i just bought a new hood for my '83 that doesn't match the color of my car.

it seems to have formerly matched, but someone added some primer to the top of that and painted on another color. looks like a maaco job.

anyway - my question is what would be the easest way to strip all this paint (there's a lot of it) down to either the first layer of primer or even bare metal so i can primer it up myself?

i tried sanding, but that was a pain in the *** and i'm afraid if i push too hard, i'll dent it (which is why i replaced the old one).

-cpt

 

I don't have any personal exp. with paint jobs, but all my hardcore mustang restoring friends use a "sand blaster." It's a hookup to an air compressor that shoots out sand pretty hard. Anyway, I've seem em strip off any number of paint jobs to an even looking metal finish waiting for that first primer.

After they're done we have a beach party in the garage

 

You could use an angle grinder with a wire wheel or similar attachment. They even make ones designed to remove paint.

Cody

 

Well I used a couple of methods when restoring my '52 Ford truck. There was about 7 layers of paint. First used a sandblaster, which is fast and clean up is a biatch. Sand gets into everything. Then I used paint stripper-"Auto Strip" You just spray it on and wait a couple minutes and it starts to peel off. But I agree, sanding it by hand sux.

 

...well i ended up ordering some of this. when it gets here, i'll keep y'all updated on how well it works.

-cpt
'83 GSL

 

I noticed that most everyone here has a bad opinion of macco. Are there any good places that you guys would recommend?

I'm ready for a new paint, but just don't have the space now to do it myself.

 

The best way to remove the old paint will be with an random orbit sander. Buy 280 or 320 grit sanding discs, they come in rolls of 50 or more and you will use them all to do the whole car. Anyway this way after you are done with the sanding it will leave a fairly smooth surface that you can just prime and paint. By the way try to leave as much as you can of the original factory primer.
Do not use a grinder or a drill attachment, this will put gouges and groover on your panels.
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This was painted by myself about a month ago: go to https://www.rx7club.com/vforums/show...threadid=15088

 

from what i understand, maaco will just spray new coats over anything, even if it's rusting away. you can get good results from maaco if you do all the prep work yourself. even better if they paint it the same color as it originally came (which i'm not doing).

my plan is to strip it all down and primer it up myself before i take it to the paintshop.

-cpt

 

Actually here's the story about maaco from someone that's talked to them.

1. Strip and sand, prime, sand, prime, sand perfect -- Tada! You now have a car they will not paint, they will paint it but it will not be under any warrantee!

2. Half the time they don't mask things very well. I've seen some nasty drip...

3. You have to pay them extra to do the black trim around your windshield.

4. Alot of the time, their el cheapo paint jobs go without clearcoat. HELLO 1 YEAR PAINT!

I've just never seen a quality car come outa there, good shops charge around 2k; On a complete side note, I have everything to paint at my house, but my car is my beater; getting a TII!!! Then im gonna have some fun painting!