I have searched the forms continuously for the past two days and have yet to find a step by step instructual on the paint process for a first gen.

The car is completely reassembled and mocked up with all even gaps and in its finish primer ready for paint.
Some of the perplexing questions are, should the doors be removed to gain even coat on the complete inner parts of the doors and the body? Is it in my best interest to remove the front sheet metal including the inner fenders from the fenders to paint the drop down part of the outer fenders where they meet the inners? Removing the front sheet metal from the body will also eliminate the possiblity of overspray on the sub frame and allow me to paint the cowl and tulip panels; am I over thinking this maybe?


Is there certain precautions you pros use on the reassembly process to eliminate the possiblity of damage to the fresh paint on reassembly? Door to fender, fender to cowl etc. Should the windshield be installed as well as the lower stainless before installing the front sheet metal?

Another inquiry, I have used an rust encapsulator on the underside of the floors etc, and would now like to fully paint the underside, any recommendations on what to shoot it with?

Please forgive me if there is a post covering these topics, I have honestly searched and short of reading the 25 + page posts I have yet to find the information required.

CRM does a wonderfull job explaining how the factory does this, but as you can see I have completly assembled the body to ensure my fit and finish and the gapping are correct, so I am asking for your input to help me complete my project. Thank you to all that respond.

There are a lot of questions you need to ask yourself.How easy does the sheet metal lign up,are you doing stripes,is it better to chip the paint hanging the sheet metal or rub out the tape joints in the jambs.I personaly would rather the paint on the exterior be nice than worry about chipping the paint doing the sheet metal.If you do decide to hang the sheet metal after paint take an 1/8" drill bit and drill the hinges and the like to get the sheet metal to lign up...There is spray mask available or to protect the subframe..

Hey Homer;

Here is what I did:

I had the whole front clip off of the car. I painted the jambs in their entirety, along with the edges of everything. (Primer, Base Coat and Clear) That way I knew it was all "Complete"

I was doing a color change, and I did not want to see ANY of the old color like an "El Cheapo" paint job. I gave all that a full day or so to harden and dry a bit. When it came time to re hang the doors, I put down tape on the hinge mount areas and used another person. Same with the front fenders, and valances. Just put tape on the edges, and go slowly....

I had no issues with the minor amount overspray from this process.

I learned how to do this from another GREAT guy on this site as well as another I go to....... this method works great!

Here's how it looked for me.....

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0849.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0850.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0854-1.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0843.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0863.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0867.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0868.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0856.jpg

here is the day after I painted it....

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0903.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/donbartlett/IMG_0930.jpg

I hope this helps you out a bit.....Good luck on the Paint job!!!!!!!!

I did paint mine with the deck lid,spoiler and cal off.I wouls also recomend if painting together is spreading the fender to header panel apart with a paint paddle or something....

Exactly the information I was looking for, thank you gentlemen for the quick responses.

Dave the panels do line up beautifully and are not a chore to reinstall, and I will definately use your 1/8 drill trick for the hinges. Not sure which way to go on the reassembly though,tape or?

Don the pictures are perfect, if that '68 is the result of a home paint job you have done a awsome job. The way you have painted the fenders and such is what I was wondering about, as this is a complete paint change.

Again thank you both.

I paint them with the front clip and fender wells removed. I keep the front clip assembled but with the flanges ect being previously painted and re fitted/aligned with the car. The fender jams are painted in one process along with the exterior.

I leave the doors bolted to the car after the hinges have been blasted/rebuilt and the proper self etching primer applied between the hing/cowl. From the factory there was no rust proofing/primer ect between the back side of the hing and cowl, just bare metal.

I get the jambs covered as well as all seams ect before concentrating on covering larger exterior panels. Then shut the doors and finish the exterior and front clip in one process. If the correct catalyst ect is used you will have plenty of time to keep everything wet. This eliminates tape edges/overspray, damaged paint on hinge bolt heads as well as eliminating damage/scratching doors/cowl trying to reasemble/align the doors to the body after paint.

When clearing the car I do the front clip and body sepperate. This way you have more time to concentrate on the jambs ect. and keeping everything wet.

If you do paint it with panels off don't get rambunctious and try putting it back together until the paint gets good and hard.This may make it hard to buff though..

Don, your reply is priceless!!
It gives great meaning to the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words."
:beers:

I have searched the forms continuously for the past two days and have yet to find a step by step instructual on the paint process for a first gen. ...

... Thank you to all that respond.

How did you miss this :confused:
http://www.camaros.net/techref/articles/ftecref010.html

Thank you everyone for the great responses, been away for a week and you folks come through big time, answering all of my questions. John I'm ashamed to say I did not realize there was a Technical reference library at Team, Until I hit your link and opened up a whole new world of information. The funny thing is that all of my searches did not reveal the tech ref part of Team Camaro which is a shame in its self. I do have all of Brians "Basics of Basics" printed and reference them continually. Now that You have opened up a new library for me you wont likely hear from me for a while...time to gain some knowledge. Thanks again everyone.

Are you striping the car? this changes the procedure a little as well.

The car is finish fitted and in final primer it also is currently dry sanded to 600, yes the car was striped to bare metal, including the jams and brought back with 1-epoxy primer, 2-quick sand and 3-urethane primer.