 The first coat of paint should...  The first coat of paint should always be sprayed like a dust coat. One of the advantages of using this technique is that it allows the painter to check for any possible reactions. If the paint reacts in an adverse manner it's easier to detect which areas need more attention. Also, as an added bonus, you won't have tiger stripes in your paint job. Subsequent coats are sprayed on just a little heavier than the first. This process may take more time, but the... |  ...paint lays better giving...  ...paint lays better giving optimal results. Another thing to keep in mind when painting is the way the gun is held. A properly set fan (spray pattern), held 6-10 inches away from the surface, with a 50 percent overlap will yield optimal results. It's always important to keep the spray nozzle parallel (90 degree angle) to the surface and contours of the vehicle. Avoid bending the wrist when holding the gun. |  Here is a photo of all the...  Here is a photo of all the PPG products that we used on the El Camino. The clearcoat is DCU2010, the hardener for the clearcoat is DCX2011, the reducer used in the basecoat is DT870, and the basecoat is DBC5563. |
 The grand finale to any automotive...  The grand finale to any automotive paint job is the application of the clearcoat. The PPG... |  ...clearcoat was mixed at...  ...clearcoat was mixed at a 4:1 ratio. Four parts clear to one part hardener. |  Depending on whom you ask,...  Depending on whom you ask, there may be a variety of opinions on spraying clearcoat. Harrison's is the first coat of clear goes on "wet" and a little heavy, and each succeeding coat goes on just as wet. A total of three heavy coats were applied to the El Camino. When the clear was sprayed a different Sata gun was used. Sata has a gun specifically used for the spraying of clearcoats. The same methods in spraying color also apply to spraying the clear. |
The cowl induction SS hood...
The cowl induction SS hood that was ordered from Goodmark gets the royal treatment. Even though replacement hoods and panels are factory fresh and as straight as an arrow, they still need prep work. Layers of primer, guidecoat, and polyester putty are applied then sanded off.
SIDEBARThe cost of doing paint and body on a car is no secret, especially if you want to achieve stunning results. But why such high costs? Let's "do the math" shall we?
Supplies:
This includes sandpaper, tape, paper, primer, guide coat, etching primer, body filler, polyester putty, DA sanding disks, grinder disks, acetone, tack cloth, etc. All tallied when purchased at a reputable body shop like Finish Masters, which is where we bought all our supplies, can total $1,800.
Paint:
PPG's top of the line paint was used which runs approximately $430 per gallon (we used 2 1/2 gallons). The reducer is approximately $50 per gallon (we used 2 1/2 gallons). The clearcoat is approximately $330 Per Gallon (we used 2 1/2 gallons) The catalyst is approximately $60 per quart and we used 2 1/2 quarts. All totaled up we are at approx. $2,165 dollars.
Labor Costs:
Every vehicle that rolls into a shop is different. Some are in great shape, some are OK and others need lots of TLC. While some restoration/body shops charge more or less than others, it's safe to say that industry standard is around $75 an hour. How many hours are involved in a paint job? We won't dive into those deep waters. Every car is different. In the case of this El Camino a new quarter panel was grafted in and a new hood was also added. Take a look at our other article about hanging sheetmetal.
 The same goes for the rest...  The same goes for the rest of the vehicle. The process of priming, filling, guide coating, and block sanding is a laborious task for sure... |  ...This El Camino was block...  ...This El Camino was block sanded four times. After the fourth time, a fifth and final wet sanding was performed just prior to the car being rolled... |  ...into the paint booth. All...  ...into the paint booth. All of this work does not go unnoticed. The panels on this Elky are as straight as an arrow. |
Oh my goodness! Nearly 250 man hours later, look how beautiful this El Camino looks after everything is done. 24 hours later the El Camino gets rolled out of the booth and is color sanded and buffed. Starting with 1000 grit, then 1500, and finally 2000, the vehicle is sanded down three times then buffed to highly mirrored finish. In our opening shot of this article, the El Camino had yet to be color sanded and buffed. Fret not, we will run a full feature on this car when all the king's horses and all the king's men have put the Elky back together again.