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Paint... together, or in pieces?


mikeatrpi

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I'm finally preparing to paint my ZX. I test fit all of the panels on the car this weekend. I plan to keep the doors on the car, the hood off, and the hatch off. I will also remove the bumpers and similar pieces.

 

But, should I keep the fenders / head light buckets on the car, or take them off?

 

IM001814.sized.jpg

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from my experience (very limited) if you want it to look really good, take them off, it doesn't take long and means that you can get a better coat on the joins/seams...(also means u can give the cones a bit more prep)....

 

The panel shop near me seems to follow the; quick job=on car, good job/resto=take off.

 

just my 2 cents...

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I am in the process of primering my 280ZX right now. I have all the moldings, trim, lights, latches, rubber seals, and emblems off. I have the hood, the doors, bumpers, and hatch off also. I would recommend the same if you want a good paint job. With all that stuff off its much easier to get in all the areas that were tight with those panels on. The only really hard part to get coverage on is the bottom of the hood in all those holes/creveses.

 

I have my hatch, both doors, and the hood in primer. I also have the area under the right fender in primer. I am going to put the fender back on and then do the body work on that fender with it on the car because it will be easier to do because the fender is so "floppy" off the car.

 

If you want a quick paint job just take off the lights, emblems, and bumpers. If you want a quality paint job do like I did and remove everything.

 

Guy

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I'm painting my front end (fenders, hood, flares, spoiler, bumperettes...etc.) off the car. The hatch (and possibly the doors) will be painted off the car as well. Nothing will be reinstalled until I have the wiring redone, motor running and interior installed. Just make sure you have a safe place to keep all the painted components.

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If you're going to just do a respray and keep the original color, and want to get on the road as soon as possible, you can keep the body together. Otherwise, pulling it apart is the best option. It's easier to get into the small parts that way and if you're doing a color change it's the only way to really get your jams done right. Whatever you do, be sure to post up pics as you go along

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I thought that you needed to paint some metallics and pearls with all panels in place?

 

On a show I watched the other day they were working on a car and painted just the jambs, under hood and trunk, and undersides of the trunk and hood. Then they installed everything and placed foam tape in all the jambs before they painting the exterior all put together. This ensured that they wouldn't get overspray on the nicely completed jambs, and that the exterior was all done at the same time with the same angles, coverage, etc.

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Thanks for all of the advice. The car will be black. I have a new hood (as if you couldn't guess!) and I've already painted the insides of the doors. I have had the car completely apart, and the photo above was taken while I was test fitting the fenders. I'm afraid that if I remove them I'll scratch them severely when I try to reinstall them.

 

The tip about painting them upright as they would be on the car is a good one, thanks particularly for that.

 

Looks like I'm going to be removing the fenders!

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well...i don't really know much about painting, but i did pick up some stuff in preperation for my car...

 

If you're gonna paint the pieces individually, you have to make sure that you're painting them in the same position as it would be on the car. Don't paint a door sitting hanging up, and the quarter panell sitting on the ground cause the paint will fall differently, and give you a slightly different color.

lol...just my $.02

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well...i don't really know much about painting' date=' but i did pick up some stuff in preperation for my car...

 

If you're gonna paint the pieces individually, you have to make sure that you're painting them in the same position as it would be on the car. Don't paint a door sitting hanging up, and the quarter panell sitting on the ground cause the paint will fall differently, and give you a slightly different color.

lol...just my $.02[/quote']

 

I thought that was with metalics/metal flakes and pearl paints? I don't think that is needed for solid colors.

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