Respray questions

Marinmcgreevy · 03-22-2005, 03:24 PM

I have recently bought an 84 Carrera coupe. The car is very original and is excellent mechanically. The guards red paint does is not up to my standard (which means it is pretty bad). The car has had some panels resprayed over the years due to what I think are parking lot wars. The body is very, very straight with only one small door ding on the PS door and PS rocker has some jack damage.

The car looks great from ten feet and especially good when wet (it was raining when I bought the car: doh!). The paint has many water spots due to I think a non breathable cover kept on the car when wet. The paint did buff up nicely but the spots remain.

Questions to the group:
1. Should I paint the car?
2. Does the car need to be stripped to bare metal ?(It is always going to be a daily driver: I would like it to look good for 10yrs).
3. What type of paint do I want the paint shop to use?
4. Any idea what it would cost if I remove everything except the front and rear windows (side windows, door handles, grills, lights, etc...) to paint the car? How much would it save if I did not have the car stripped?
5. Any recommendations for paint shops in the SF Bay Area? I plan on getting a quote from Whitman's in San Rafeal.

I have attached a photo of what the car looks like now.

Thanks!

LakeCleElum · 03-22-2005, 04:15 PM

Yes, repaint
No to taking down to bare metal - no advantage in doing this unless you have old cracking bondo to be removed. I've painted 9 cars myself, but new paints come on the market all the time. I used to use an acryalic (sp) enamel with a hardner that really added a great gloss. To save money, I'd suggest you remove the bumpers, trim, door handles, etc. Wipe down with a wax and grease remover and then sand yourself. You could even mask it and then take in for a painting. Costs really vary, so get local Pelicanites to recommend good paint shops......Bob

Zeke · 03-22-2005, 04:15 PM

I think I'd paint the car, especially if no color change is planned. You will save a day's shop labor by removing the bumpers, handles, etc.

As for stripping, it's not necessary, IMHO, if there are no cracks or crazing in the paint. A paint shop can prep, repair and seal the car and put a decent job on it.

lateapex911 · 03-22-2005, 04:31 PM

IF wet sanding won't do the trick, then a spray is in order....

All the prep is a ton of work, and needs to be done meticulously. If you do the prep yourself you can save $, but many shops won't like it, or won't do it. No warranty for sure. Sealing is the key to a respray situation like this.

terrym · 03-22-2005, 04:36 PM

Whitman's does excellent work but at a price. They quoted me almost $10K to do a 951 two years ago. Quote included $1800 in body work and was window out but not bare metal.

ricochet · 07:02 PM

Questions to the group:
I bought a 911 last year which needed more work than your, but mine was a good 30 footer, but I'll give an opinion worth about what ya paid for it. To each there own...

Questions to the group:

1. Should I paint the car?

I'd say yes, will make it (make you) happier to drive it. You can paint it, I do hear working with the newer stuff is much easier than my old Binks stuff.

How good do ya want her to look? Quality and price are somewhat related by what I've seen. If mine was newer or rare, I'd consider spending more than I will for a driver. I do want mine to look good when I get to that point (I am getting close). HTH

Marinmcgreevy · 03-25-2005, 02:48 PM

I did get to spend the day doing a little polishing with my machine buffer. I did get the water spots out. I used a combination of Simichrome polish, Mothers aluminum polish, and Griot's polish (1, 2, &3). I followed up with Klasse cleaner (with a mild chemical cutting agent), and then Griot's best of Show wax. The results are pretty good. I will have the hood and engine cover resprayed. They were abviously done at a different time with a lower quality paint.

Check out the reflection on the roof. This was the area with the worst water spotting.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

Marinmcgreevy · 03-25-2005, 02:54 PM

One more shot showing the car after the polish. Next is the wheels. I am going to paint the centers black. I do not like the total polished look.

porschenut · 03-25-2005, 06:35 PM

I wouldn't bother with a repaint. It's not worth the cost and your paint looks fine after polishing. If the hood and deck lid don't match the rest of the car, have a reputable shop paint them to match. They are easy to prep and won't cost much. If I were you I'd put the money elsewhere in the car (or in the bank), and plan for a complete respray a few more years down the line.

ricochet · 03-25-2005, 07:01 PM

I agree, she looks pretty good by the photos. I wish mine would buff out to look this good. It won't happen with mine, the last owners wife threw brake fluid all over mine in bad times.
She looks good and as the last post says, spend what ya must. She is going to be a good looking driver.
I'm going to shorten my last post, seems my info was overkill. But is what I plan to do.
You did good.

porschenut · 03-25-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ricochet
the last owners wife threw brake fluid all over mine in bad times.

Has she regained consciousness yet?

ricochet · 03-25-2005, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by porschenut
Has she regained consciousness yet?

I dunno, things got REALLY bad and he lost the car (seems everything else also), she made a terrible decision. He was in the middle of SEVERAL upgrades, she must have been one of them.

This car does look much better than I anticipated. My cars past is mostly unknown (except the brake fluid part) which was kinda evident.