NOT painting a Kikham?

[tchilds]

Hello everyone - I see some familiar names out there but need some more advice.

Just bought a Kirkham roller to be delivered in April or so - I've always planned on a royal blue car but found out from Kirkham that they ship the car assembled. Sounds great until you realize that to paint it - you have to disassemble EVERYTHING, paint the body, then put it all back together again and hope it all still works perfectly. This worries me significantly. I have met one body shop guy who will wrap everything on the car to paint it but three concerns exist there: 2-3months of time, $6-7000 dollars, and then, what if he accidentally oversprays something important or the paint lines are not good under the edges of the body?

Thus - I have 2 questions
1) Has anyone ever seen an unpainted aluminum body with painted black ghost stripes and, if so, does this look like a silver/black combination or does it look terrible?

2) How many people have seen unpainted aluminum cars and what do they look like - do they look unfinished or cool?

If both of those options are bad ones - any advice on painting a roller?

Thanks, Tres

[PSB]

I think they look pretty nice unpainted with polished stripes.

Pete

[computerworks]

Tres... the car can be painted as a roller, just got to mask off a lot.

Remember all Comp and S/C original cars came from AC bare and were painted to order at SAI.

I plan on finishing the car bare and getting it roadworthy before paint.

Here is a pic of a polished CSX car with painted (? or stick-on) black stripes...

[ENTDOC]

My car has the satin finish with polished stripe option and it looks great, however I may someday paint it.Car painters paint most cars mostly assembled and this should be no problem with a car as simple as a cobra.It is easy to remove tbe external trim pieces and reassemble after paint.Cost is another matter. chuck

[Turk]

Overspray is almost unavoidable under the car, frame and some of the suspension parts, lines etc. Engine compartment also.

Most downdraft booths will suck it all in under the car, and make a mess.

If you CAN, I recommend painting it first, and then installing major components.

I suppose if you can help seal the undercarriage, the engine compartment you may be able to get by with minimal overspray..

We did NOT do a very good job during the painting of my ERA. I was trying to clean clear coat of the frame well in to my months of ownership of that car.
I would be very carefull nexy time, but I am not sure it can ever be 100%.

The color you are painting also will make it stand out more. Yellow, green red overspray is a lot easier to detect than black and silver.

TURK

[Tom White]

Once the ghost stripes are polished in can they be removed? I just order a Kirkham and may opt for the stipes.

[Dan Semko]

Tom,
Sure, they can easily be removed with Scotchbrite pads. I had stripes on my first CSX and inadvertently Scotchbrited the rear section. Restriping wasn't difficult but time consuming. Once you seal your car with products like Zoop Seal, Scotchbriting won't be necessary and you won't spend hours trying to wash the black oxidation off your hands. The car will clean as easily as if it were painted.

[Tom White]

Thanks Dan. I just read a little about Zoop Seal, sounds like it’s the way to go. I didn't read anything about removing ZS if you decide to paint any experience there?

[Dan Semko]

Tom,
The idea with Zoop Seal is to apply it sparingly, so less is actually better. It can be removed with acetone or napthalene, I believe. I tried various applications and found that using soft scub with a Scotchbrite will also remove it easily.
Be sure to clean your car thoroughly and have the Scotchbriting in one direction, not like sanding but rather one directional. Any swirls will be accentuated with Zoop Seal BUT it's worth the effort. I applied Zaino's wax after sealing with Zoop Seal and it's holding up exceptionally well.

[Tom White]

muy bueno

[Tongue Pirate]

Originally posted by ENTDOC


My car has the satin finish with polished stripe option and it looks great, however I may someday paint it.Car painters paint most cars mostly assembled and this should be no problem with a car as simple as a cobra.It is easy to remove tbe external trim pieces and reassemble after paint.Cost is another matter. chuck

This is what I would do if I bought an aluminum car, it looks Awsome!!! If you are set on blue it really isn't dificult to disassemble everything on the top end of the car & pull the wheels. At this point all you have to do is tape off the engine compartment, cockpit,grill area, trunk & all of the undercar areas. Most everything on these cars are 4 bolts or less.

[Lew Ledyard]

One thing about prepping the aluminum body is that it will require a LOT of wet sanding. KMP recommends that the interiors be installed after prepping and painting or else the carpets will be a mess.

[jhl1963]

Wow, that looks beautiful - wondering if anyone has done the inverse - i.e. painting the car and taping off the stripes so the aluminum peeks through?

Jordan

[excelguru]

Ouch! Just seeing that mirror-polished car makes my shoulder hurt! My father and I restored his '46 Luscombe several years back. After spending a WEEK polishing a few square feet, we decided that paint was our friend. Heck, my right shoulder is still bigger than my left. Okay, maybe that's not from polishing...

[Jamo]

Poisenly, I like it the way it is...and no Zoop sh!t to boot. It's not difficult at all to live with the bare look if you just keep from screwing around with it. Wash it, a little finish with Windex...and it's done. Scotchbrite out any scratches every so often.

I may paint it down the road, but for now I've only had one really stupid moron ask if it was glass.

I told him yes...it was painted to look like metal.

[bnewell]

Jamo ~ how often do you have to wash the car to keep the appearance looking good?? Does the finish get dull if not washed?? What actually does the Windex do??

Sorry for all of the questions......just curious though.

Brian

[Jamo]

During the summer-fall (garaged/covered mostly now during the cold months), I was washing it about once every three weeks. Used a duster and Windex in between that. There's some buildup of the Windex...a little milky...that needs to washed off, otherwise it would do well by itself.

Haven't noticed any dulling at all.

[bnewell]

would you say that it is harder to maintain than a painted car?? Looking back, would you still go with the brushed finish and ghost stripes??

Brian

[Jamo]

Much easier than a painted car. No waxing, and easier to keep clean between washings (when's the last time you used Windex on your paint?). No swirls, no chips, and scratches are blended out with Scotchbrite.

I would not change a thing. Like I said, I may paint it down the road...but for now, I'm extremely happy with the look and the ease of maintenance.

Note...I'm lazy, which is why I have a beard. I'd rather spend time driving, not waxing.

[maxrpm]

Originally posted by Jamo


Note...I'm lazy, which is why I have a beard. I'd rather spend time driving, not waxing.

...you have a beard because you stopped waxing?