There is an advantage to single stage paints, when they eventually fade you can bring some life back into them with rubbing and glazing compounds. The only disadvantage is they don't have as high of a glossy finish as two stage base coat/clear coat paints.
If you decide on using a single stage paint, I'd instead consider good old acrylic enamel and add a gloss hardener to it. Unless you're living in an area (like myself) where acrylic enamels are not available due to regulations.
Oh yeah, whatever system you select, use the highest quality paint you can afford. I learned that the hard way repainting the roof of the cab on my 1995 F150. I purchased lower quality paint to save some money and the clear only lasted about 5 years. Then is began to discolor and started peeling. If the vehicle is outdoors all the time like mine, you usually get at least 15 years with high quality clears before they start to peel or discolor.
Thanks Mike...once again all valid points and your points make sense. I like the single PPG stage urethane because it is a very durable paint. I keep my car in a garage so it doesn't get that much exposure to the elements. I believe it has been 2 years since it has been painted and the paint still looks great.
I guess the Factories don't use a real high quality clear. As it seems they all start peeling and dulling after 5 or 6 years. My daughters 03 Explorer Sport Trac. had been recleared when she got it in 2010, it was 7 years old and you could plainly tell it had been doctored. I guess paint quality has improved since then, but there's still a whole lot of fairly new cars I see, running around with peeling clear coat. Just my thoughts. I guess the you get what you pay for? applies here. JTS
I guess I should have included in my area factory clear coat paints and other high quality clear coat paints last about 15 years before peeling begins. We don't have much humidity be we definitely get high summer temps. Summer temps typically range from 90 deg to 110 deg.
I think the auto mfg's use fairly good paint. But definitely not top shelf products. I wouldn't be surprised of the auto mfg's have a life span in mind for paint when they select what to use.
I keep my cars a long time. I don't know, but for some reason I've thought auto mfg's have a life span in mind of about 10 years for their cars. Maybe because I've noticed after 10 years, OEM parts specific to a particular model and year seem to no longer be available. And 10 years is the warranty life for safety items like air bags and seat belts.
Finally painted the engine compartment today and my buddy dropped off the motor he gratefully donated to me. Rebuilt 302 with less than 200 miles on it. I am getting excited now!
I can't believe somebody gave you a freshly rebuilt complete motor! Don't find people like that on the west coast. I see the aluminum heads and intake. Is it stock internally? Are you simply going to clean it up or also change some internal parts? Is that a 1985 or newer factory hydraulic roller motor?
My personal preference is still a 351W (or 351C) for small block Fords.
The story behind the motor is it belonged to my friend's brother who was restoring a 68 Mustang but was unable to complete the restoration. My friend purchased the car from him (his brother) and completed the restoration. His brother had the block bored .30 over and added forged pistons, roller rockers, comp cam, hydraulic lifters, aluminum heads, canton windage tray, ARP studs, etc. Nothing to radical but nice performance upgrades. However, my friend wanted a stock motor, something that performed in the lower rpm range. So we exchanged motors. I gave him my motor out of the Fairlane and he gave me the motor out of the Mustang. I probably would have invested at least $3,000 plus into the Fairlane motor to get the upgrades done to this motor. I consider myself a lucky man!
Yeah it's nice when a deal goes in your favor, but don't forget your buddy got what he wanted also. As I see it you both came out ahead you may well be in the lead but hey, it is what it is! Have fun It looks very promising at this point! Way to go, now you'll just have to decide which one to drive first, The Stang or the Fairlane? Whichever, drive it like you stole it ! It's more fun that way! JTS
Well, I think you got lucky and got the better end of the exchange. Don't say anything now, but your friend probably could have got away with just a cam swap in that motor to make it behave like he wants? Bring the power down into a lower RPM range and improve drivability.
(05-21-2017, 03:49 PM)1969_Mach1 Wrote: Well, I think you got lucky and got the better end of the exchange. Don't say anything now, but your friend probably could have got away with just a cam swap in that motor to make it behave like he wants? Bring the power down into a lower RPM range and improve drivability.
I am sure he knows he could of swapped out the cam...the guy is a master mechanic 10 times over. I think he is just a bigger fan of the factory set up. Plus, over the years we have always helped each other out. If he needed something and I have it I give it to him and vis versa. Overall, genuine guy!
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