Thread: What to do ...paint job

I have a car that needs a refresh. I priced up a respray and at $4000 ish it is too much to spend on what is really a cheap $3k runabout

I looked at wrapping it (vinyl wrap) and while cheaper, I have no idea how long it will last. Salesmen tell me one thing (years) mates tell me much less.....

I looked at trying it myself but dont want to ruin what is really a straight and unblemished car apart from a very faded and tired paint job. It is still mostly original 1989 MX5
.

I saw someone saying plastidip was an option Spray on plasticoat to me sounds like a possibility as if I get it wrong, it should peel off and leave me no worse than I was before (also a possibility with the vinyl, I guess)

I am not looking to make it look new again. So it wont need to be a full respray quality. I just want it to look red and mostly unscratched again.

Has anyone here done any of this to a vehicle? Advice?

I have painted a few things..

Most of that $4000 will be prep work.disassembling,masking,sanding, undercoating,priming,resanding etc.

The actual top coat, plus clear coats are the fastest part of the job.

Do some research, build a home made temporary spray booth.Hire a big compressor,buy a decent spray gun and do it yourself.

red is the color that deteriorates the worst never buy a red car..... having said that you have one so is the paint just faded and chalky or does it look like the clearcoat has started to peel? if its just faded then its probably painted in 2 pack enamel and a damn good cut and polish using quality product will actually bring it up a treat..... but it wont last too long and you can only do it so many times. if the paint is looks like its peeling off in sheets in places then its likely been touche up at sometime using low quality clearcoat over the basecoat or poor prep or both and a repaint is the only option. even with a top quality paint and clearcoat done correctly only carries a limited guarantee and the paint company always has an out (usually pointing the finger at poor prep). unless your in the trade then the major brand of paint are possibly not going to be sold to you as they have no idea as to whether the products health and safety requirements and application procedures will be followed . the 2 pack paints are highly toxic loaded with cancer causing agents that get released into the air when being sprayed . a makeshift booth is not gonna help it needs to be filtrated and yo need to wear the correct gear that shit can be absorbed thru your skin and even your eyes so just a filtered mask isnt enough. paintshops pay alot of money for compliance and containment of materials they pay huge wages its not a trade that you see many old painters alot die of cancer at what is a generally young age 40s-60s....
you could use a 1 k paint (one you dont have to use a hardener with) but this wont last long and you will be wondering why you wasted your time and money
and lastly mx5s were built by tiny japanese people and are very time consuming for kiwi blokes with pudgy penis fingers to pull apart and refit

Originally Posted by scotty

red is the color that deteriorates the worst never buy a red car..... having said that you have one so is the paint just faded and chalky or does it look like the clearcoat has started to peel? if its just faded then its probably painted in 2 pack enamel and a damn good cut and polish using quality product will actually bring it up a treat..... but it wont last too long and you can only do it so many times. if the paint is looks like its peeling off in sheets in places then its likely been touche up at sometime using low quality clearcoat over the basecoat or poor prep or both and a repaint is the only option. even with a top quality paint and clearcoat done correctly only carries a limited guarantee and the paint company always has an out (usually pointing the finger at poor prep). unless your in the trade then the major brand of paint are possibly not going to be sold to you as they have no idea as to whether the products health and safety requirements and application procedures will be followed . the 2 pack paints are highly toxic loaded with cancer causing agents that get released into the air when being sprayed . a makeshift booth is not gonna help it needs to be filtrated and yo need to wear the correct gear that shit can be absorbed thru your skin and even your eyes so just a filtered mask isnt enough. paintshops pay alot of money for compliance and containment of materials they pay huge wages its not a trade that you see many old painters alot die of cancer at what is a generally young age 40s-60s....
you could use a 1 k paint (one you dont have to use a hardener with) but this wont last long and you will be wondering why you wasted your time and money
and lastly mx5s were built by tiny japanese people and are very time consuming for kiwi blokes with pudgy penis fingers to pull apart and refit

The clear coat has been 'polished through' on the rear and was doing this when I bought it....The front panels were repainted not long before I got it due to some cock in a carpark scratching those panels also before I got it. And I think the doors are still original paint. So most of the panels are not only slightly different rreds, but different paints as well. (2k red in parts, red with clear in others, etc)

I just want to smarten it up a bit so it is all the same colour....

I just painted our second cars roof because it needed a dent taking out for a wolf and the clear coat had gone. I’ll do the boot and bonnet next (i didn’t want to bite off more than I can chew) I’m planning to do my Holden after I’ve built up some confidence. It’s quite hard but can be done at home even with cans.I have a large compressor and bought a good spray gun. I used super cheap paint but but ended up with “orange peal” because my gun was set wrong but rubbed it smooth with 1500 wet and dry then put the clear coat on.
Like norsk said it’s all in the prep work.

'89 mx5 ?
Are you a hairdresser ?

Originally Posted by Ftx325

'89 mx5 ?
Are you a hairdresser ?

i didnt want to ask that question

Originally Posted by scotty

i didnt want to ask that question

Always a bit of a standing joke with my mates when they first came out. We had a list of 'never be seen in' hair dresser s cars' and that one was top of the list...ha ha.
That said I used to have an early 90's red MR2 with targa top roof and that was also on the list , although a bit further down. At least that was styled on the 'Magnum P.I.' ferrari scaled down , and used to handle like a go-cart.
Still made sure my mates never saw me drive it- told em it was the missus car..lol.
I always drove my monaro v8 or later my 355 Chev powered jag xj6 when the mates were around.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Always a bit of a standing joke with my mates when they first came out. We had a list of 'never be seen in' hair dresser s cars' and that one was top of the list...ha ha.
That said I used to have an early 90's red MR2 with targa top roof and that was also on the list , although a bit further down. At least that was styled on the 'Magnum P.I.' ferrari scaled down , and used to handle like a go-cart.
Still made sure my mates never saw me drive it- told em it was the missus car..lol.
I always drove my monaro v8 or later my 355 Chev powered jag xj6 when the mates were around.

My wife has a new gen Mini Cooper. I actually quite like driving it, get heaps of smiles from pretty girls which is great, odd smile from pretty boys which is not so great but take the good with the bad

Originally Posted by Ftx325

'89 mx5 ?
Are you a hairdresser ?

Those things are meant to be great handling little beasts.
Also an original one will be worth a mint in the near future.

Originally Posted by 40mm

Those things are meant to be great handling little beasts.
Also an original one will be worth a mint in the near future.

Indeed. Any alterations on mine have been 'bolt in ' extras that can be easily undone. The style bars are one such addition. Made to look like roll bars, their actual job is more like a torsion bar as they are fitted to the chassis directly above the rear suspension on each side. They lock the back end down and it sharpens up the 'get up and go....'

Both my wife and I have fallen for it. I toyed with getting a later one as an upgrade, but I think that the original one is the pick of them for value and fun.

Originally Posted by 40mm

Those things are meant to be great handling little beasts.
Also an original one will be worth a mint in the near future.

Yup, Mrs ebf had one for a while

Still the most fun car we've ever owned. Rear-wheel drive, weighs just about nothing....

Originally Posted by Ftx325

'89 mx5 ?
Are you a hairdresser ?

Here we go...getting ready for the new year?

Originally Posted by Ftx325

'89 mx5 ?
Are you a hairdresser ?

A gay hairdresser ?

Is this a 'project' or a keeper? If not, then just drive it.

I am an amateur and have done a couple of these missions.... lots and lots of work.... and some more....
Like LOTS of work.