Preparing and repainting a classic

[6219_Rules]

I have been looking into this further...and my son feels, with his experience, that we could learn to do it ourselves. Cost of the paint is going to be high since I want the original color. But I am not at all sure I want the original TYPE of paint. Can you or Jim tell me the differences, pros and cons to the enamel that is offered in comparison to the old lacquer?

By the way, remember when I said my paint was Belton Poly? I was wrong. I went out and looked at the body tag (Yes I forgot the first rule in doing anything....RESEARCH!!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ) and it turns out that my paint code is 2. Tad dah!!!! Eureka! Satori!! Antionette Blue!

<img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> "What an ultra maroon...what an embezzel..... what a gulla bull..." Bugs

[DizzyDale]

Dear Randall,SURE you can do it yourself,the only reason for my previous post was to make you aware of the cost of ALL these materials.It is my belief that the ONLY good thing about lacquer is the fact that it very forgiving.You can wipe it off if you run it,wipe it off if there is dirt in it and start over,or wait a while and sand and re-coat.Lacquer technology can not compare to material available in 2003 be it single stage or base-clear.diz

[Guest imported_BigDokk]

Just surfing around and came upon this subject. I've had the same paint questions for years, on many cars. Also, I learned the hard way, about when to pass on a car, due to restoration costs. A few years ago, a casual friend mentioned he had a 57 Stud Golden Hawk - supercharged for sale. It had wiring problems and did not run. I paid $2000 for it, had oodles of fun getting it back on the road, and enjoyed driving it. I knew I could never afford to do the paint and upholstery it needed, so I passed it along to someone else, breaking even on costs - no regrets. Currently, I'm having lots of fun with a 52 packard (same paint questions). I'm having fun with it, will not harm the car for future owners, and fully realize that I'm merely the custodian. I suppose this approach applys to all of life, but hey, enjoy!

[6219_Rules]

I could not agree with you more. Over the past year I have considered selling my '47 or the '77 Eldorado to finance one thing or another. Then I thought, what the heck...just enjoy them!

At some point I will have the '47 repainted in Antionette Blue. I can do this through some connections I have made for a smaller price than I had thought possible but in the long run I realise it has more to do with what I like than anything else. Right now I am planning on repainting and detailing the engine compartment on the '47, and redoing the wood grain on the interior for my own pleasure this spring when it warms up. I will do the very best I can to make it original again for my own pleasure. Because that is what it is about. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I will own many more cars before I die but I will keep the '47. So this thread is really more about how you detail and fix your car (in deference to Peter Hartmann) for your own pleasure, than how well it will do on any field of contest. Of course, if that is what gives you pleasure then by all means go for it!!! That is the fun of it all.

I want to thank you all for your input on this thread because it not only helped me to see this truth, but also how to go about attaining it through my own devices. Thank you all very much.

[mrpushbutton]

PH--just a little advice from the rust belt--in this order: Strip down to bare metal, EPOXY PRIME immediately halt future rust and form "binder" between host metal and body filler, Fill minor corrosion pits with body filler, coat with filling primer (like K-36), wet sand, paint. Of course, the following must be said: If you ask 5 experienced body men/painters/restorers how to "properly" do a particular job, you will get 5 impassioned responses, AND EACH ONE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!.