Topic: Fiber Glass body work advise
in Forum: C4 Body
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San Jose, CA - USA
Joined: 5/10/2012
Posts: 81
Vette(s): 1988 Corvette / Blue Pearl
Rear quarter panel is scuffed a lil and I'd like to repair it myself , I'm familiar with sheet metal on older cars ......but not fiber glass ....What grit sand paper should I use ? I want to fix this scuff and then prep the whole car for re-paint .....And I decided to go with a color change . I like that Red Jewel color on the Newer GM Cars & Trucks & I've bought some nice ARE ( BBS style ) 17inch rims and I'll paint them the same color as the car .....It will look Very Sweet . 
http://www.c4vetteregistry.com/member_uploads/15901_16000/15940/8E95E_ARE_rim.jpg
http://www.c4vetteregistry.com/member_uploads/15901_16000/15940/8E95E_ARE_rim.jpg
(LARGE image converted to live link & duplicate post deleted -aapple)
|UPDATED|6/7/2012 9:26:13 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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Are you sure?! I used to do paint repairs to support my racing habit. With new water borne base/clear paints you really need to get into a booth. Base coats are actually easier to shoot and you can do touch-ups before you move to the clear coat. The big labour is the prep work and the sanding, build coats, and sanding ... then to get it straight, more sanding and when it's finally close with steps down to as fine as 1000 grit. On top of that, all the plastic like the bumpers take a flex additive. I'm working on a second front bumper which I stripped with 220 wet/dry before moving to 400 for 1st coat primer. But, it's a lot of time consuming work. If you're going to do the whole car, you might want to talk to some blasting shops that use walnut shells or plastic grit. Then spend time with sealer, primer and build coats with a bunch of careful sanding. You might find it difficult to find a shop to shoot the colour coats in their booth if they haven't done the prep work too. There's video and self help info out there but it's a huge job and easy to screw up. You absolutely have to get the surface straight within a few thousandths so it looks good and that takes a lot of practice. I always found shooting the colour the fun part because you see big changes in a hurry as long as the prep work doesn't ruin the top coat and that includes fish eyes from contamination. It got so I hated all the prep work. Seems to go on forever. If you still decide to take it on, I wish you the best but have a professional look it over before you go to colour or you will be disappointed.
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San Jose, CA - USA
Joined: 5/10/2012
Posts: 81
Vette(s): 1988 Corvette / Blue Pearl
Thanks for your advise 396, I had no idea it was so much involved with the water based paints ......I need to do some more research
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San Jose, CA - USA
Joined: 5/10/2012
Posts: 81
Vette(s): 1988 Corvette / Blue Pearl
I've got a few good estimates & I will get the Fiberglass repaired Monday and the Car Painted a different color a week or 2 later , I never liked the smoke Gray or Charcoal Met. .....So I'm changing it to a color close to Lemans Blue 
in Forum: C4 Body
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