Seeing as the weather is gettin a bit better recently i am planning to start work on the GT. I need to sand down the bodywork and prep it for paint, although i am unsure what to do about sanding it down.

What grade wet n dry would people recommend to start on? and then what grades to work up to before primer?

I have searched but can't find any thing that clearly says what i'm looking for, if anyone can help or link me to another topic where this has been asked before it'd be much appreciated, thanks!

are there any repairs to rub down or any rust? or is it just a straight paint over the top job so it just needs a key?

600-800 would be a good key

if theres scabs or bad bits use something coarser

primer ..rub that with 800 or above

there's a few pieces of surface rust here and there but i imagine when rubbing it down it should be ok? maybe put some stuff to treat it over the areas before paint? a couple larger bit's of rust on some panels have already been sorted.

you think 600 would be a good grade to start on then? cheers :)

i used 800 all over mine.

just 800 and no higher? I'm only planning to do it a matt colour if that makes any difference?

invest in a DA sander and get some 180 grit pads, you can prep the whole car in an hour and it will take all the graft our of the job plus gives a spot on finish for painting

invest in a DA sander and get some 180 grit pads, you can prep the whole car in an hour and it will take all the graft our of the job plus gives a spot on finish for painting

ah i'd like to but i'm on quite a tight budget :/

i think i'll just give it 800 all over and take my time with it and see how it goes.

What colour you going? Best not be black

Makes no difference with it being matt, you still need the paint to stick the same.

180 grit is surely way too savage Guy? Would be scratched to fook.

yeah 180 is fierce for sound paint , no need to roar it off , just take off the shine

What colour you going? Best not be black

Makes no difference with it being matt, you still need the paint to stick the same.

180 grit is surely way too savage Guy? Would be scratched to fook.

yeah 180 is fierce for sound paint , no need to roar it off , just take off the shine

nahh not black i couldn't do that to myself i was thinking of white, some matt white cars look sickk.

i think i'll go 800 all over and take your word for it

I used to prep cars for paint a lloyds refinishers near Marsh Mills, and I've sprayed a fair few cars before. If you want any pointers I could pop round and give you a hand next time I'm in plymouth.

I used to prep cars for paint a lloyds refinishers near Marsh Mills, and I've sprayed a fair few cars before. If you want any pointers I could pop round and give you a hand next time I'm in plymouth.

yeah cheers man could be helpful i'll PM you about that

i'm not sure where lloyds refinishers are, but do you know a guy called Rob Walker by any chance? (dads mate who works in a body shop near marsh mills)

Know a guy called rob whos a painter, wether or not hes Rob Walker is a different story. He used to drive a rover limited edition or some or other. I might have an old electric DA i might be able to give you too but I'm not sure if i threw it out. Lloyds is in the industrial estate next to halfords. They do some awesome work down there.

Yeah may be the same guy, he's a painter. Not sure on the rover though lol i know he's still got this though, and has had it for ages:

no worries if you don't have the DA mate, i got plenty of time to get it done.

Yea its the same guy. Didnt work with him for very long but hes a top bloke. He still works there. Personally i think you should gloss white it. Ill be down next weekend if you need a hand.

Yeah my dads known him for years, he did the paint on my BMX

Could i do gloss white myself with cans or would i be looking at big bucks for a proper job then? I may take you up on that offer, depends how far along the prep stage i've got by then! Cheers :)

You could do it with cans if the prep is right and spend ages flatting and polishing it afterwards. Just depends on how it comes out the can. Its normally quite difficult to get a good finish with cans because the pressure is constantly changing and sometimes it splutters, thats why most people spary matte colours, coz it doesnt show imperfections up soo much. I would say you could use the guns at our unit, but iv only just managed to get all the paint dust out from my last respray lol.

fair enough mate, i think i'm just gonna go with the matte white tbh, it looks sick if done well and it'll be good to learn from. Plus it'll be easier to touch up if it gets scratched or anything. thanks for the help!

rust bubbles get a wire brush drill bit and shred it then smooth it down with some 320 then 800, i tried just 800ing rust bubbles and it got no where if its just a bit of surface rust on bare metal though 800 will be fine all over :)

rust bubbles get a wire brush drill bit and shred it then smooth it down with some 320 then 800, i tried just 800ing rust bubbles and it got no where if its just a bit of surface rust on bare metal though 800 will be fine all over :)

cheers, yeah its only light surface rust there's nothing major to worry about. i'll just buy some different paper if i come across anything nasty ahah. Hopefully the 800 will be alright all over though, trying to save pennies :(

Use 600-800 if the rust is worse in some areas use a higher grit. Try and work your way down to a finer grit for a smoother finnish as high grit leaves scores in the paint if you're not careful. Use high build primer aswell as it has a filler in it. Rub down the primer aswell with 800 or above.

rust bubbles get a wire brush drill bit and shred it then smooth it down with some 320 then 800, i tried just 800ing rust bubbles and it got no where if its just a bit of surface rust on bare metal though 800 will be fine all over :)

cheers, yeah its only light surface rust there's nothing major to worry about. i'll just buy some different paper if i come across anything nasty ahah. Hopefully the 800 will be alright all over though, trying to save pennies :(

i know what you mean mate I'm trying to spray mine myself soon too but I'm going to rent a compressor instead of rattle canning it, trying to do it as cheap as possible, you spraying outdoors?

Edited 4 March, 201016 yr by richhasbigtits

Use 600-800 if the rust is worse in some areas use a higher grit. Try and work your way down to a finer grit for a smoother finnish as high grit leaves scores in the paint if you're not careful. Use high build primer aswell as it has a filler in it. Rub down the primer aswell with 800 or above.

thanks :)

rust bubbles get a wire brush drill bit and shred it then smooth it down with some 320 then 800, i tried just 800ing rust bubbles and it got no where if its just a bit of surface rust on bare metal though 800 will be fine all over :)

cheers, yeah its only light surface rust there's nothing major to worry about. i'll just buy some different paper if i come across anything nasty ahah. Hopefully the 800 will be alright all over though, trying to save pennies :(

i know what you mean mate I'm trying to spray mine myself soon too but I'm going to rent a compressor instead of rattle canning it, trying to do it as cheap as possible, you spraying outdoors?

yeah getting a compressor sounds a good idea. might have to try and borrow one off someone. i'm up for giving the rattle cans a go though!

yeah it's outdoors atm, i dont mind doing the prep work for it outdoors cos i'll work when the weather's good and when it's not the car will be undercover. when i actually come to spray it though i'll try and get it somewhere indoors or atleast make a bit of shelter for it but it worst comes to worst i'll just bite the bullet and see how it turns out spraying it outdoors.

yea i think i should find somewhere in doors haven't got a clue where though, i sprayed my boot outdoors with a rattlecan and it looks fine though just doesnt have the same finish as the original paint