painting the body

saltshaker · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 03:32 PM

would you on or off the frame, I'm at the point where I ready to mount the body. I figured that I would bolt it to the frame, do all the cut outs and making sure everything fits...do you have the car painted with the body on or take it off and rebuild after it's painted?
thanks, Jon

ZOERA-SC7XX · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 03:36 PM

Mount it first, make sure it's where you want it, and do all the trimming.

jerry w · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 06:06 PM

There are not too many things to cut out:

roll bar
exhaust
front and rear bumpers

I had mine painted before mounting it to the frame. That said, you must be very careful during the rest of the assembly.

regards,

Roscoe · #4 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 06:32 AM

Paint?....Paint? What dat? We no need no stinkin paint......

Roscoe

saltshaker · #5 (**permalink**) 09-07-2008, 11:29 AM

gelcote is belongs on boats...anyway I want a stripe and it would then need tobe clearcoated to level it out!

Roscoe · #6 (**permalink**) 09-08-2008, 06:18 AM

Well excuuuuuse me!

Roscoe

Jimv455 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-08-2008, 09:12 AM

That's the approach I took. I had it striped and clear coated. I did it before putting it on. Everyone who looks at it swears it's painted..

Doing it before or after each has plus and minus. Doing it before means I have to very careful handling the body from now on. So I'm trying to avoid putting the body on and off multiple times. Doing it on the frame means you'll need to spend more time cleaning up overspray.. Ideally I would say cut and fit first then pull it off to get it painted..

Thanks,

Jim

AMiller · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 09:00 AM

Dont know about there being a right way. I know paint will be the very last thing I do to the car. If I painted it first I would need a new paint job when it was finished.

Aaron

Dirty Harry · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 12:03 PM

I painted mine with the body on the car. Despite very detailed masking, I still ended up with a lot of pesky red overspray on my black frame and fenderwells. If you're able to take the body off, paint it, and put it back on, I believe that would make for a nicer job. Be careful.

FUNFER2 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 12:08 PM

I agree with fitting everything,......first. Some may say this is overkill but, I believe it's worth the time and labor.

Place the body on the frame and have all the suspension ready to roll.
Install the drive train, and everything that is essential to drive the car, and that will add weight.

Average out the weight of the two people, that will most likely be in the car, and place sand bags (anything can be used) in the seats.

If you can, weigh the car on all four corners and front to back. (I was amazed how much difference there was in mine) Adjust the coil over shocks (if used) to get a good balance. Measure from the ground to the wheel well lips to make sure they are very close to the same. (my quarter panels are not the same height on both sides, and hear that several company's molds have the same problem) If their close and the weight scale numbers look good, you've got a great start.

Take it out for a drive and stay close to home. Check all the fluids, bolt check ect. Make sure it's highway ready, have someone follow you with all major tools and fluids. If you wish, put on at least 100 miles, more is better. Go over bumps, small pot holes ect. that the car will encounter, turn left & right circles and highway curves. Meaning,... a complete road test.

Again, throughly check the car. Check the ride height to be sure all the suspension works and has settled well and is sitting very close to the final ride height you want. Make sure the tires are not rubbing on the wheel well. Use the scale's if you can.

If all is well, it's time for paint. Painting the body on or off the frame is just a personal choice. In my opinion, being a auto body man, it's easier off the frame. If you want stripes, adjust the hood and deck lid, then mask them off before removing the body. The only time I would paint the car all assembled, is if your using a pearl, very high metallic, Kandy's, color changing or other hard to apply paints.

When done, have someone on each corner and two under the car, front & back, to slowly guide the body on the frame and the mounting points.

I realize all of this is a lot of work but, if you can drive the car and hopefully, find all the bugs to work them out before, a nice paint job is on the car, it's a lot,.... less worrying. Remember, each time you work on the car after, it's painted, the more chances you have of damaging it !

Think about this, even with cobras, a high quality paint job can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 and up.

I would also recommend using paint protection products such as, "Invinca Shield", "3M Clear Bra", "Smart Shield" ect,.....on the lower body, front to back, where Cobra's are prone to rock chips. You'll be glad you did !!!

Thanks,