paint question (Page 1/3)
cam-a-lot AUG 06, 07:50 AM
Hello everyone

Time has come to repaint my 88 GT. Car had perfect paint, almost all original, but an unfortunate incident has damaged the paint in several spots so I will need to get the car repainted. Would you believe that a faulty wire going to the starter motor shorted out... causing the starter motor to engage while car was parked and in first gear. Car went right through a friend's garage door, scratching the crap out of the paint and destroying the garage door. Creepy but true.

I like the stock red, though may want something a little different this time. The Audi S3 has a really nice blue that I like too, but changing colors may be difficult unless I get panels pulled?

To paint a fiero properly (assuming I take it to a reputable shop), Is it better to remove any panels? If I keep the car red, I assume there is less need for disassembly? Mirrors/ trim/ tail lights. etc should come off to avoid accidental overspray?

I am looking for high quality, long lasting paint, not cheap fix. Would appreciate any suggestions/experience with this.

Also, are any of the new " ceramic coatings" worth it, or is it sales fluff? This is a car I plan to keep for many more years.

Thanks
Raydar AUG 06, 11:31 AM
My Formula was black with a maroon rear clip when I took it for paint. The decklid was... white?
I removed my rockers, wheel well liners, lower quarters, side moldings, engine grills, and all the black trim around the back window area.
Also removed my mirrors and bumper emblems.
Wanted to make it as easy as possible for my painter to do a good job.
Mirrors, lower quarter (scoops), and lots of the removed trim were painted off the car, and then reassembled.
(I ran out of skill and patience when mudding the whaletail. I asked my painter to finish it.)

Before paint. Still had the rockers and lower quarters.


Just after paint, and reassembly.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-06-2022).]

IMSA GT AUG 06, 11:34 AM
I don't understand panel-off paint jobs on these cars especially if a person wants a metallic color. To try and match the exact application of coats per panel so the metallic looks even is very difficult. Metallics should be sprayed as 1 big panel to keep the flake pattern even so you don't have blotches of metallic, unless you have a VERY good painter.

If you have a good painter, he can work around any issues on the car. The items in green are what I would remove. The reason I recommend the headlight doors be removed is so the painter can spray the inside lip of the hood as well as the entire edges of the headlight doors.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 08-06-2022).]

cam-a-lot AUG 06, 04:56 PM
thanks for the advice.

Is it a lot more hassle to change colors? Should I expect to pay more?
IMSA GT AUG 06, 06:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by cam-a-lot:

thanks for the advice.

Is it a lot more hassle to change colors? Should I expect to pay more?



It shouldn't be more and it's no hassle to change colors because our cars have no matching door jamb paint. The only thing they need to spray is the sill plate. The rest for the door jamb and door is black.
On new cars where part of the door, hinges, and jamb are color matched, yes it is more hassle. Even the undersides of the decklid and hood are black so really the only thing the painter has to worry about is the exterior.
Raydar AUG 06, 10:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:
...
The items in green are what I would remove. The reason I recommend the headlight doors be removed is so the painter can spray the inside lip of the hood as well as the entire edges of the headlight doors.





I forgot... I did remove my headlight doors. Of course I removed the tail lights. Figured that was "a given".

There are jambs to be painted. Inside the "frunk", and under the decklid.
My painter got those, too. He also painted the bolt heads, but not a big deal.
Awalker W02 AUG 07, 12:43 PM
I recommend taking the panels off. And any reputable painter would recommend so as well. It is next to impossible to prep around moldings and items. Also any reputable painter won’t have any issues keeping consistent when painting metallics and pearls. Yes there are a lot of variables with the way metallic lays but the truth is the metallic will lay different on the bumpers than it will with the doors and that will even lay different than the hood and smc panels. The substrates are different which hold static different and makes the metallic flop different. Go to the dealer and look at a high metallic or Pearl car. You will notice the bumpers don’t match the fenders and quarters. Painted at the same time in the factory. Every fiero I have painted has been panel off. Except the roof skin, and I have never had any color match issues and I don’t have any hardliners and chances for paint to peel at those hard lines where things are not properly prepped. Truth is one person can usually have it disassembled in a day. A little more time to reassemble but worth it. Just my 2 cents.

Painted the orange car 5 years ago and the white one I just finished up this year.
13 was done last year and the blue about 4 years ago. All holding up strong.

[This message has been edited by Awalker W02 (edited 08-07-2022).]

cam-a-lot AUG 20, 03:43 AM
Thanks for the replies

I am still torn about panels off or not. I have decided to keep the car red. My concern about panels off is that it is impossible to find a body shop locally who has experience taking panels off a Fiero. In other words, they may be "learning" on my car..

By panels off, I assume you are also suggesting removing all the moldings, door trim (car is GT), bumper covers, etc?

What are some areas of concern I should warn the body shop about when removing Fiero panels without previous experience? Any special (or unusual) tools needed?

I saw a nice 2019 Jetta R Line today with a red that I think would look good on a Fiero. Slightly deeper red than mine

[This message has been edited by cam-a-lot (edited 08-20-2022).]

hyperv6 AUG 20, 05:26 AM

quote
Originally posted by cam-a-lot:

Thanks for the replies

I am still torn about panels off or not. I have decided to keep the car red. My concern about panels off is that it is impossible to find a body shop locally who has experience taking panels off a Fiero. In other words, they may be "learning" on my car..

By panels off, I assume you are also suggesting removing all the moldings, door trim (car is GT), bumper covers, etc?

What are some areas of concern I should warn the body shop about when removing Fiero panels without previous experience? Any special (or unusual) tools needed?

I saw a nice 2019 Jetta R Line today with a red that I think would look good on a Fiero. Slightly deeper red than mine






Panels off can be done but make sure your painter can handle the job and is willing. It will add much to the cost.

Also does the entire car need painted. Mine I have only done some panels from an accident or added to the car. Half of it is original paint yet.

It is good enough that I won best paint about a year ago over a lot of very expensive GTO paint jobs.

[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 08-20-2022).]

IMSA GT AUG 20, 03:44 PM
This is a panel off paint job. Ask yourself if it's necessary when simply going to a darker shade of red. Then the painter has to worry about adjusting gaps in the panels and broken fasteners.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 08-20-2022).]