Monty's 1989 CV LX

[knucklehead0202]

Looks great! Hell I can't paint anything so this is just incredible far as i'm concerned. Top does look a bit weird but I think it'll be fine once the trim is all on.

[monterey1962]

Paint job looks very good. If your top does not have any cracks, just live with it. Since you did a good job with the paint, you can do a vinyl top if needed. I would order a pre-made top. You will have to order through a upholstery shop. The manufacturer will not deal with the public. Last kit I ordered was under $200. That was over 10 years ago. It came from Ca. Stripping the old top off and doing the prep on the metal is the worst part. Do not waste your time with a dye job on the old top. It will not last and looks horrible.

Top is new. I replaced it myself in 2011. You are right, the prep work for it was a real pain.

Edit: I have pics of the top replacement at the beginning of this thread.

[TecNickal]

Unless its factory - every respray has some kind of flaw - but who cares!!! It's a friggen 89 Crown Vic that looks CHERRY. Amazzing job - you did a DAMN good job. Well done! Can't wait to see it fully reassembled.

[DerekTheGreat]

Top is new. I replaced it myself in 2011. You are right, the prep work for it was a real pain.

Edit: I have pics of the top replacement at the beginning of this thread.

Damn fine job on that top, Monty. Looks factory.

[monterey1962]

Started wet sanding on the trunk lid, which seems to be the worst of all the panels in terms of the clear coat. Started with 1500 grit, then down to 1200, then back to 1500, then 2000. 1500 wasn't cutting well enough, but the 1200 didn't do much better. Looks better now after the second pass of 2000 grit. Still need to hit it again. Doing up to 2000 by hand, then will follow with 3000 on the DA.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Unless its factory - every respray has some kind of flaw

Hell even factory sprays have flaws.

This car is not getting any of the chrome bullshit on the sides and fender arches back on, is it? Looks way good without all that crap!

[Grand Marquis GT]

Wow Monty, that looks amazing!! Your attention to detail really shows!

Good to see you online too, my friend.

[monterey1962]

This car is not getting any of the chrome bullshit on the sides and fender arches back on, is it? Looks way good without all that crap!

Chrome is going back on, mainly due to all the little "nubs" along the bottom of the panels where the trim clips hook on to. Would have been a lot of extra work to remove them and weld the holes shut. However, I agree with you that it looks good without the chrome. The rubber strip on each side and the pinstripes will not be reinstalled.

I've been looking over wet sanding videos, and decided that I'm just going to have to keep going with the grits that I have. I'm just a bit spooked about going through the clear. Guys at the auto body store recommended 1500, 2000, 3000 (on DA), then 2 steps of buffing with foam pads. What they told me seems to be a good balance of what I've all seen. I just have to remember to walk away from the car when I get frustrated. Still, I am learning.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Yeah, forgot about the stupid little nubs on the bottom trim. Well, I suppose it will be just fine with the bottom trim on. Use stainless screws where you attach it to the fenders, it's the only thing that will keep the rust monster at bay.

[Brown_Muscle]

If you are worried about going through the clear do not use a DA. All the high end shops do it by hand, it'll take longer, but should yield better results with less risk

[monterey1962]

Trunk, roof, and hood are done up to 3000 grit.

I've found the following steps are working, so far: 1200, 1500, 2000, 3000 DA sander. I was really surprised at how well the 3000 grit cleaned up the clear coat and brought it to a semi gloss finish.

[87gtVIC]

Oh yeah. I went up to 3000 on the fenders I repainted on my car and was just as surprised as you with the finish it leaves behind.

I made the mistake of using too aggressive of a compound after that. I put all of the work into making a super smooth finish by working up to the 3000 I did not need an ultra heavy duty rubbing compound, and therefor I made extra work for myself. Dont make that mistake please.

The same way you approached the wetsanding (by starting less aggressive and then realizing you needed more and then working back to the less aggressive) is how you should approach the cutting and buffing. I wish I followed that.

[monterey1962]

Sanded through the very center point of the header panel on the lower edge with 1200 grit. By the way it looks and feels, I figure that I didn't spray much (if any) clear coat there. Rest of the header panel seems good. Will fix it later on.

[monterey1962]

Seven and a half hours of wet sanding, today. All side panels are at 2000 grit. So far, only two spots need to be resprayed: edge of the header panel, and the edge of the front left quarter panel by the curb light opening.

[monterey1962]

Sanded with the DA and 3000 grit, tonight. Should be buffing it soon.

Driver's side has a lot of trash in the clear. Passenger side is nearly trash-free. Why? Because the door to my paint booth was centered on the driver's side, and didn't seal. Also, the air intake (one very small window) was not enough to feed the two box fans. A lot of debris got sucked in through the door and landed on the clear. I should have added a larger air intake opening on the back wall of the booth, built the door at the end of the booth by the exhaust fans, and sprayed the floor outside the booth with water. Lesson learned.

Other than trash, the new paint is looking pretty decent. The clear sanded well enough, and I'm not finding a lot of flaws showing from my prep work. Need to get a cheap bench top buffer and supplies so I can shine up the chrome before installation. There's so much work to do, yet. Don't think I could do this for a living, but I would love to do another car start-to-finish, someday.

I should mention, Kevin Tetz is the main source I've had for information, via his Paintucation DVD's and his videos on Eastwood.com.