I am just curious, was the engine compartment painted after the body was painted at the factory? The last guy who restored the Vette has body paint overspray in some areas of the engine compartment. The reason I asked is that at a car show someone door dinged my left front quarter pannel and took out a paint chip ; I've decided to have the whole body painted; and, I want it to be as close to factory specs as possible. In addition, I've heard that I can paint the body basecoat/clearcoat and the door jams in laquer, and it could possibly pass NCRS judging. Any thoughts?

 

I don't know about the engine compartment, but most people can tell the difference between BC/CC and laquer.

Tom McCabe

 

In the case of sharks, and I expect midyears as well, the body was painted first. The way you can tell is that some type of paper mask was used to keep the underhood blackout from getting on the body color along the sides of the hood, and the edges of the blackout are "fuzzy" where the black paint spray has slipped under the mask. You will also see body color on the outside surface of the hood hinges, but that is simply where the mask prevented the blackout from getting to the body color. Otherwise, the hinges are painted black with the underside of the hood.

As to whether BC/CC with lacquer jambs will have the "appearance" of lacquer to the judges, I think a lot of it will depend on the painters skill. For example, if you flatten urethane to like 40 percent, it will also have the "appearance" of unbuffed lacquer, and you can paint the jambs with the same material. But the masking for the jambs has to be "shadow masked" (I think that is the term) to give you a soft transition from the exterior body gloss to the jambs.

With lacquer disappearing, the experts are coming up with some pretty tricky ways of making urethane have the "appearance" of lacquer. For example, if you must have BC/CC, then you will have to add color to the clear to keep it from being obvious. BC/CC is the most durable choice, but many are also recommending single stage urethane; it is not quite as durable but it eliminates the need for tinting the final coats. Other things to remember is when color sanding and buffing the urethane, don't take it all the way to "show car slick"...leave some orange peel just like the factory did. :D


[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 8:35 PM 9/4/2001]


[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 8:42 PM 9/4/2001]

 

Engine compartments were painted after the body color was applied in a process called blackout. The clear coat will probably result in a points deduction for NCRS judging. Can your paint supplier still obtain acrylic lacquer? Can you body man still legally shoot the lacquer?



[Modified by Easy Mike, 7:42 AM 9/5/2001]

 

Easy, the problem is that lacquer formulations have changed in recent years such that they are no longer the lacquer your daddy bought. Ask DuPont...Lucite is not what it used to be. Modern lacquers are highly susceptible to damage from acid rain (more prevalent) or even bird doo. For driven cars, the modern urethane finishes are definitely the way to go.

The NCRS attitude in judging has also begun to change; no longer is the mindset to discover the demon urethane with lacquer thinner wipes, but to judge the finish on the "appearance" of lacquer. If your painter knows what he's doing, he can make BC/CC very hard for the judges to detect. I know one long time NCRS member and Corvette enthusiast, who also happens to be a professional painter and shop owner, go from being a rabid anti-urethane zealot to believeing that urethane on restored Corvettes is an idea whose time has come.

Uh-Oh, my membership card is starting to smoke again. :eek: :eek: :D


[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 8:01 AM 9/5/2001]

 

Chuck, I risk hinting of my age here. My dad didn't buy the Ditzler. I bought it. True it's probably not the stuff shot on my cars at St. Louis, but the color match is near perfect and it is acrylic lacquer. The purchase was a few years back and I've not checked lately to see if the old stuff acrylic lacquer is still available in this area.

 

I did my '57 in base/clear for durability four years ago when I restored it; tinted the clear with base material to make it less obvious. Looks great, passed judging.

 

Convrat, your handle implies that you may have a 396. Is this so?

 

Yes, its a 396!

 

Mike, it is my understanding that it is illegal to paint laquer in Arizona. In addition, several people have told me that a laquer paint job in a 120+ degree garage wont last long...ever heard that?