Repaint around headlights only or the whole quarter panel?

[plymouthcolt]

If there are LOTS of stone chips around the headlights, can just that area surrounding the headlight trim ring be sprayed, or must the whole quarter panel be sprayed?

Same thing for the hood--just spray from the edge up six inches or must the whole hood be done?

I was budgeting about $1,000 to fix these chips.

If I were to sand, prime, sand, prime--you get the idea, could I use primer from a can?

[hkspwrsche]

You should go to the paint store to get primer compatible with newer urethane paint or just let them fix the chips to make sure you're not charged for them to redo your primer job. To many rattle cans use laquer or some other type of primer that isnt going to work. Paint just the rings and them ask for some touch up or paint the whole panels in the other areas. Urethane paint cannot be reflowed so entire panels must be cleared even if the color is only going on repair areas.

good luck.. did you buy this one or still looking?

[plymouthcolt]

I am considering this one, the only reason I hesitate is how much would fixing all those chips costs?

[hkspwrsche]

Depending on where you go in MD I would guess $8-9 hundred. Depends on whether they charge extra because it's a "Porsche".....but normally they are charging extra for your attitude and not the car when your getting that treatment! I wouldnt be in any hurry to paint it. What part of MD are you in?
The amount I remember you were going to spend should get you a mint condition car....Wasnt it $20k or more?

[plymouthcolt]

I'm in Gaithersburg.

I was just worried about rust developing in the chips as I don't have a garage

I decided I couldn't stand the thought of a pristine 911 sitting outside in the elements (no garage) even with a cover. I remember how my brothers cherry Corvette looked sadder after every winter.

So I decided to get a an older one, in great mechanical condition inside, and not nit pick about the exterior so I don't feel bad about about it sitting outside.

Hopefully in a few years I will have a house with a garage and will look for an 88 or 89 1/2.

[john_colasante]

I think you are going to get different opinions on this question depending on the inclination of the guy doing the work. Some bodymen will think it is OK to fix only the repair area and "blend" the repair into the surrounding bodywork. Others will respray the whole panel. Still another approach is to spray the whole panel and "blend" into surrounding panels. If the paint is clearcoated then there are techniques relating to the way the clear is blended also. None of the approaches is technically right or wrong, it just depends upon the skill and experience of the guy doing the work. Some might want to save as much original paint as possible and others might not feel they can match the color good enough to blend a small localized area. I prefer the approach that saves the original paint. In any case, do not use rattle can primer.

[hkspwrsche]

Unless you make some special request to have someone single stage the guards red color on that car, they will two stage it aka base/clear the car. IF it's single stage they will put color on the whole panel as in has the gloss built into the color coat and new paint needs to wrap around the edges. When you 2 stage -You never put more color on than you need to acheive hiding over the repaired area and then you clear the entire panel(clear adds the gloss instead of being built into the color like single stage). Urethane paints cannot be reflowed .... the old days you could spot in the paint on a panel in acrylic or laquer and not actually paint the whole panel... that's 20-50 year old technology though and not what will be done in a shop. Ask around at shops near you.
So you are in fact refinishing the whole panel but, you only need about 12" or more to blend the color out and then clear the panel. That's the rule of thumb from Dupont and PPG paint schools. If you decide to purchase a car I agree that you should shoot for mechanically sound and dont worry about a few cosmetic chips. Although, any more than normal wear might indicate the whole car was not well taken care of. If you decide to get the repairs done I would be glad to investigate some shops in your area as it is related to my job and would be easy for me.

There is another guy on the site .. I think the name is keninc.. maybe he will also comment as he paints and I see him on another (non-porsche) site.

[plymouthcolt]

Harold, thank you for your help.

I am going to see the car this Saturday, and the PPI will be on Monday.

If you would recommend some shops in my area that would be awesome!