norms 55 chevy pu build

[washington blue]

Got the 3rd spray done today, turned out ok. If I was to do it again I would have taped it so the B pillar was sprayed with the back of cab. there is a slight paint line when the light is right. Now that I have gotten back in the swing of things I am sure I could have done it that way without too much trouble.
Doubt anyone will ever notice it but I do. There will be a 4th spray in the future, I will spray bed liner under the floor and on the steps, that will happen after all the blue is done.

[dsraven]

looks great!
oh man iwish I were at that point where I was spraying color. always another project taking priority....

[washington blue]

I hear that ds, seems soooo easy for other things to take priority. I was so nervus about this, I have not sprayed in 10 years. I over thought it far too much. Right now since I've broken the ice, my switch has flipped and I'm anxious to get more sprayed, silly me.

[dsraven]

Yup, it's like riding a bike after not having a bike for years. You went from a single speed back then to something with many speeds and whizzie gadgets but, even after all that, the bike riding part is still the same. Lol.
Be carefull or one morning you'll go out to the shop and find you went a little overboard and everything is freshly sprayed. Compressor, workbench, toolbox etc. Haha

[washington blue]

Lol

[Rickysnickers]

That's looking really good!

[washington blue]

Thanks Ricky

[youngrodder]

That's a nice shade of blue...
Looking great.

Marc

[washington blue]

Did another 6 things today and they seemed to turn out good. I thought about it and decided the front bumper should be the way it will be on the pu so I used a couple boards.

[washington blue]

A couple more of my silly pics. The endgate turned out good, there's a lot of places clear can accumulate and sag on the Chevy letters but I had good luck and no runs. Camera just does not do the color justice.

[57FleetsideC4]

Making some great progress. Looks nice. Steve

[washington blue]

Thanks Steve

[dsraven]

looking great. soon you'll be bolting things together trying not to scratch anything. lots of masking tape and nylon washers under bolts.

[washington blue]

Nylon washers? I'm not familiar with them, can you tell me more. I have several spots under the hood that could use them. I wonder if I can get them locally?

[nvrdone]

My local Ace hardware has lots of nylon washers. Also maybe a wholesale bolt dealer. We have Tacoma Screw. You may have something similar.

[dsraven]

nylon washers under the bolt heads are used so when the bolt is tightened up against the new paint it doesn't peel the paint off. they also get used when dissimilar metals are bolted together, like aluminum parts against steel. most fastener supply shops have them.
usually i will run a tap through any threaded hole before assembling, put a little lube or antisieze on the bolt threads as well. a pastic or nylon washer that fits the bolt well and isn't obviously larger than the washer under the bolt head, they usually come in different thicknesses as well.

[washington blue]

Thanks for this info, I will be looking into this when re assembly time comes. We have a Macs hardware that sell bulk by the pound bolts etc.

[washington blue]

Yesterday I got the box sides and the rear fenders ready and sprayed them. I sprayed the passenger side box side, then the passenger fender. Did the same with the driver box side and fender. Hoping the paint will be a perfect match that way. Spraying box and fender only seconds apart means temp and humidity and paint mix should all be identical.

[washington blue]

I have sprayed over 30 pieces so far and it has gone well, until yesterday that is. My amature skills weren't enough. I got runs on both fenders on the back side. I walked the fender from front to back and when I rounded the corner to spray the back side I must have been too close or moved to slow. I got runs on both fenders in the same spots. Can't see them in the pictures tho. It was almost 90 degrees farenheight if that matters I don't know. Hate fixin runs.

[washington blue]

I have the doors and front fenders ready, Tomorrow I will do the same thing I will spray the driver door then turn around and do the driver fender. Same with the passenger door and fender. That way the colors should match I hope, unless I screw up. A little paranoind about runs now, lol.

[HAULIN' IT]

Personally I would not have the doors & mainly the fenders hanging that way. Look at it this way...You have gone through all this work, Why rush it at this point?
Here is my thoughts, Painting parts "back to back" leaves you blowing air/paint on one while doing the other & vice versa. You end up with more dust, can change the color along the facing edge, overspray on clear already "done" on the last coat & can lead to solvent pop in some conditions, ect.
At this point, I would break it up into 2 spraying applications. Hang the door the way it is on the truck with the fender in front of it...plenty of room to work around them, but placed "correctly". Next day you have time, do the other sides parts.
A little late for much of your work but, the doors/fenders are the most critical same plane items. A couple things that help getting the color looking the same panel to panel is, stir, stir, stir. Hopefully well before you started, each & everytime you open the can. Pour out & stir between EACH coat. Stir & get it on there.
Another thing is how you spray the panels...do the jamb side first then the outside. Do an extra coat on the inside if needed without doing the outside on say coat Two to "get an extra coat ahead". What you want is to not do the jamb on the last coat...just the outsides, down the side like it is on the vehicle. Having the gun aimed different ways can lead to light/dark along the edges.
Look at nearly every light colored Hyundi, Kia 4doors & some colors of Subaru. The panels (particularly the doors) go light to dark, light to dark with a band right along the back edge so the back of the front doors dont match the front edge of the rear door & the back of the rear door doesnt match the front of the quarters, ect. The cars are painted assembled & the painting of the jambs changes the edges when closed.
Great to see you doing the work your self!
Just my Thoughts, Lorne

[washington blue]

Thanks Lorne, great info. I actually do the spraying almost exactly the way you say to. I do the back side first so all the nooks and angles are done. Then I can go straight across the front of the door. I just thought it seems cleaner somehow, but you explained it well. Yes, I certanily could have done 1 door and 1 fender, then the next day the other door and fender. To be totally honest I did not think of that, my concern was I guess the weather, heat humidity rain and what else that might affect this. I'm no pro so I'm not sure how that would go, so, I thought the more on the same day the better. I have thought about overspray on another part, but, I guess I've been lucky, don't know what else it could be, lol., because I've never had a problem, knock on wood. ps. it's actually been 10 years since I last touched my gun.

[washington blue]

I went ahead and sprayed today, I did the driver door, backside first, then the front. Then I turned around and did the driver fender, repeated that procedure with the pass door and fender. Did that 5 more times with the color and then the clear. Hope they match, I'm thinking it will be pretty close.
I was very concerned about runs and sags, I had a couple on the rear fenders the other day. Today I really focused on distance from panel, and speed across it. I stayed focused on those 2 things every pass and every coat, staying as consistant as I could. NO runs or sags, very happy right now.
I also practiced spraying without anything in the gun to help figure out the best way to proceed around the corner below the headlights to avoid some buildup or double up of paint.

[6DoF]

that's a great blue!

[washington blue]

Thanks 6dof, the pictures just don't do it justice in the sun it's IMO dazziling. Very high metallic.