Finally Fixing My Front!

Topic: Finally Fixing My Front! (Read 2244 times) previous topic - next topic

Finally Fixing My Front!

May 04, 2008, 12:50:21 PM

The title says it all, plus I have limited access to a digital camera, so I am more excited about posting pics :hick:

This has been a negging problem from some time. I fixed it when I saved Cougar X from the junkyard. Then the stupid (well, careless anyway) mechanics that did the safety & e-test broke it. So I patched it... needless too say, the patch wasn't the best, so here I am again. Third times a charm eh? I think the secret is removing the piece before doing anything.

So, I sanded the entire top. I started by adding a piece of sheet metal accross the top of the broken area, then on went the fiberglass... gravity works! It is much better to do this off the car and upside down!

Then on goes the first layer of bondo.

I probably should have scaled these images down... oh well, next time
**Edit: I have scaled down the images.

Then comes the tedious sanding. All by hand, no power tools, just me myself and sandpaper.

That's the first coat. I didn't take any pictures of the second coat, but here's the first coat on the underside:

Now I need to sand it, then clean the whole piece, then I can start with the paint process.

My poor car:

Slow and steady wins the race on a job like this.

But! Does anyone have any pointers?
I never liked body work, I confess.

Go

Go

Yey!! My first thread where no one can say

:hick:

Hope I can get the job done before having to give back the digi camera!

A Pictorial Update

Reply #1 – May 07, 2008, 01:55:35 PM

Okay, so I think I am satisfied with the primer coat.

Then the *white* paint...

I still need to develop better skill with the camera, that pic is a little fuzzy.

After a couple coats of paint, she actually looks pretty good IMHO.

Now the clearcoat:

I'm not quite satisfied with the Clearcoat, it just doesn't seem as clear (actually as deep) as the originial job. I was usuing the MotoMaster Clear-coat. Is there a better choice that someone could recommed?

However, I need my car back going down the road, and after 24 hours of drying, I'll be heading out to the garage in about an hour to put my car back together.

I'll have some more pics later to show you the finished product and the end result.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #2 – May 07, 2008, 06:57:55 PM

Looks good. I don't think that the factory white on the 88 XR-7 was a clearcoat paint but I could be wrong.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #3 – May 07, 2008, 10:33:49 PM

You could be, I could be... I really don't know.

All I do know is that it doesn't quite match... I'll upload the pics first thing tomorrow morning.

There is a discontinuity of sorts....

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #4 – May 07, 2008, 10:51:28 PM

you shoulda had a quart of acrylic enamel mixed at a paint store.
Your repair looks good

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #5 – May 11, 2008, 05:30:14 PM

Quote from: daminc;217760

you shoulda had a quart of acrylic enamel mixed at a paint store.
Your repair looks good

Thank-you. This acryloc enamel mixed at a paint store... how would it come, in a paint bucket or paint can? Don't you need some sort of air compressor to spray on the kind of paint you're talking about?

Sorry for the delay in the uploads, but here are the final steps.

Here's hoping third times a charm. :)

I even replaced the white bulbs on either side of the grille with the amber ones. Much better that way... also, new headlamps :hick: !

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #6 – May 11, 2008, 07:02:52 PM

do you have befroe pics of the car? It looks good. that slight shade difference is better that a totally different color.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #7 – May 12, 2008, 10:02:57 AM

I don't really have a clear picture of the car before as I didn't have a camera until recently. The closest picture I can find is after I patched it the second time.

Looking very carefully, you can notice the colour diffferences.

For some reason, the camera hid it well... lol, but to the naked eye it was most noticeable.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #8 – May 12, 2008, 11:33:01 AM

sorry, been away for a bit.
They'd mix the paint in a can. You could use one of these to spray it for about 5 bucks.
http://www.prevalspraygun.com/

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #9 – May 12, 2008, 12:16:06 PM

Ahh, that little spray gun just may be the perfect little gadget to add to the garage. Thank-you daminc!

I am new at this, in the past I have relied on the old rattle cans and a certain degree of colour blindness :hick: .

I am curious about the acrylic enamel paint. I'd gather though that this is a type of paint, not referring to colour. How would I match the existing paint on the car with what they'll mix for me? Just bring them in a sample or do most paint stores have databases where I could just ask for acrylic enamel paint for a white 88 XR7?

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #10 – May 12, 2008, 02:27:47 PM

Your best bet for getting the correct color would be to first clean the car to clear up dirt and blemishes in the original paint. Then take it to a body shop. They can scan the paint right off your car and give you a mixed batch that will match (as close as possible) the original weather-beaten paint. Oxford White wasn't clearcoat btw.

Looks like you did great work. Actually looking at the pictures, if you clean the car thouroughly, the fresh header panel you did doesn't look like it would be too far off.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #11 – May 12, 2008, 02:57:45 PM

I didn't know that a body shop can scan the paint... thank-you 5.0willgo.

Oxford White... was that the technical Ford colour name for the white 88 XR7?

For example, could I walk into a paint shop and say, I'd like a bucket of Ford Oxford White acrylic enamel paint, this would make sense?

You mentioned that the the Oxford White wasn't clearcoat, I guess that means its a glossy paint?

Thanks everyone,
This is very informative for me...!

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #12 – May 12, 2008, 03:08:46 PM

Any good reputable body shop should be able to age match paint. It worked beautifully on my aunt's '81 Marquis.

Oxford White paint code 9L is what you want.
If you take a look on your door jamb tag on the driver's side, there is a spot where it says the exterior paint code.
A body shop might not do anything if you ask for oxford white but ask for Ford paint code 9L and you should be set.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #13 – May 12, 2008, 03:25:27 PM

I would try mabe buffing your old paint to see if it cleans up and matches before repainting. if it doesn't match, then have it scanned to match your color. The paint supplier could scan it for you possibly, instead of a shop. when your all done you should buff the whole car anyway so the front isn't the only super glossy part of the car.
be careful painting over anything from a can. It might have a reaction with the new paint.

Finally Fixing My Front!

Reply #14 – May 13, 2008, 10:55:07 AM

The one question I still have... acrylic enamel paint is the type and 9L (Oxford White) is the colour?

For now the job's done and my DD is back on the road... I will have to hunt down an automotive paint store (or a body shop for that matter!).... an automotive paint store, are there special places to go, or do most major paint suppliers also supply automotive paint?

My new goal is to figure this out and re-paint the front header properly before CJ.

You guys are ALOT of help, thank-you.