Hopefully within the next week or so the miata will be a different color. I can't really afford or have time yet to finish the turbo build, so I'm going to get around to something that has needed to be done for a while.

I'm just going the door jambs, and trunk/hood jambs. I'm not to worried about the trunk, and I'll do the engine bay when I pull the motor...which will hopefully be next year.

Right now she looks like this:




Why it needs paint...:






I've got those Rota circuit 8s off the car and stipped and I am in the process of painting them a dark bronze...two are done, two to go. I'll try to take before, during, and after shots of the whole process.

I'll be using a friends spare garage, 2 NICE compressors w/ DAs to sand and a fairly nice gun to paint with. My friend is 16 but has been painting his legends cars for a few years now among other small projects and is pretty damn good, plus I figure anything is better than what it is now and I'll learn how to paint.

I am missing a finish panel and I need a new left taillight because the stocker is cracked (the one that is broken was a mint one...so pissed), but I've got some extra paint so I will paint that when I can find one in decent shape.

Anybody have any advice, warnings,heads-up about how to paint her? Things to watch out for and such?

So fair I've spent about $400 on paper, paint, clear, primer, hardener, and reducer plus the rattle cans for the wheels. They aren't perfect, but they are turning out decently.


I'll let you guys takes some guesses on the color choice.

 

cant buff it out?


seriously...I wish you were roller painting it.

 

I really thought about it, but with access to a gun, booth, etc. I want to know how to do it.

 

true dat.

 

you can make it look all rusty like that guy on M.net

oh wait no

 

You mean clubroadster
Paint's just like *****, you can find at least 1 guy that would get into anything he can... and love it too.

 

I really like spraying cars. Only did one. Don't stop midpanel no matter how long it may be even if it is a chevy longbed which is like 7-8ft long. Learned that the hard way with my base coat.

 

yeah, and always spray from one end of a part to the other. nothing sucks more than overspray on stuff you already painted.

 

So this ought to be a bitch and a half huh?

 

Just sand your head off and when you think you're satisfied, check it again i bet you find something that needs more sanding or cleaning. Dust and bugs are you enemy.

 

Sanding isn't so bad. Just pay attention to your grits. Generally you want to use the coarsest grit as short a time as you need to and move up. I usually go with the doubling method. Start at 3-400 then go to 800, 1500, and 3000 if you want. or if you got some ugly *** bondo, 150 or even 80.

Also the best way to know your panels are smooth is to get multiple colors of primer. when you're ready to prime, do several coats with a light color and then two more coats with a dark color for example. (the FIRST color should be contrasting your FINAL color) Use the 400 or 800 to cut through the outer primer color and any places that stay dark are low spots you need to fill--either with high build primer or super lightweight body filler/skim coat.

smoov.

 

hmmmm...multiple color primers I don't have...I'm going to go over it with like a 180-220 to get through the MULTIPLE layers of paint...(Thank you previous owner...)

would 800-1000 be good for a final sand? It doesn't need to be show quality, just...nicer.

 

hmmmm

 

Well, finished the other day, no pics because the car needs to be wet sanded and I think we may just reclear it.

We did it in a garage so when I post pics, don't laugh but I think it turned out pretty good.

I ended up going with 50th Anniversary Corvette Burgandy and painting the rota c8s dark bronze. I have a tan top Pics as soon as this stupid camera wants to work with my computer.

 

Here ya go guys. She still needs to be wet sanded and parts added, but its better than primer
The black trunk lid is from a mistake...it will be painted body color...but I kinda like it black lol.







I painted it in a garage...so I'm happy with the results. Over christmas break I should have all of my body parts and might respray it...we shall see.

 

looks good. almost thought it was a stock m-edition. lol

 

The ricers will think the trunk lid is CF when you drive by. Vette anniversary color is nice. You gotta like a paint that a major manufacturer spent a lot of time and money in R & D for a special edition car.

 

Yeah, I didn't mean for it to come out so close. With clear its less plum than the M...but I really love the color in the sunlight. I have set of 16x7 Rota C8s that I just painted bronze that I'm waiting for tires to come back in stock so I think that'll help it stand out a bit. but yeah it looks like a slammed M.

As for the trunk, yeah...and we all know ricers make the baby jesus cry, but I'm missing a finish panel...so...yeah.