Paint car in pieces vs. paint whole car assembled

[sixpack_sid]

I am working on body work, getting ready to paint my 68 Charger soon, and I was wondering what you guys think about the best way to paint the car? I've seen shows on TV where they disassemble the car and paint the doors, hood, trunk lid, separately. I did that with my 73 Charger, but that car was complete when I got it and is nowhere NEAR the project I have with this car! On my 73, I took off the doors, hood & trunk lid, did the body work, and hung them in the garage to paint. I removed the 318 engine, painted the engine bay with High Heat spray paint, then dropped a 400 in it. Then I painted the rest of the body. After that, I assembled the doors, hood & trunk lid. Then added the bumpers , valance, grill  etc.
On my 68 Charger I took the glass and tracks out of the doors and sandblasted them. (Something I didn't do with my 73) Do I put that stuff back in before I paint them or after? I'm worried about nicking the new paint.
Is it better to assemble everything and paint it all at once?

Sid

[ChgrSteve67]

I think so now.  Paint it assembled.

My car was assembled for the most part except for the hood.

Well after getting my car back together I have noticed my hood is close but just a shade darker than the rest of the car.  Obviously painted at a different time and mix of paint.

[bull]

It's going to be a little of both since usually the stuff that can be removed from the car is painted separately such as fenders and hoods. However, these items are usually painted at the same time and then reinstalled after it's all dry. So the answer to your questions is, both, typically.

[tan top]

what color is it  solid or metallic !  painted  metallic s off the car but you need to match the spraying pattern / coats of base &  distance exact , temperature , airflow if in a booth at a different time  ! , other wise it can look like a checkers board when you bolt it all up ! & under different light conditions & angles    if possible bolt all the panels to the car ! when painting metallic  if you not an experienced painter
solid colors are ok just make sure you give the different panels the same amount of coats !
but in a ideal world i prefer painting every thing in one hit ! all bolted on !  less messing about ,

[69DodgeCharger]

what color is it  solid or metallic !  painted  metallic s off the car but you need to match the spraying pattern / coats of base &  distance exact , temperature , airflow if in a booth at a different time  ! , other wise it can look like a checkers board when you bolt it all up ! & under different light conditions & angles    if possible bolt all the panels to the car ! when painting metallic  if you not an experienced painter
solid colors are ok just make sure you give the different panels the same amount of coats !
but in a ideal world i prefer painting every think in one hit ! all bolted on !  less messing about ,

Exactly. I have noticed some differences in my paint. The way the metallic lays in it, or the shading. I painted my engine bay, trunk compartment and the back of the hood and trunk lid seperately from the car and I can see the differences so I will be painting the whole car assembled and taped off. As said before if you are an inexperienced painter and using a metallic. I wouldn't recommend doing it in pieces.

[hemi-hampton]

I like to do my cars all together usually. LEON

[Silver R/T]

All panels on the car is best way to go, especially if you're doing metallic. That way you get uniform coverage on each panel

[jaak]

 

Jason

[69DodgeCharger]

I like to do my cars all together usually. LEON

Ahhhh nothing like the smell of clearcoat in the morning....Yeah I know he said Napalm in the movie (Apocalypse Now) But I'm more partial to clearcoat.

[maxwellwedge]

Not to mention that painting together (like the factories do) you know 100% that all your gaps are good and your trunk, door and hood alignment will be right on....as long as you had everything dialed in before the painting.

[Arigmaster]

As long as it's all apart you may want to do all the inside surfaces first (door jams, trunk, fire wall engine compartment, undr hood and trunk lid etc. Then put it together and spray your bolts and other items. Do the entire outer car assembled.

[superbirdtom]

what color is it  solid or metallic !  painted  metallic s off the car but you need to match the spraying pattern / coats of base &  distance exact , temperature , airflow if in a booth at a different time  ! , other wise it can look like a checkers board when you bolt it all up ! & under different light conditions & angles    if possible bolt all the panels to the car ! when painting metallic  if you not an experienced painter
solid colors are ok just make sure you give the different panels the same amount of coats !
but in a ideal world i prefer painting every thing in one hit ! all bolted on !  less messing about , YOU GOT THAT RIGHT AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE ALL YOUR BOLT HEADS PAINTED TOO IF YOU JAM IT OUT UNDER THE HOOD DOOR JAMBS TOO.  BUT IF NOT ,YOU SHOOT THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR WITH CAR ASSEMBLED AND USE EDGE BLENDING TAPE ON ALL THE JAMS THAT IS AN ART. ESPECIALLY AS YOU SAY METTALLICS AS AIR FLOW ETC MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF YOU HAVE A BOOTH BIG ENOUGH TO PAINT ALL PARTS IN ONE SHOT THEN ITS OK TO PIECE SHOOT IT BUT WHAT AN ORDEAL. i AM REALLY GOOD AT EDGE BLENDING .NEVER USE THAT HORRIBLE FOAM TAPE  ALWAYS USE AN EDGE BLENDER TAPE BENDER.  AS YOU KNOW LOTSA PEOPLE JUST BACKMASK WITH SOLID TAPE AND LEAVE A HIDEOUS LINE IN THE JAMBS.  IVE SEEN LOTSA PEOPLE ON HERE HURRY AND JAMB A CAR OUT THEN DO ALL THE EXTERIOR BODY AND PAINT WORK  "VERY DUMB"  (YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE). ALL PRIMING SEALING AND BODY WORK AND PANEL ALIGNMENT MUST BE DONE BEFORE YOU SHOOT ANY PAINT . TOO MANY PEOPLE GET ALL IN A RUSH AND JUST HAVE TO GET PAINT GOING WAAAY BEFORE THEY SHOULD.

