I wanted to start a separate thread to document the paint portion of my build since there will be lots of paint pics. The main build thread is here with a little bit of everything I am doing to the car on it.

I have been slowly painting this car, panel off for a couple months now with a huge amount of help from JimmyS. We are doing all of the actual painting at his house since he has the equipment, and a much cleaner garage. I began a couple months ago by removing all the panels from the car and sanding them down. I also did a T-top conversion in the process so that meant cutting the roof section which I did right before bringing the sanded parts to Jimmy's.

From there we did a few small repairs and customizations to some of the panels. I also bought a set of the GT style 1 scoops from Fiero Fiberglass which I am very pleased with. With all the parts ready, we shot some high build primer, we used all Dupont Nason line of paints since they are affordable, quality paints and they were available close to home. The colors I chose are a light silver from a Land Rover for the upper half of the car, above the belt molding and a light metallic orange from a Nissan 350Z for below the belt molding. After shooting the primer, it was a tedious amount of wetsanding with 400-600 grit wet paper to smooth the primer and sand out any imperfections.

As of right now, all parts are in primer, most are wet sanded and ready for paint, and a few parts are already shot in color. On with the pics

The rear clip in primer, just before paint set up in the garage/makeshift paint booth at Jim's



Same with the windshield surround and rear roof strip



And those parts in color, look real hard at the rear clip and see who can spot the mod we did to it, it is subtle but a major change.





I plan to document all the parts of the car in this thread so it will be updated to show all as we progress.

-Joe

How do you plan to fill your tank? I would have to say it cleans up the side of the clip amazingly, and I am sure you have a great way to fill the system and you have me intrigued to see that.

The paint looks great too, very clean and shinny!

Chris

Dang, first response and within 15 minutes, good eye.

My plan is to relocate the filler neck under the decklid grille on the drivers side. I cut out an area of the inner fenderwell for that and the intake tubing and I want to make a new sheetmetal replacement to accomidate both of those. I also plan to cut a small section of the grill so I can hinge it up to access the filler neck without opening the decklid and removing the grille.

-Joe

coolll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like the clean look, but is there any concern of dripping or spilling gas on something in the engine compartment that might be hot?

Wow, that does look really nice with it smoothed over, but.....

That's a good point mentioned above! I sure wouldn't want even a drop or 2 of gas spilling, almost directly above the exhaust manifold! Especially, that no matter when you are putting gas in a car, the engine is going to be hot. (Ok, ok...unless you get up in the morning and use the lawn mower gas can LOL )

I was gonna see if JimmyS wanted to come over this weekend again, and slow your progress again LOL.... JK, it's looking great. Can't wait to see it in person in a few weeks.

quote Originally posted by JohnWPB: Can't wait to see it in person in a few weeks.

It won't be here!

All the paint will be done and the parts will be taken home to Joe's house. Can't do my swap/tech session unless all of Joe's parts are gone.

The door panels, front fenders and side scoops are next on the list to be painted and those will be done tomorrow.

[This message has been edited by JimmyS (edited 02-04-2011).]

Thanks for the compliments. While it was my idea, the actual filling and smoothing was all Jimmy.

As far as spilling gas on the exhaust, we will just have to see. The way I have the sheetmetal surround laid out in my head, any gas dripped or spilled should simply run down that. Plus the actual filler will be as far to the outside of the vehicle on the inner fenderwell as possible. I will have to put pics up when I get that done because I think its going to be a really cool mod.

Tomorrow we should get those other parts sprayed as Jim mentioned so hopefully I can post those pics tomorrow night.

-Joe

quote Originally posted by JimmyS: It won't be here! All the paint will be done and the parts will be taken home to Joe's house. Can't do my swap/tech session unless all of Joe's parts are gone.

Ummm looks like it will actually

quote Originally posted by joesfiero: Planning on being there, I think I could drive to your house blindfolded by now. I have the FSM and let me know what other tools you would like me to bring. -Joe

Lookin' good, Joe!

