Alright Pelican OT- help me prep and paint this stupid car

[ryans65]

I started a thread about an MG Midget I got for free nearly a year ago and that car led to another free 69 MG Midget project that I (foolishly) thought was going to be a quick one to get painted and back on the road. Well here we are three body/ paint guys and approx 9 months later and it's still not painted so I've decided why not give this a shot myself. Someone has already done most of the hard work for me so I'd imagine if you could start anywhere on a first time body/ paint project it would be something like this so here it goes.

As it sits the car has a new hood, quarters, most of the floor pan and some other repairs here and there. It was acid dipped and epoxy primed and then it looks like someone started working on the fenders and thats about where it stopped.



I think my first step is to get the removable parts worked starting with the fenders. It looks like someone started doing some work with filler on the fenders then stopped. I don't know if all of the filler that was applied needs to come off or if I should just start with the stuff that's already there and see how I can get these looking?





I know there's a lot of knowledge in this forum so I kindly ask for anyone's input or suggestions. Sell it is not one of the options I will consider as I am more determined than ever to get this painted.

This is the look I'm going for, it was a BRG car and I have a set of minilite knockoffs for it.

[ryans65]

As for the interior areas that aren't being finished like an exterior panel, what is typically done as far as paint work? For the fender well area I'd like something like a stone chip finish, I've seen that raptor liner used for undercarriages, could I do something like that for the inner fenders and undercarriage?

[1990C4S]

It's not going to see any weather, why take unnecessary steps on the inside of the car? Paint it the same as the exterior.

Paint the wheel wells (and the underside?) with an epoxy bed liner (something like Raptor Liner).

I would paint the exterior with enamel paint. This video has some good suggestions (there's also a follow on where he sprays the cab white).

[mgatepi]

I see a LOT of sanding in your future!

[ryans65]

Yes! I was hoping to avoid that but finding a body and paint guy has proven to be nearly
impossible.

I'll take a look at that enamel video later.

Originally Posted by mgatepi

I see a LOT of sanding in your future!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by ryans65

This is the look I'm going for, it was a BRG car and I have a set of minilite knockoffs for it.

First of all, no one calls me Rembrandt for a reason, so I got nothin' other than what a neat project and beautiful color choice.

Keep the updates flowing!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I would paint the exterior with enamel paint. This video has some good suggestions (there's also a follow on where he sprays the cab white).

Old style enamel or a two part?

I see. Non-automotive it appears. (not discounting - I need to watch the vid)

Limco with a hardener? For a simple color it works well. It's kind of like farm equipment paint but with elbow grease it can shine like a 911 and is durable.

[Zeke]

All you will ever need to know is on a YT channel "paint society."

[dad911]

If you are going for a driver as opposed to a show car, I was surprised how good the results were on my spec boxster (roof, interior, cage) using a $20 HF HVLP conversion gun.

[Tobra]

Tan interior, not black.

You paint the whole shell, you polish the paint that shows

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Zeke

All you will ever need to know is on a YT channel "paint society."

I was going to post something similar. Watch videos, gather knowledge and tools, then practice on the doorjams, the trunk, the engine bay, the wheelwells, the interior, etc, to get your products and processes down, then you'll have skills and muscle memory when it comes time to lay down the final finishes.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by dad911

If you are going for a driver as opposed to a show car, I was surprised how good the results were on my spec boxster (roof, interior, cage) using a $20 HF HVLP conversion gun.

This is an important distinction. If you want a show car you either need a lot of time, or a lot of money.

[PointSeven]

Painted this for our daughter. Single stage solid color from WESCO paints, HF compressor and one of their better guns ($20) in the garage. Color matched at store (Salmonberry white) and being single stage, you can sand out any runs or issues.
Painted engine bay body color, wheel houses/frame in matt black rattle can.

[ryans65]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

First of all, no one calls me Rembrandt for a reason, so I got nothin' other than what a neat project and beautiful color choice.

Keep the updates flowing!

It's only right that I paint this british racing green, it's the original color of this car and one of my favorite colors of any brand vehicle!

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Old style enamel or a two part?

I see. Non-automotive it appears. (not discounting - I need to watch the vid)

Limco with a hardener? For a simple color it works well. It's kind of like farm equipment paint but with elbow grease it can shine like a 911 and is durable.

I'll have to check out more of the enamel videos, I've never sprayed anything with a real gun so I'm hoping maybe I can practice on something with a few types of paint.

Originally Posted by dad911

If you are going for a driver as opposed to a show car, I was surprised how good the results were on my spec boxster (roof, interior, cage) using a $20 HF HVLP conversion gun.

It's a driver for sure, I've seen some various videos that have good things to say about the HF guns.

Originally Posted by Tobra

Tan interior, not black.

You paint the whole shell, you polish the paint that shows

That's where I was confused on how to "stage" the paint proces. Maybe when it's time I'll start with the interior since it's probably already at the point where I could simply just scuff it and shoot it.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I was going to post something similar. Watch videos, gather knowledge and tools, then practice on the doorjams, the trunk, the engine bay, the wheelwells, the interior, etc, to get your products and processes down, then you'll have skills and muscle memory when it comes time to lay down the final finishes.

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

This is an important distinction. If you want a show car you either need a lot of time, or a lot of money.

Thank you both for the input.

I've got one more local guy to feel out until I really dig into this thing. This isn't my first go around getting something painted but I feel it's getting pretty difficult to get someone to take on work like this. It's a tiny car too that needs zero disassembly.