Paint process suggestions - getting back to the project

thebanjoman

thebanjoman

Senior Member
After several months of no work on the car I'm getting back into the project.

Left a job to take another that was to be a step up and they pulled the job at the new company before I even started. Was out of work for a few months and drifted between contract positions and now have finally found a full time job again. It sucks out there...

I halted work on the car during this time to conserve resources for the unknown. Not what I wanted to do but kind of had no choice.

Now that Im back working again I've contacted FLOP to help out with the sheetmetal work. I never got the hang of the thin stuff and he'll get the car in a little while and do me a great job Im sure of. I was very happy with his fender work for me before I became unemployed.

When I get it back I need to figure out the best approach to getting it painted with the final color. I've never approached a paintjob from a frame off before.

Full paint off the frame or just paint the underside and then put it on the frame and mask it all off for the final prep ad paint.

I have a lift in my shop and took the body off and can easily put it back on myself the same way. That is how I envisioned the process. Body on and masked for final color. It will be just a simple black because that is what it was when Father In Law had it.

Its hard scheduling people to help get a body on and especially ones who would understand what care would be needed to get it on without hurting a new paintjob. This is shoe string and have to conserve $$ where I can and can put it on by my lonesome with the lift.

A good friend who owns a body shop will have his painter do the final prep and paint and I'll do all the grunt work labor I can. I've seen the guys work and he will do me right on the paint but I wanted to know if I'm taking the wrong approach by trying to save some money.

How is it typically done?
 
Cut the job in half to save on space. Fit the fenders and hood be sure they in good shape, prime/paint and store them out of the way. If the chassis is done, paint the underside, (I'm guessing this is a fun driver, not a super point restoration), get the body in primer and paint it. You can go back and color sand and buff the fenders, and then do the same to the body. This can take years, but that is a workable plan. Bob
 
Roadster62 said:
Cut the job in half to save on space. Fit the fenders and hood be sure they in good shape, prime/paint and store them out of the way. If the chassis is done, paint the underside, (I'm guessing this is a fun driver, not a super point restoration), get the body in primer and paint it. You can go back and color sand and buff the fenders, and then do the same to the body. This can take years, but that is a workable plan. Bob
Click to expand...

Nope, not a points car. Fun driver.

Yep can't sling a dead cat without hitting something in the shop. Would be nice to keep going on the project with body on to get space back and to be able to run it around the culdesac. If the neighbors can run their 'gators' up and down the street and nobody complains I should be able to run the "A" around a bit.

Thought about prepping the underside with 'herculiner' or something to keep it in good shape for the long haul.

Still have to buy all inside wood and bows so it will be a longer but getting it to the point where its driveable, even if it isn't in final color will be helpful.
 
I usually prime and paint with the body on the frame. The ones that I do are just fun driver model A's
IMG_0030.jpg
driver model A's
 
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