Inliners International Forums General Discussion Body & Paint Paint Recommendations

Spring is just around the corner here in the northeast and it's just about time for the new paint job. Any recommendations on what type of paint to use? Acrylic enamel, Urethane, Base coat-clear coat, etc. This isn't one of my areas of expertise, and I'm looking for some good suggestions as well. Budget is tight so I looking for an economical means also. My neighbor will give me a good deal on PPG paint. Have a friend that will do a good quality job, cheap. Just unsure of what type of system to go with. Does anybody know of a good reference book on re-painting? Need some good advice gents...(66 Chevy II)

I am a bit of a Chevy II junkie and believe that almost anything looks good on a 66. If the budget is tight, stay away from red; they are supposed to be the most expensive pigments. I would imagine that metallics and pearls are more expensive also. I would personally go with a clear coat, if you can afford it just from an appearance and maintenance stand point.

As you probably know, the prep work is the most important thing. If the car is straight go with as much as you like or can afford.

How nice is the car? does it get driven alot? do you plan on color sanding/buffing it out? does it sit outside most of the time?

Acrylic enamel with a gloss hardener should be the cheapest, but it wont have quite as deep of a shine as a clear coated job, and it would be a little more prone to road rash/scratches. I have this on my '53 and its looking good for 10 years now, as long as I don't park right next to a high dollar clear job at a show . Takes a little more TLC to keep it nice and its garaged year round and sees about 3000 miles/year.
The next one's getting acrylic urethane with clear coat. If you intend to color sand and use clear, make sure you get a clear than doesn't turn rock hard in 24 hrs. like some of them do, or you'll wish you never tried sanding it. Talk to the paint supplier or someone with direct experience before buying the paint, always.

Sounds good you guys! I'll have to check out that article. The body is in great shape. Very little body work to do. Still has the original paint on it. Tried some different compounds last fall. Got the old pigments out a little, but the paint is dead. Once the weather breaks, it will be somewhat of a daily driver. To work and back is only about 12 miles round trip. She stays in the garage, too. I'll have to get a few pictures of it on my homepage. All that's on there right now are some under-the -hood shots.
Here's the link...
http://home.earthlink.net/~bgrmeister/_wsn/page3.html