The Roadster NA Journey Begins

[Daffy]

Ready for testing, then paint. Should be ready for Morgan Park...

In a new GREEN paint suit? (I'll pm a day shortly to call by )

[Magpie]

In a new GREEN paint suit? (I'll pm a day shortly to call by )

Not likely at the moment, will duplicate current colours. If possible will paint the headlights to match or maybe they can go 'green'...

The ride height is about 10mm higher than with the previous splitter. This is a result of less weight and the profile of the one installed.

The 'old' splitter was 'rubbing' on certain corners at Lakeside and through the dipper at QR. Eastern Creek only has 1 corner that could be an issue, so will order some 12kg (F/R) & 10kg(R) springs to play with.

94 days of testing to go!

[Magpie]

Great weekend, rubbing back so somebody else could paint!

Mariner blue sunlight


From this






To this

[Daffy]

Magpie, this is going to look HOT

[beavis]

Very cool.
That thing is looking crazy.

[Magpie]

Thanks beavis and Daffy!

Now that I know what can be done at home the change in colour seems a more distinct possibility! The longest/hardest part was the prep work, the actual painting was over in about 3 hours (including gun cleaning between paint changes).

The primer was a 2 pack with slow hardener (General Paints 4462 -- 2K Rapid Filler Grey). The guards were primed a few weeks ago and still need to have the guards 'rolled' properly. There was never any consideration to put these on the car, they were to be 'spares' for doing test fitups... Plans do change! The gun used for this was an off the shelf Supercheap job that was given to me as a present many years ago and only came out of the box for the priming. Comments were the gun was perfect for priming.

The primer was dry sanded with 320, then wet sanded with 32, 400, 600 and finally 800.

The gun was changed to a 'professional' gun for the actual paints... The base colours (mariner blue and Mazda 38P aluminium) were clear over base paints. 4 coats of mariner blue was laid on the guards and 3 on the lights, then the guards were masked off and 4 coats of silver put down on the guards and splitter.

Then it was clear time, this was General Paints 6000 -- 2K HS Clear. All up 4 coats were put on the guards and splitter with 3 on the lights. All up used about 1ltr of clear.

Will start to fit the panels back up on Tuesday evening. Not sure if there will be a chance to polish the panels before Morgan Park as still have other things to do on the car before then.

[ManiacLachy]

Excellent work. You'll give billybunter a run for his money!

[Mr Morlock]

Billy, it appears, is using acrylic not 2K for home applications.

[Lokiel]

You're not keeping "The Toliet Seat" are you?

[billybunter]

paint job looks great so nice job. gives me the inspiration to want to paint mine again as Mr Morlock stated - I've never used 2K only the acrylic plus i don't have the knowledge or the facilities to use the stuff anyway.

ive been surfing the mustang build sites lately thinking would I like to have a final crack at one again. then reality set in as I've already had three of them and none were any good just new looking old cars which don't drive well

this part is interesting though. several of the threads were paint related and full bare metal restoration jobs. several owners tossed in their comments on their pro paint jobs.
to paint a mach 1 they were quoted from $15K for a full re-spray but not show quality and no panel work all the way up to $50K for a complete strip down/ panel work bare metal re-spray.

their quotes to buy a 66 model and get it to the driving stage and painted $50K the second car I ever painted was my 66 mustang and 15 years later I saw it for sale on carsales and the paint job was still on it so too the running pony

now I can't comment on 2K but if you ever thought about painting a car and wanted to go acrylic you can save a bundle if you do it yourself. plus you can rub out mistakes I think the paint shops charge too much. might have that wrong so i'd better say I don't think its worth paying them that much if you can settle for a home job yourself.

what really surprised me even on mustang restoration sites there are still a few using acrylic paint to do their paint job. same too on the holden sites and painting A9X's
which is the better paint? i'd have to say the 2k for sure. which is easier to use at home under the verandah or in the garage and not liable to do you in....acrylic

[StanTheMan]

For the average punter....say....me. A full paint job is a lot of work. Mine failed and a huge amount of invested time was wasted. But then Ive got some reasonable results with rattle cans years later on the same car

I'm on the verge of going down that route again. But this time I'll experiment with single panels first. I'll start with the front bumper & bonnet & review results. Then go from there. Ive heard BB (or was that Mr Mortlock?)going on about environmentally friendly 2K which I'm very interested in.....maybe I should camp out in Dubbo....or is it Orange?.....and hope Billy takes me under his wing.....

[ManiacLachy]

Billy, didn't you say you spent something like 100 hours on the red paint job? That's about $10,000 right there in labour alone. I agree the costs are staggering, but for the work required to do a good job professionally it's simply the reality.

I guess it's the same for any work we do on a car, labour is a huge cost component these day. If you can build your own engine, or install your own components you save a lot of money.

[billybunter]

true it took 100 hours on mine but that's because I changed the colour from white to red and its gonna take another 100 to put it back to white now if I wanted to re-paint it red i'd say 25 to 30 hours or less.

say in my case first i'd have to cut back all the clear coat or the new paint would not hold. best not do it on this thread but if you want to know more we can open a new one. meanwhile see this photo... I painted at least 15 cars with one of these including that yellow mustang

$150 will do it - you don't need a compressor this will do it.....slower but it will work. you just have to know a few tricks to use it

[Magpie]

Prep is the key, lots and lots of prep and sanding...

However it is going back together now Can now see the difference in the paint(s). The bonnet was painted about 4 years ago, as was the hard top.

A few more jobs still to be done before ready for Morgan Park on Saturday.

Together again by Eipeip, on Flickr

[ManiacLachy]

It's a race car, it doesn't need to be perfect. Looks great, I'm curious to see how it performs for you too.