Painting my CMC

I talked to the guys at JPS. They said that CMC bodies were difficult to paint. They recommended painting a light color. The problem is that I want my speedster in a dark smokey silver.

I need all feedback on painting. From beginning to end, what steps do I need to take to make sure it is done correctly.

Thanks
Todd

Repair all the stess cracks first. CMC's used a fillet material as a adhesive to bond the door skins to the inner door frame, the Hood skin to the inner hood frame etc. I removed the filler and glass all these areas. Fix all you door , hood and trunk gaps. Do this with everything mounted. Glass prep - use marine filler material. Use a marine filler primer also. Block sand block sand. Dont use a cheap small one either.

I'm guessing they recommended a light color because it won't show the waves in the body panels as much as a dark color. I'm getting my CMC ready for paint and am spending a lot of time flexible and rigid board sanding and filling to try to remove all the waves. It's difficult to feel all the unevenness in the flares. Not having many flat surfaces makes it more difficult. My rocker panels were horrible.

Depending which resins and fillers you used there is some shrinkage .Let the body sit out in the sun for a few days to help the curing process. My car was out in the sun for two weeks before the final block sanding.

Yes, they said that in warm areas like Houston, the fibers would expand. In a few years, I would have to paint again.

Maybe exposing it to the sun for a few days is the trick. I may have to get a pro to glass, and sand. I am in over my head on this one.

"may have to get a pro to glass, and sand"

Working with fiberglass is far easier than metal --- it is easy to learn. This is one area where you can save a lot of $ and ensure a good finished paint job. I'm surprised VS guy made such a comment as the CMC cars came with a finished color gel coat surface that was intented to be the final finish. I agree its not a perfect finish though. If you aren't able to do alot of the prep work on your Speedster you can easily lay out $2000-3000 for the paint and prep work --- so its a good place to learn. Couple hints up front - wear long sleeves and a respirator/filter when sanding fiberglass; ensure you remove any wax/silicon before filling/painting, always use a sanding block NEVER your fingers; remoce all trim that is removeable before having it painted; after painting don't touch/reassemble it for a few weeks (let the paint harden).

Don't put a cover on the car after painting for at least 6-8 weeks.

Anything is possible with fiberglass, patience, and the ability to ask the right questions...

OK, you're right. Having a pro finish it, does not help the learning process. I will pickup a book tomorrow on the subject and start the research.

Todd - I got to thinking about this after we talked on the phone. The single biggest problem I've got with the silver paint and the shape of the body is that the paint guy painted the body in halves, and it's pretty easy to spot on moderately close inspection where the arc of his spray in the front meets the arc of the spray in the back; right in the middle of the door.
Tell the paint dude to walk the length of the car as he sprays. The body's too round to paint it like a lead sled.
Good luck.

Thanks Cory, as it truns out, I have someone this the family who has been painting cars for 20+ years. I talked with him last night, he said he would help out. Now I feel good about the painting process.

Todd