1975 Cutlass Supreme
Process Completed (as of 6/16):
scuff with 80 and 120
wash car
tape off chrome and windows
spray heavy coat of primer
“flash” on a 2nd coat of primer right away
sand with 150 to knock down surface
automotive filler on any large defects: large dent driver side door, 2 holes, 2 seams from rear glass to trunk lid, both rear quarter panels in various places. about a dozen patches. the holes reinforced with fiberglass
filler and primer sanded down to 320 over 85% of the car. 150 scuff on the rubber pieces and a few lower areas only got 220
3rd and final primer coat sprayed thick
begun sanding whole car with 400 by hand, might go down to 600. (data sheet on the primer suggests 600 before basecoat)
Remaining steps:
light check for pin hole patches with bondo I use to patch cabinets (red stuff)
compressed air, vac, and tac whole car
spray basecoat of white, likely 2 coats back to back
no sanding
seal paint with clear coat, again flashing 2 thick coats
light wet sand with 1000 grit (using the buffer)
spray 2 more coats of clear
detailed wet sand all by hand with 2000 grit next day
buff clearcoat within 48 hours
polish clearcoat within 48 hours
apply 2 coats wax
Then on to polishing chrome and sprucing up the engine bay. Possibly then paint door jams, trunk bed, take out carpet, maybe detail the interior, recover seats. We’ll see how far I or we want to take the project. Getting paint done asap is priority.
Before
During
