Painted my car - Pics included

[Schmieder]

2 coats of Rustoleum with pentrol added for smooth dry. The surface was sanded to a 120 grit rough. Used cleaner to remove any wax and/or greases from age. All dings were patched and primed.

After 2 weeks I can polish with a polishing wheel then spray the last coat with an HVLP. It is a method similar to my professional method of painting front doors for new homes. My work looked glass smooth, literally. I always spent extra work on the front doors as it is usually the very first impression of the interior quality.

Rustoleum is a fantastic paint that withstands UV rays very well. btw, this isn't the cheap rustoleum method found across the I-net.

I still need to put up the racing strips and other pin strips planned but I have to spray the last coat before I can paint them.

Check it out...

[robertisaar]

5 o'clock shadow on white... not sure if i would do it... but i'll wait until the final pics to pass judgement on that.

[Schmieder]

5 o'clock shadow on white... not sure if i would do it... but i'll wait until the final pics to pass judgement on that.

Yeah, the final spray will make the difference. No matter how its done, nothing beats a good spray job.

The white needs some black details to tie it in right. Like reapply the strip down the side and add two moderately small sized racing strips along the top.

I didn't think the white would be so bold but it's not bad. I kinda like it.

I bet when the final spray is done with the HVLP and the black details are added, it will shine.

[1988GTU]

Looks like it has big meat bogger tires with the black flares. I would have done charcoal gray in place of the black.

Looks like it was done pretty good though!

[Schmieder]

Looks like it has big meat bogger tires with the black flares.

Ahh man, that made me laugh! Big Meat Boggers, lol.

Thats the cars new nick-name...Meat Bogger

[1988GTU]

yeeeAp, time to crack open a cold one after a hard days worth of mud boggin in the field!

[ForcedFirebird]

Close ups? I also would have left the fender flares white, but appears to be a neat jobber.

[Schmieder]

Close ups? I also would have left the fender flares white, but appears to be a neat jobber.

The fender flares were a tough one. White or black. After reviewing two photoshop images of either, my Wife and I settled on the fenders black. But with the pin strips it looks better.

I could give a close up, but you will see a very slight orange peel. Plus the white needs one more coat for complete coverage.

Once I get the final sprayed coat on, I will provide a close up. Then it will shine like glass. It's a method I used on metal doors and it works great. This is my 1st time doing it to a car but the concepts are the same.

[ForcedFirebird]

Even factory paint has orange peel, it's just consistant. The only way to avoid that is to color sand prior to the clear, then another wetsand and buff after.

[95SleeperAcheiva]

AH! come on! Don't tell me every one of you can paint too!? Here I been stuck with my Yuppie green metallic and can't see dropping the 3-5k for a paint job and you guys ALL know how to spray!?

I starting to hate my car.

[robertisaar]

AH! come on! Don't tell me every one of you can paint too!? Here I been stuck with my Yuppie green metallic and can't see dropping the 3-5k for a paint job and you guys ALL know how to spray!?

i have a rattle-can special planned for wifey's GP as soon as it starts getting warm... but then again, my father AND uncle have been in the auto-body business for quite some time...

[ForcedFirebird]

AH! come on! Don't tell me every one of you can paint too!? Here I been stuck with my Yuppie green metallic and can't see dropping the 3-5k for a paint job and you guys ALL know how to spray!?

I starting to hate my car.

I have sprayed, but don't like to, my friend has a body shop and generally just give him the jobs.

[Schmieder]

AH! come on! Don't tell me every one of you can paint too!? Here I been stuck with my Yuppie green metallic and can't see dropping the 3-5k for a paint job and you guys ALL know how to spray!?

I starting to hate my car.

spraying isn't real hard. Just do it.

But some simple advice.

(1) The prep means everything. A good paint job must rest on a Great prep job.
(2) Details, details, details.
(3) Never spray too much. Do not spray the same area twice until fully dry. Most newbies screw up here. Runs WILL result. It is very easy to make runs. You have to try to spread the coatong out well.
(4) keep the spray angle consistent. Do not pivot on your wrist. Use your arms to move the spray gun as if it were on rail systems.
(5) Do not spray the ground as you will kick up dust mixed with paint. It will hit your paint job and make a cheap imitation of what sand paper is on the cars body.
(6) Spray in a garage and if no garage, you MUST wait until the wind is near zero. A slight breeze will carry your spray away from its target and place it else where.
(7) Spray can travel wet up to 50 feet on humid days. Mind your neighbors car and house. Best to spray in low humidity.
( Always protect your lungs. You will be using oil based paints, nasty stuff.
(9) Keep several rags with thinner on it handy. You may need to wipe paint in a hurry.
(10) DO NOT RUSH IT

edit: If you have no garage, be smart about the landscape. Find out what direction the wind is blowing from and see if there is any dust, leaves or junk that will drift towards your car.

You can also get a garden hose and soak the area around the car (but not the car) to prevent dust kick up.