Which paint is most durable for stripped interior?

collier · 11-30-2001, 08:10 PM

Hi everyone!!

I have a question about the type of paint to use on the interior of my car.

As of right now, I am planning a stripped "race" style interior, and am starting to collect information as to what is the best paint to use.

I can only assume that if I use the same exterior grade automotive paint, on the interior of my car, it will not hold up to extended use and exposure to feet, shoes, harness belts, etc.

Is there a durable type of paint that would be better to use on the interior? A paint that will act as a type of "armor"?

Another characteristic to this interior paint is that of color. I would prefer to have a paint that is available in white, so that it would better match my exterior.

I plan on painting the roll cage, floorboards, and all interior metal surfaces with this paint.

If those of you who have experience with a successful iterior paint could please share their stories, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

chris

Clark Griswald · Clark Griswald's Garage

The hot ticket is to have the interior and the whole chassis powder coated. Tough as nails, this will last a long time.

However you do need to strip everything to do this.

RoninLB · 11-30-2001, 08:59 PM

My first question would be What does factory do to their track cars and why? This could be art to those who know what they are looking at. I believe that a longer molecular chain will have a "tighter weave". A poly-urethane would have a longer chain than an acrylic-urethane IMO. A long strong chain would start me looking at marine or aircraft supply poly-urethane. That would start another food chain of their products. I don't know about industrial product art. Some long strong marine poly-urethanes are art. I would pick shade of white with a consideration of its ability to reflect light. My opnion would be a shade that is easy on eyes so that it would be easy to spend hours inside and do business. It's a business machine and the shade will enhance that.

campbellcj · 11-30-2001, 10:14 PM

I would use (and am using) black POR-15. "Rust proof", flat/matte in color and an extremely durable coating.

Unfortunately it's not available in other colors AFAIK, although that would be very cool if the mfr. could pull it off.

RoninLB · 11-30-2001, 11:08 PM

Por-15 is great stuff. I use it on suspension parts. I believe it comes in other colors. Maybe POR-69. My catalog is not close. I sometimes have a little weakness in its adhesion in some circumstances. I do prep surface as per instructions. Not as toxic as poly-urethane. Easier on weekend wrench to use all around.

GeorgeK · 12-01-2001, 12:06 AM

Me thinks a dark, non reflective color is the best. You don't want to have reflections from inside your car when racing on a sunny day.
GeorgeK

Planter91C2 · 12-01-2001, 08:42 AM

for the inside of the floorpans you could use that stuff that looks like sandpaper with a glue backing. i saw a guy who used that in an off-road vehicle and it worked well.

rscupper · 12-01-2001, 08:54 AM

Ronin, I have no clue what the factory would use.

I'm guessing they would spray thin for weight purposes, maybe keep it as non-flammable as possible, and maybe non-toxic when burned. I doubt if they would be too concerned about durability. Probably spray it once then touch up throughout the season as needed. The car will likely be completely rebuilt between seasons or scrapped/retired for the newest model.

Anybody know?

orbmedia · 12-01-2001, 01:05 PM

The factory race cars I have seen mostly have the interior painted in the body color with regular paint. The race cars are prepared from the same chassis that the production car would come from except there would be no underseal or sound deadening material applied and then the whole unit body is sprayed inside and out in the body color. I do not think they had special considerations for wear of the paint, after all the purpose of the car was only to last a a season or two so this was not a primary consideration. Sometimes I have seen the interior painted light grey but I am not sure if this was original. I have seen some factory cars like Cup cars with matt black roll cages. Also remember that when Porsche sells race cars to privateers the race team can repaint the car with special graphics and do anything they want with the interior so you really can't go wrong doing it any number of ways and still stay "correct". My advice would be to take a look at a bunch of Porsche race car interiors to get ideas.