DIY Body & Paint

[Otee453]

Hi friends.

I set out to build this car start to finish, from the rear end, to the engine, to the body & paint. So far, the only thing I haven't "built" myself is the new Tremec (and the chasis & components, etc...). So the body & paint thing is next and Im going to follow Srobinsonx2 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?24274-Srobinsonx2-Bodywork) thread on his body & paint job.

Two questions....

1) I have cut the entire gel coat (MKIV body) with 80 grit and I plan to do the body filler first, before the multiple coats of slicksand. Srobinson did it the other way around.... slicksand BEFORE fitting doors and body filler. Since 2017 when Srobinson did his work, am I correct that the preferred method now is to do the doors, hood, trunk fit and the body filler on parting lines and door/hood/trunk areas before the slicksand?

2) I was planning to paint base/cc, black. No stripes. As a first timer, is black too fiddly for a beginner? I realize that a black paint job depends entirely on my ability, or maybe better put... willingness to put the time and effort to achieve near perfection in the bodywork and cut & polish? Is black just better for someone who has a car or two under their belt first, having a bit of a learning base to go from instead of learning on the first one? The entire process doesn't seem too daunting to me, except for cut & polish!

Just to prevent the inevitable suggestions to come.... I have ample clean/dry air & good equipment & guns. I will be painting in a giant inflatable paint booth inside a giant covered RV port. The booth is one of the slightly better ones with an an additional extraction fan. Im prepared for the inevitable mistakes, and the insane time investment.

Final note.... the Sronbinson thread is simply amazing. What a great thread, and so much respect for the pros (the Jeffs & others) who helped him throughout.

Thanks!

[Presto51]

I would say two items:

Follow what both Jeff's say to the letter, they won't steer you wrong.

No matter how much experience you have with painting black, it's always a demanding mistress.

Ron

[Gumball]

I did it myself, but enlisted the help of a local friend who owns a bodyshop..... along with the Jeffs and many others here who went before me.

The only thing I didn't do was spray the clear.

My bodywork thread is here.... https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?7645-Chris-Bodywork-Thread-Mk3-1&highlight=chris+bodywork+thread

Although my car is Ivy Green (stock '65 Mustang color), it appears very dark in certain light. So, as for doing a black yourself as a first-timer.........

[Jeff Kleiner]

Otee,
Years ago I did Slick Sand mid way but not now. All bodywork, fitting, gapping is done prior to applying the Polyester high build. The only thing I do afterwards now is any touch up work necessary before moving on to the 2K Urethane primer surfacer.

Good luck!

Jeff

[Otee453]

Otee,
Years ago I did Slick Sand mid way but not now. All bodywork, fitting, gapping is done prior to applying the Polyester high build. The only thing I do afterwards now is any touch up work necessary before moving on to the 2K Urethane primer surfacer.

Good luck!

Jeff

Thanks! That confirms my research
A valuable thing Ive learned on this forum and how to use it... these cars and the best learned methods/processes of building them has evolved over the years (some has stayed the same). Read as many posts as you can but always be aware of the age of the posts. What may have been a common process 10 years ago may not be the most efficient process today.

[j.miller]

YEP! ....what the other Jeff said...da Bat

[GoDadGo]

YEP! ....what the other Jeff said...da Bat

My pal Sammy and I followed the Jeff & Jeff plan and my car came out very well.

https://youtu.be/po1Bb2_XDDk

The only things we did differently was to use Fibertech on a few parts of the body that required additional stability and of course my slice and dice driver's door mod.

https://youtu.be/9WEe6-wdNtA

You've got to be crazy to enjoy bodywork, so I guess that is why Jeff & Jeff get along so well.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Thanks! That confirms my research
A valuable thing Ive learned on this forum and how to use it... these cars and the best learned methods/processes of building them has evolved over the years (some has stayed the same). Read as many posts as you can but always be aware of the age of the posts. What may have been a common process 10 years ago may not be the most efficient process today.

You are exactly right! As I alluded to in my earlier reply I've modified my process significantly over the years. Things have changed and my methods have evolved in the 10 years that have passed since I wrote up the Mk4 bodywork thread. Because of this I think that I may have added a disclaimer at the beginning stating that it should be used as a representation of the scope of work involved and not so much as a step by step tutorial.

Jeff

[nucjd19]

I am sort of in the same boat as you Otee. I want to do everything stem to stern. My older brother is going to help me. He has done a little body work over the years but he is a luthier and paints high end guitars. He swears we ( meaning he ) can paint it. Just gotta get the prep right. I have been squirreling away Jeff and da Bat threads for 6 months to get ready for it. Also have the compressor and paint guns from another project we did. Where did you get your portable paint booth? I am planning on building one in my new garage with air filtration when that time comes. OR I just might chicken out and get in line with one of the awesome body/ paint guys that have been doing it for years LOL!! I will know more when I start really trying to fit the body and panels if I really want to tackle this part of the build. Also I am planning black with no stripes too.

