Arghhhhh! Today is one of those days! (RANT)

[jorgensensc]

Everything I touch today goes to Krap! Okay, as many of you know. I was originally going to paint the stepside hot Rodz flat black with red steelies and Wide whites and spidercaps. Plans changed, so I sold the wheels and wide whites. I decided I was going to paint the truck Crystal Red Metallic (2008 corvette, the darker red)So I bought rallys with tires from a board member (until much later when fancy wheels are in the budget) and I'm bagging the rear and all is going well. I pull one trailing arm off yesterday, no problem. I pulled the other off today. Every bolt I tried to take off was stuck on that side and I had to grind all of them off. On top of that the driverside trailing arm is bent to H3LL. I can't bend it straight, so I need a new one. So I decide I need to take a break before I truly do some kind of damage. I decide to call the paint store to find out about getting a little paint to paint the inside of the cab, so I can at least put that together. I ask about possibly getting it in single stage so the inside will be easier to paint. She says no go! The Particular paint I like is actually a 3 stage paint and will cost roughly 800-1000 for the three things I need! What!!!! I figured a couple hundred bucks! So we are bak to square one! Now I'm going to paint the truck hot rodz Flat black... again and do the interior red. Now I will have to do it w/out the cool steelies, wide whites and spidercaps though. I think I just made my way from trend (Flat Black primer look) to the necessity that helped derive that look originally (flat black primer because folks couldn't afford quality paint jobs). So, when Y'all see my flat black truck, know and understand I am not trying to be trendy... I'm just flat out broke! I guess I'm lucky I didn't sell the paint yet.
Shawn

[71swb4x4]

Can they get you a paint that is close to the 2008 color, but in a cheaper line/brand?

[lowrollin70gmc]

Go in and find a red you like that's not a tri-stage. Also, some lines have reformulated tri-coats to a simple base/clear, but this may not be the case with a Corvette color. I know when I painted we had little 2" x 4" books of variants by auto manufacturer. Use one of those and find a color near yours but cheaper.

Even with base/clear, paint is expensive @ retail counter. I spent $250 to get 1/2 gal color, 1 gal clear, and matching sealer, reducer, and hardeners for a buddy's hood, fender and bumper, or he spent $250 and that was the cheap stuff from PPG.

--Just remembered-- See if the paint store has any mis-mixes that you could pick up cheap. These aren't bad paint, but not the correct variant for an exact color match. If you're painting the entire rig, this would work perfect.

[Riveted1]

I've heard to stay away from "Corvette...." or "Viper....", etc unless u have lots of dough to spend. Go with something similar but just different enough not to be so expensive. My .02

[hotrod 80]

I can't help with the paint , but when mine gets back ( from paint ) I have a set of trailing arms done to replace mine . I have one that is on my truck now that is good . I can make replacing those the first job when I get it back and get it to you at the may Houston meet or before . I'm just off of I-10 E. Your more than welcome to it if that is not to long to wait .

[1956cameo]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. From what I have witnessed red is always way more expensive than other colors. I also have to agree with what was stated earlier, that anything with a high dollar name like corvette, or viper is propably going to come with a higher price tag (maybe if there is a Pinto or Chevette red,...ha). Good luck with the trailing arm issues. Let me know if I can be of any assistance; especially if you live in S. Houston area.

[jorgensensc]

THanks for the ideas guys. And Thank you Hotrod for the offer. another member local is looking to see if he has an extra trailing arm for me in the meantime. The funny thing about the color is it was also used on buicks. Either way it is the same cost. It evidently has some type of pearl she said. The funny thing is I'm not usually a red guy. at all. But for some reason this color struck a cord with me. I also saw a picture of the super cool 427 vette and was thinking of doing something along those lines. Of course that would mean changing the engine..etc. etc. Oh well. There is a nice color on the is350 lexus that my wife was telling me about. I like to pick factory colors since it is easier to match if ever needed.
Thanks again guys!
Shawn

[lowrollin70gmc]

The tri-coat is what is costing the $$$. The guy mixing at the counter doesn't care what car it's off of, in fact if you have a paint code (GM code or paint manufacturer code) it doesn't even hint that it's a corvette color, just the name and mix ratios. That is a nice red. You could also look at sport red tintcoat on the Cobalts, although it might also be a tri-coat:

[Frizzle Fry]

Here's a nice Ferrari red with a satin clear. I haven't priced it yet.

[steelhorse]

Remember Copperhead was a simgle stage paint.Sometimes a little mixing is all it takes to create a cool color

[67ChevyRedneck]

My 67 is single stage metallic. Had I been better with a spray gun my truck would look a hell of a lot better. Even my single stage paint cost me $250-300 or so just to do the outside of the truck. I spent another $100-150 on primer.

[Premium72]

paint aint cheep, ecspecialy fer the good stuff. dont get all flusterd!

[bw4sale]

OH I want that ferrari red with the satin clear. That is so nice. (I'm a satin/flat finish kind of guy myself)

[jorgensensc]

THanks guys! I figured out a little bit. I went and looked at the lexus matador red mica. It looks pretty nice. So I checked on the paint and I can get it in a single stage for the interior. I will do that for now, then I will go back and buy the base coat clearcoat for the exterior after I get the hang of painting the primer on the outside. It can be had for a reasonable pice also. So at the end of the day it will still be a nice color. I think that is my best solution for now.
Shawn

[silverado84355]

If I were u I would spray a test panel with the bc/cc to make sure u dont run into transparency issues when doin the whole truck. It wouldn't be good to be short on paint. Alot of reds tend to spay out transparent. The single stage should cover ok. Maybe look into a tinted sealer....Just a thought and good luck!

[lowrollin70gmc]

That Lexus is a good color, just make sure to tell everybody it's a Corvette color or they'll think you're halfway to drivin' a Toyota.

(Just kidding...)

[Draggn66]

If you're going with the Hot Rod Flatz paint but wanted red, may check out the Blood Red Flatz paint. That would be diffetent and look killer IMO. Just a thought.....

http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/hrf211.aspx

[67shortie]

I was about to say to pick a different color so the cost will come down.

And a bit of advise here, don't take it to heart, but painting for a few years myself the only way I would do a metallic color anymore is in 2 stage (BC/CC) but that's me.

[N2TRUX]

Something to keep in mind is red is expensive no matter what. It has tradationally been one of the most expensive colors by far.

[joedoozer]

I am taking notes on this. Painting my truck is in my near future. And if you look at the Vette pic you can see a hint of purple under the headlight. Definitely has some pearl in it.