I am partial to two-tone Fieros.

quote Originally posted by JohnWPB: Looks like it will actually

MMM, negative. If you happened to have stumbled upon my build thread you will see that the car is in about 10,000 pieces right now. I hope to get it back together for Daytona, but there is no way it will be done for the tech meet at Jimmy's.

-Joe

[This message has been edited by joesfiero (edited 02-04-2011).]

Is your 2 tone giong to carry onto the front bumper as well? I'm interested in seeing your dividing line. I PSed some 2 tones,, and the front bumper just makes everything difficult!

Joe just left to head back home with the parts that were painted yesterday. I just emailed him all the pics from today. He will post them later.

Tomorrows list consists of the front & rear bumpers and lower rockers.

Joe is coming back on Monday and will have lots of parts ready for him to take home.

Heres the pics from today, enjoy. The orange came out just as I was hoping color wise. I am please with the contrast of the two colors and think they go well together.

As for the front bumper, yes it will carry the two tone. I can try to explain what I plan on doing but it should be painted tomorrow so I will just post the pics when I get them so you can see for yourself.

The doors with silver


fenders in silver




doors taped off, orange applied


And all the parts we did today finished, with clear.








There are many more pics of these parts in primer and different stages of paint, but these are just the necessary ones.

-Joe

i'm liking that color combo, can't wait to see the final results.

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For some reason I think some pin striping would look awesome on the orange part of the front fenders.

Can't wait to see it fully assembled in that two tone!

I think I like where this is going.......Yep, I do....I definately like where this is going.

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Are you going to be painting the moldings? If so what color, silver or orange? Looking real good, nothing brings out the
pride in a vehicle like a new paint job. Ray

quote Originally posted by johnyrottin: Can't wait to see it fully assembled in that two tone!

I agree.... Great job Jimmy.
One day I will have paint...
SmoothGT

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aka. SmoothGT
NotAFieroAnyLonger
CURRENT BUILD:
" SmoothGT-'w8nc' "
RIP. "Little Feather"

Nice combo there. I hope to be painting mine next month.

quote Originally posted by SMTHGT: One day I will have paint... SmoothGT

I think State law requires you to only use Primer!!!!!!! :P


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88 Formula CJB Arrived Finally. #689 of 1252 Time to start Working TONY!

There are Two kinds of Fiero's : Notchies and Donors!

[This message has been edited by Kento (edited 02-06-2011).]

Thanks! Yes the moldings will be on there and they will still be black. I think the black trim is really going to tie these colors together and painting it either silver or orange would look out of place.

I had someone ask me how much I am paying Jimmy to paint the car...... The answer is nothing.
Here is the deal we have between the two of us, and Jimmy if you want me to remove any or part of this let me know.

JimmyS is building a high end show car, chop top, built 3800sc with many of the same mods I have and even a few more. I have experience building motors and was a professional technician for a while and Jimmy knows what he is doing for the most part, but asked for my help with the inside of the motor and tuning, diagnostics, other general mechanical help, etc. I have little experience with body work and painting, but Jimmy has done his cars in the past and has some really nice equipment to do so. Therefore, we swapped expertise as an even trade and its working out great so far.

As far as the amount of work we are each doing, I was responsible for all the prep, sanding the old paint down etc. Jimmy did most of the mods like filing the antenna hole, fuel filler door, and repairing some small fiberglass areas. Jimmy shot all the primer and I had the liberty of wet sanding it all down smooth and getting the parts ready for paint. Jimmy did look over my work since he knows what he is doing and was able to catch some areas that I missed though. Finally, Jimmy is shooting the paint and clear and I will take the parts home for cutting and buffing. Most of the time Jimmy is shooting paint or primer, I am there helping, lifting or moving parts, generally getting in the way, etc. The main reason I am not there for all of the paint is because our schedules dont cooperate well and he is literally an hour drive from my house.

So theres the story. Jimmy is shooting the bumpers today without me and I am headed down there tomorrow to sand the hood and decklid and shoot the rest of the small parts. If all goes well the paint should all be done by the end of the week

-Joe

The only thing I would like to add to Joe's above post is that Joe is also supplying all the nesessary materials such as paint, sand paper, tape, masking paper and everything else needed.