[egchewy79]

I am sort of in the same boat as you Otee. I want to do everything stem to stern. My older brother is going to help me. He has done a little body work over the years but he is a luthier and paints high end guitars. He swears we ( meaning he ) can paint it. Just gotta get the prep right. I have been squirreling away Jeff and da Bat threads for 6 months to get ready for it. Also have the compressor and paint guns from another project we did. Where did you get your portable paint booth? I am planning on building one in my new garage with air filtration when that time comes. OR I just might chicken out and get in line with one of the awesome body/ paint guys that have been doing it for years LOL!! I will know more when I start really trying to fit the body and panels if I really want to tackle this part of the build. Also I am planning black with no stripes too.

you might want to check with some of the body/paint guys before you start doing body work. some won't take on your project if you've already started the body work. They'd rather start fresh than correct mistakes you've made along the way.

[nucjd19]

you might want to check with some of the body/paint guys before you start doing body work. some won't take on your project if you've already started the body work. They'd rather start fresh than correct mistakes you've made along the way.

Yea I know. Fitting the body and panels and driving in gelcoat for this summer is my plan which will give me ample time to commit to the body or not.

[Avalanche325]

DIY. Black. Never painted a car before. You can do it.

[Otee453]

I am sort of in the same boat as you Otee. I want to do everything stem to stern. My older brother is going to help me. He has done a little body work over the years but he is a luthier and paints high end guitars. He swears we ( meaning he ) can paint it. Just gotta get the prep right. I have been squirreling away Jeff and da Bat threads for 6 months to get ready for it. Also have the compressor and paint guns from another project we did. Where did you get your portable paint booth? I am planning on building one in my new garage with air filtration when that time comes. OR I just might chicken out and get in line with one of the awesome body/ paint guys that have been doing it for years LOL!! I will know more when I start really trying to fit the body and panels if I really want to tackle this part of the build. Also I am planning black with no stripes too.

My original plan was to go matte ratrod black with gloss black stripes. Thought I would be super original. Then I saw Kleiner has that scheme. It totally burst my bubble thinking Id be "original". I could only imagine every FFR guy in the entire world who saw my car would say, "Hey! you copied Kleiner's car!". It would be like the antithesis of originality. Haha!

As I have talked to people in the trade, I realized that the perfection in spray technique and booth cleanliness required for matte black was not practical for a first timer. So now Im on gloss black.

The booth I chose was Sewinfla brand. You can find them on ebay and amazon. They are just the typical cheap china made booth with one twist that I could not find on any other china booth..... You can add an exhaust fan attachment. All of these booths have a blower to inflate, and on the larger booths, a second blower to create positive pressure ventilation. The Sewinfla booths have an additional available attachment for a 12" blower/exhaust fan (have to buy both attachment & blower separate). All things I could find on these booths, people say that the ability to add an exhaust fan drawing air out of the booth is a huge plus, particularly when shooting clears. A year ago, someone on the FFR forums was selling an inflatable booth. I messaged him regarding his opinion on the inflatable booth and he really liked it.

There are high end commercial grade inflatable booths, made from the material used to make heavy river rafts (PVC??). Costs as much as building a near professional booth.

[Otee453]

DIY. Black. Never painted a car before. You can do it.

THANKS!!!

That gives me confidence. I just so love to see the old muscle cars in gloss black & chrome. Like a black mirror!

[Jetfuel]

Yes you can do this
Preparation is key and patience will get you the results you’ll be proud off
My recommendation to you is...after hours of sanding and running your hand over the area to feel how smooth it is and before you call it excellent run your hand over it again but this time place a thin cloth between your hand and the job...
You’ll see what I mean

Jet

[Ch@0s]

My pal Sammy and I followed the Jeff & Jeff plan and my car came out very well.

https://youtu.be/po1Bb2_XDDk

The only things we did differently was to use Fibertech on a few parts of the body that required additional stability and of course my slice and dice driver's door mod.

https://youtu.be/9WEe6-wdNtA

You've got to be crazy to enjoy bodywork, so I guess that is why Jeff & Jeff get along so well.

You did great! I have painted a few cars in my day and done a lot of panels here and there so I am quite comfortable with the painting process. I have how ever not done any significant body work. I have been reading all the threads I could find in preparation.

We dropped the engine and transmission in last weekend and I am now starting the wiring. I imagine within the next month or two I will have a running car.

The plan is to drive the car once done and do the body work next winter. I am in central Texas, if I am lucky I will be able to drive the car until December before I pull the body off to start the paint process. :)

[Avalanche325]

I read this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Your-Show-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0760332754/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=how+to+paint+your+show+car&qid=1623695522&sr=8-4

And of course read everything on the forums. Our two Jeff's are priceless resources! Follow their product and materials recommendations, and you will be fine.

I know for a fact that there was one layer of filler that I completely sanded back off. You won't be fast, but you can get a great paint job if you are willing to over-do it on labor. I also only used top quality products from tape, sandpaper and paint. The pros know what is good enough, but I don't. I figured I needed all the help I can get, so no skimping. My labor was cheap.

I drove mine for a summer. Starting disassembly was hard.