To paint now or not to paint?

[jmillsUT28]

Figured you guys would have the experience to know. A few weeks ago I bought a project Blazer from a guy that had it dissembled to be painted. It was his project for over 20 years. I'm almost done fixing some mechanical problems and need to figure out what I need to do next. I bought the car looking like the picture below.

The question:
Should I go ahead and do the body work / paint now or install all markers, lights, grill, bumpers, windows and exc first to make sure everything lines up?

Any advice?

[IMG][/IMG]

[72farmer]

I am in the process of building a 72 and I am amazed about how much time and trouble it is to restore it.I would wait it is time consuming enough doing it once.Just use plenty tape to keep from scratching paint and try to get help on certain things.

[special-K]

The grille would be good to check alignment of the front end with. Everything else you mentioned can be dealt with after paint just fine.

[hugger6933]

Really nice find paint it and ride. Jim

[chiefcfd]

You should sell it to me and your worries are over!

[jocko]

I like tim's suggestion. Any holes to drill for any other trim? I'd do that first, but not windows etc.

[jmillsUT28]

Getting close to ordering my supplies for painting. Would you guys recommend stripping it down to metal or just sand then shoot it with 2k primer then base cost then clear? Only body work I need to do is the lower door where they put a patch.

[cypressbog]

Stripping it down is a good way to document what is under the paint and primer. There may be 30 year old repairs done you don't have any idea about.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I'd strip it bare. I had some bubbles come under the paint on a new set of fenders I bought because they weren't prepped right before I got t hem (and I didn't strip them bare.)