Paint question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
Paint question
I recently bought a 98 vert that is spiral metallic grey, black interior. I'm pretty sure they didn't make them in this color this year, even if they did, it's been painted. When I bought it he said it was black, however, there are a few chips in the paint and underneath it seems to be red, and possibly black underneath that! I don't even want to go into why it's been repainted, i don't know, and don't want to know. the car drives perfect and has a clean title so I'm not concerned. BUT...
Question is, I plan on repainting the front from chipping from highway driving, should I repaint this color or go to original (whichever color is original). I can get the money to repaint it it's not a huge deal, I just don't want to repaint the front and have it chip elsewhere. I'd rather repaint the entire car once and have it stay nice... I don't know, I might just be picking for things to fix on this car. I just want it as close to perfect as possible.
Question is, I plan on repainting the front from chipping from highway driving, should I repaint this color or go to original (whichever color is original). I can get the money to repaint it it's not a huge deal, I just don't want to repaint the front and have it chip elsewhere. I'd rather repaint the entire car once and have it stay nice... I don't know, I might just be picking for things to fix on this car. I just want it as close to perfect as possible.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 51
From: Paducah KY
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
A good body shop can paint your car and make it look much better than the orange peel look from the factory!
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Shawnee OK
they are going to have to strip all the paint off or you are still going to see the other color under the paint when the new job chips. Are you sure that the car wasnt just repaired from being chiped up before? under the original paint would be a black sealer type of coating from factory and alot of shops use red primer as i have found from redoing alot of bodywork from other shops. just my .02
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
You could find out what the original color of the car was by looking at the RPO codes in the glovebox.
Here is a link to what they mean.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...98/98prod.html
If that does not work you could get the build sheet for it using your VIN from the National Corvette Museum.
Here is a link to what they mean.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...98/98prod.html
If that does not work you could get the build sheet for it using your VIN from the National Corvette Museum.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 9
From: Eddy Texas
You could find out what the original color of the car was by looking at the RPO codes in the glovebox.
Here is a link to what they mean.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...98/98prod.html
If that does not work you could get the build sheet for it using your VIN from the National Corvette Museum.
Here is a link to what they mean.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...98/98prod.html
If that does not work you could get the build sheet for it using your VIN from the National Corvette Museum.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
To do it right most painters will insist on removing all paint that is present. Once it gets so many mills thick, the paint they are using may not be designed to be applied over an unstable or built up surface. Any good painter will not want to trust the surface underneath anyhow. This may not be the case with your car though. It could be, as others have said, that it has a sealer coat and maybe a red tinted primer. Check your RPO codes and find out what the original color was.
I'm here to tell you though, be ready to shell out some cash if you intend on having the car completely redone, old paint stripped and all. That job has a lot of hours in it...
Good luck
I'm here to tell you though, be ready to shell out some cash if you intend on having the car completely redone, old paint stripped and all. That job has a lot of hours in it...
Good luck
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 749
Likes: 2
From: West Yarmouth MA.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
well the guy i bought it from said it was black, and there's a red under the grey and a black under that. who knows. I agree if it gets painted I'd want them to strip all paint!, sand blasting ain't that bad though... and I know it's not worth the money, but it'd be nice and if I got the money I'll do it. I planned on going to grad school in Miami and if that happens no paint for me, but no news yet so if I stay in Cleveland it gets paint (and a home with a garage).
My issue. I read everywhere in here that my rpo should be in the read compartment lid. I see no such ticket (I know what it looks like) and I'm thinking they took it off during paint.
Am i that rediculous that I can't find it!?!? Do I not know what the rear compartment lid is? Who knows... but it's not in my glove box or door or in the truck or under the lid for the top... I might have to check via VIN! I do that by calling a dealer I'm assuming...?
My issue. I read everywhere in here that my rpo should be in the read compartment lid. I see no such ticket (I know what it looks like) and I'm thinking they took it off during paint.
Am i that rediculous that I can't find it!?!? Do I not know what the rear compartment lid is? Who knows... but it's not in my glove box or door or in the truck or under the lid for the top... I might have to check via VIN! I do that by calling a dealer I'm assuming...?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
well the guy i bought it from said it was black, and there's a red under the grey and a black under that. who knows. I agree if it gets painted I'd want them to strip all paint!, sand blasting ain't that bad though... and I know it's not worth the money, but it'd be nice and if I got the money I'll do it. I planned on going to grad school in Miami and if that happens no paint for me, but no news yet so if I stay in Cleveland it gets paint (and a home with a garage).
My issue. I read everywhere in here that my rpo should be in the read compartment lid. I see no such ticket (I know what it looks like) and I'm thinking they took it off during paint.
Am i that rediculous that I can't find it!?!? Do I not know what the rear compartment lid is? Who knows... but it's not in my glove box or door or in the truck or under the lid for the top... I might have to check via VIN! I do that by calling a dealer I'm assuming...?
My issue. I read everywhere in here that my rpo should be in the read compartment lid. I see no such ticket (I know what it looks like) and I'm thinking they took it off during paint.
Am i that rediculous that I can't find it!?!? Do I not know what the rear compartment lid is? Who knows... but it's not in my glove box or door or in the truck or under the lid for the top... I might have to check via VIN! I do that by calling a dealer I'm assuming...?
^^Here is thread on where to get build sheet.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1975200
There should be one buried in the front of your car. Read the last post of the thread.
I just happen to be modding my car and found mine there. It's kind of funny because I own a Nassau Blue FRC. However, the build sheet calls it bright blue metallic.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
CALLED the dealer, gave the last 8 digits of the vin, they say it was (drumroll!) Black!!! 41U, 8555(WA number?). I guess I gotta find a good place to get it done now... anyone know a place near NE ohio? This is crazy I should just leave it alone but who knows.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
From: CHICAGO IL
if you are going to go through the expense of a good paint job it makes no sense to use a factory color. you will spend big bucks and it will look like every other '98 vette. i went with a color that i never saw on a vette. some people love it, some dont but it is definately original. also as far as getting a good job, it is not difficult to do a better job than factory. find a good painter and your car will be smooth as glass instead of bumpy like an orange.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
New paint needs clean surface
Hi, I'm not a paint expert, but having been in the old car hobby for decades, one thing I'm sure of is that if you make the investment to repaint your car, you should strip the old paint off. You've already got one repaint, and maybe two under there, putting new paint on top of that is not the best way to go. It's like putting new teeth on bad gums. You need to strip it to bare, prime coat it properly, block sand it, possibly prime again, and then lay on some good paint. New paint on top of a few repaints is looking for dissapointments down the road..
Good Luck
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
AGREED! As i said before if it gets paint, it'll be done right with sand down everywhere! Also... we'll see i'm going to ask my paint guy what he thinks of the overall job and if he says it sux, then it'll prolly be a new color rather soon!