[sixpack_sid]

Thanks for all the replies! I think I'm gonna shoot the interior of the trunk, door jambs, engine bay, interior and back of doors, then assemble it and shoot the exterior all at once, except the hood. I will hang that and paint it at the same time.
Sid

[tan top]

hi Sid , if the car is metalic , better to lay  the hood down same angle as on the car    

[Arigmaster]

hi Sid , if the car is metalic , better to lay  the hood down same angle as on the car    

[sixpack_sid]

hi Sid , if the car is metalic , better to lay  the hood down same angle as on the car    

Thanks, I forgot to mention, I'm not using metallic paint. I'm doing a base coat/clear coat.

[chargergirl]

hi Sid , if the car is metalic , better to lay  the hood down same angle as on the car    

Thanks, I forgot to mention, I'm not using metallic paint. I'm doing a base coat/clear coat.

and many pictures to follow I'm sure!

[superbirdtom]

I like to do my cars all together usually. LEON

NICE GLOSSY JOB    DID YOU LAY DOWN A RED SEALER BEFORE SHOOTING. ALTHOUGH IT REALLY DOSEN'T MATTER RED USUALLY COVERS PRETTY GOOD.

[OneofNoneRT]

Can a Poll be added to this thread? Or do you have to start another.. Would be interested in what the general consensus would be..

[hemi-hampton]

I like to do my cars all together usually. LEON

NICE GLOSSY JOB    DID YOU LAY DOWN A RED SEALER BEFORE SHOOTING. ALTHOUGH IT REALLY DOSEN'T MATTER RED USUALLY COVERS PRETTY GOOD.

No red sealer, Used Duponts Value shade which only comes in 3 colors, White, Gray, very dark gray. After printing formula it shows which value shade to use or recommended which ranges from #1-#7. I know Sikkens has a red sealer. LEON.

[TylerCharger69]

Personally....after the "pre-fitting" is done....i would disassemble and paint the pieces off the car...that way you can get paint in areas that you otherwise wouldnt be able to with everything on.  Especially  the door posts and such....I think the results would end up cleaner myself...just my opinion.....Its a bit more tedious work....but it will get a better result

[Finn]

Personally....after the "pre-fitting" is done....i would disassemble and paint the pieces off the car...that way you can get paint in areas that you otherwise wouldnt be able to with everything on.  Especially  the door posts and such....I think the results would end up cleaner myself...just my opinion.....Its a bit more tedious work....but it will get a better result

That's what I did.
I went with black though so shade matching wasn't an issue.

[superbirdtom]

Personally....after the "pre-fitting" is done....i would disassemble and paint the pieces off the car...that way you can get paint in areas that you otherwise wouldnt be able to with everything on.  Especially  the door posts and such....I think the results would end up cleaner myself...just my opinion.....Its a bit more tedious work....but it will get a better result

------------------I ALWAYS PAINT THE ENTIRE PIECE WHEN OFF THE CAR -DOOR FENDER-HOOD -WHATEVER THEN ASSEMBLETHE CAR  THEN REBLOCK THE OUTSIDE AND RESHOOT . TURNS OUT MUCH BETTER THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEAL OR ANYTHING TO THE EXTERIOR JUST REBLOCK AND SHOOT.

[sixpack_sid]

Can a Poll be added to this thread? Or do you have to start another.. Would be interested in what the general consensus would be..

There you go! I added a poll.

[tan top]

Personally....after the "pre-fitting" is done....i would disassemble and paint the pieces off the car...that way you can get paint in areas that you otherwise wouldnt be able to with everything on.  Especially  the door posts and such....I think the results would end up cleaner myself...just my opinion.....Its a bit more tedious work....but it will get a better result

------------------I ALWAYS PAINT THE ENTIRE PIECE WHEN OFF THE CAR -DOOR FENDER-HOOD -WHATEVER THEN ASSEMBLETHE CAR  THEN REBLOCK THE OUTSIDE AND RESHOOT . TURNS OUT MUCH BETTER THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEAL OR ANYTHING TO THE EXTERIOR JUST REBLOCK AND SHOOT.

yes thats the best way when doing restorations