As Joe stated... I have done all the necessary fiberglass work and repairs. I have been giving Joe quideance on how all the prep work needs to be done and also double checking all his work to make sure everything is up to par. I am also doing all the spraying.

I just finished spraying some more silver and will be spraying some orange in a few minutes. Then it will be clear time. Both front and rear bumpers, lower rockers and headlight doors will all be finished today.

After today, all that will be left to spray is the hood, decklid, rear spoiler and ground effects.

All paint work "WILL" be done this week.

quote Originally posted by JimmyS: All paint work "WILL" be done this week.

Weather permitting.....

OK, both bumpers, lower rockers & headlight doors are done. All pics have been sent to Joe for posting.

Well heres the new pics from today.

Front and rear bumpers in primer






headlight doors in color


bumpers in orange




and the front bumper in orange/silver






All parts in color and clear coated















Thats all for now guys and gals, thanks for looking at today's edition.

-Joe

[This message has been edited by joesfiero (edited 02-06-2011).]

looking dam good man, i have to say im relieved you didn't just paint the area inbetween the wheels. That allways looked unfinished to me. That color scheme looks great and the black trim will realy set it off, are you going to freshen up the trim as well, and are you going to pinstripe the front to match?

Thanks

I am freshening up the trim with black trim paint so it will all be new too.

I have no plans to pinstripe the front, or anywhere on the car for that matter. When I put it together I will know whether it needs to be done or not but I think it will look good the way it is.

-Joe

Good job Jimmy
Nice set up on the fans and filters, one can see where the orange is on the filters.
Is the orange 3 stage ? or base coat/clear coat ?

Joe
I know you must be happy with how your car is turning out
I am looking forward to seeing the car in Daytona.

[This message has been edited by 85LAMB (edited 02-06-2011).]

Thank you.

The fans work well for what they are. Being that this is all being done in my garage, I tried to set it up as close as I could to a real spray booth.

The orange is a basecoat clearcoat.

Wow, thats what I call disassembling for paint, lol. Looks good so far. My Sebring is about the same shade of orange. Corvette Sunburst.

Yep, disassembling was the plan. I would have left the roof section on but I did the T-top conversion so I had to cut most of it off anyway, it was another 2 minutes to pull the windshield surround after cutting the roof. I have some of the panels laying in place on the car and it looks really good, cant wait to cut and buff it and get it smooth as glass.

-Joe

Joe

The car is looking awesome ! Great job Jimmy !

Can't wait to see this one put all together and up close at Daytona.

BTW you mentioned modifying some panels,,,what exactly did you do ?

Antenna delete on the passenger fender, filled in the fuel filler door hole, filled in the nose badge holes, and filled in the "PONTIAC" on the drivers side headlight door.

Working on this car has been exhausting to say the least. It is depressing to think how many hours I have into just the body/paint part of my build, but it should be so worth it when its all put back together.

The car still has a long way to go from drivable, but I still have high hopes that it can make it to Daytona this March.

-Joe

No real progress on this yet. Jimmy is away from home on a family emergency and should return Monday. We should be able to get the rest of the parts painted next week no problem as long as the weather holds out on us.

I did begin installing some of the parts back onto the car, it looks so much better as a package than individual parts. I cant wait to see it back together finally.

-Joe

Hey Joe,

Looking great! You are inspiring me to do the paint on my Formula. I think I will do the body off process too! Can't wait to se the finished product.

Pat

Looks good, at least the photos of it I can see! (photobucket = boo)

Those side scoops look very familiar, I just finished drilling all the holes for mine (same style from Jimmy) last weekend and will be painting within the next month.

Looking forward to seeing it all together!

Brad

Joe, that paint's as sweet as candy on there. Can't wait to see it assembled and buffed up.

Great job so far. What brand of paint did you use?

quote Originally posted by katatak: Hey Joe, Looking great! You are inspiring me to do the paint on my Formula. I think I will do the body off process too! Can't wait to se the finished product. Pat

Pat , the off body method is what I am gonna do in March.

I arrived back home this morning after a mentally exhausting week from loosing my father.

Joe is coming down tomorrow and work will resume.