on what to look for when he is done or suggestions on what I should tell the painter or questions I should ask him?
Paint lines suck
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 700
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From: Casa Grande AZ
Look for dirt in the clear coat, if there is any have them buff it out. Look for metalic drooping, sometimes the metalic will droop or run. Look for overspray in areas where you normally would not find paint (i.e, windows, moldings, wheel wells, inside doors, under the hood, etc.). If there is any have them remove it. In the day light stand back and look at the car over. If you see something odd ask what it is. Sometimes, depening on the painter and air pressure, the color my differ from one area to another. If its obvious have them fix it. Remember your paint job may be fine for you and someone else may think it's crapy. Your the judge, if you like it go with it doen't matter what others think. Your the boss.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,123
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From: Humble TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
I used to paint but it's been close to 15 years. I'm sure plenty has changed. Just a few things off the top of my head. Make sure it's a reputable shop. Ask for a tour, see what kind of downdraft/sidedraft paint booths they use, see what sort of air drying system they have. Good shops tend to be proud and will be happy to show off their state of the art equipment. Ask what brand of paint they'll be using. Research the paint brand they use online. Some are much more reputable then others. Ask to see some of the vehicles that have been overalled, or even look at some collision work, see how well they matched body panels on those. Look for orange peel in the paint. Make it very clear this is a corvette not a chevette and you'll be looking for an appropriate job not just the cheapest. Overall appearance and attitude of shop can give you a hint to what type of work they do.
Before you take your vette in consider cleaning it yourself very thoroughly. Even pressure wash the wheel wells and under the hood. Getting as much dirt off the car as possible will reduce the chances of any gettting in the paint job. You'd be amazed at the condition some people will drop off vehicles in to have paint work done.
Before you take your vette in consider cleaning it yourself very thoroughly. Even pressure wash the wheel wells and under the hood. Getting as much dirt off the car as possible will reduce the chances of any gettting in the paint job. You'd be amazed at the condition some people will drop off vehicles in to have paint work done.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,487
Likes: 5
From: Naples Florida
Ask him if he knows where the jacking points are on the C5 corvette. I don't know anything about automotive paint finishes but don't the bumpers require a special flexing agent or something because they are made of rubber and possibly the paint cracks when the bumper is flexed in any way. I would think he would need to keep the car two weeks to properly take the car apart, prep, paint, re -assemble the car and clean it
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 2
From: Humble TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
No way it should take two weeks to run a car through the shop, but sadly your probably right. Alot of shops have a tendancy to push off overall paint jobs to push through the collision work ahead of them. They are fast jobs and bring in more money in the end. Overalls tie up the paint booths for alot of time. If you don't care how long it takes it doesn't matter but if you need the car back I would ask them to commit to a timeline.
If there isn't any body work to be done I'd think the car could be stripped of any lights, license plate bracket, ect., wet sanded and washed down in one day. The next morning tape off the glass and get it in the booth at the first opening.
Speaking of wet sanding, I've heard HORROR stories of some hack shops using a scotch brite pad instead of sanding
There is no reason to lift the car and your right, flex additive for bumpers although probably wouldn't need to be mentioned.
If there isn't any body work to be done I'd think the car could be stripped of any lights, license plate bracket, ect., wet sanded and washed down in one day. The next morning tape off the glass and get it in the booth at the first opening.
Speaking of wet sanding, I've heard HORROR stories of some hack shops using a scotch brite pad instead of sanding
There is no reason to lift the car and your right, flex additive for bumpers although probably wouldn't need to be mentioned.
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Good luck with the paint job. Hope the shop does a fantastic job for you.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Bainbridge Island Wa
I am having my 00 Coupe painted next week! Staying with the factory color but there are some nicks and scratches from normal driving that I want taken care of so the car looks new! How long does the painter usually need to keep the car and any suggestion on what to look for when he is done or suggestions on what I should tell the painter or questions I should ask him?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC
Thanks for the offer but I think I would rather go to the dentist and have several root canals done without pain medication!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC