Painting recommendations

[63stick]

I'm about to take rolling shell to paint shop. Hood and Trunk lid are off. Doors are coming off, Any recommendations with regards to painting the doors. Should I paint with hinges attached to doors. Don't really want to remove hinges with all the shimming if I don't have to. 

[Footer]

Are you changing color?

[64studeavanti]

Check with the paint shop. The guy I use prefers that the car be assembled with doors, hood and trunk. He charges extra if it is apart.

 

FWIW, the factory painted the door, hood, and trunk hinges the same color as the body.

[64studeavanti]

I have been told that if you are spraying metallic, which most Avanti colors are, it is better to spray everything at once to maintain a consistent pattern.

 

Here is a pic of the window channel of a car I am prepping for paint that shows a similar gap between the lower frame and A pillar.

This car had quite a bit of bedding compound.

[63stick]

My shop said doors, trunk lid, and hood off. I'm thinking hinges on doors should be fine.

Painting same color and it's solid.

That space would be like a funnel if not sealed really good.

I'm thinking I will hang the steering column from the two dash mounting bolts so it can be removed when it's getting painted. Trying to make it as easy for them as possible.

Wrapped the wiring harnesses in engine compartment, then found putting a length of thin angle steel, almost like corner bead into the wiper motor hole and clamping to front center hood support hangs the harness away from everything.

[mfg]

13 hours ago, 63stick said:

My shop said doors, trunk lid, and hood off. I'm thinking hinges on doors should be fine.

Painting same color and it's solid.

That space would be like a funnel if not sealed really good.

I'm thinking I will hang the steering column from the two dash mounting bolts so it can be removed when it's getting painted. Trying to make it as easy for them as possible.

Wrapped the wiring harnesses in engine compartment, then found putting a length of thin angle steel, almost like corner bead into the wiper motor hole and clamping to front center hood support hangs the harness away from everything.

I like your ‘suspended harness’ idea!!

[63stick]

I took a piece of light angle and went across the cabin from lower dash mount to lower dash mount. Took a piece of 2x4 and screwed to angle. Drilled some holes in it. Wrapped the wiring harness in shrink wrap and zip tied it up and behind 2x4. It's totally out of way and out of sight for paint shop workers. Want to hang a steering shaft from it, don't want to use the Avanti column shaft or steering wheel.

It never Sieses to amaze me. I had many vehicles sitting around. You know when you just want to clean the place out. One day i called the bone yard and told them to come look at 14 cars and give me a price. They did and i sold them, now I need a steering column shaft, and nada. 

[Gunslinger]

I can only tell you of my experience when I was having the '70 Avanti I owned rebuilt.  The hinges and the like were painted separately before the body.  The shop manager told me that being essentially a one-piece body he would only have the car painted on the frame with all body parts attached (the hood and trunk lid had their interior surfaces painted separately before being mounted).  He said that was to have all parts painted equally and in the same direction or it would show.  He also said if the body was not on the frame when painted there could be paint damage when mounted and bolted down.  

I'm no paint expert but I accepted his explanation and felt he was the expert and had the expertise.  I watched as the car was painted and the tech went around the car about a dozen times with the color coat followed by the clear coat.  They did a magnificent job...people couldn't believe that the car was fiberglass and not steel as there were no flaws in the body and finish.  

When my car was done the boss said he was hesitant to give my car back to me as simply having it at his facility sold a lot of other restorations from potential customers seeing it.  

[mfg]

Sounds like a ‘first class’ paint shop Gun!

[63stick]

It sure does. What material did you have it shot in?

[63stick]

I was able to secure the complete interior dash wiring harness up and out of the way. Also secured the engine compartment harness so it doesn't make contact with anything, during painting. 

Did they cut in the trunk, hood, and door jams before parts were put on and complete body was shot.