Frame paint

[Scott F.]

Hi everyone,
I am new to NCRS and excited to be a part. I know my question here has been asked a 1000+ times but I did a search with no luck. I am working on a 1973 frame on restoration and wondering if there is a frame paint that could be purchased locally that would be comparable to factory color and texture? I know there are paints that can be ordered but I hate to wait for shipping if I don't have to.
thanks
Scott

[Jerry G.]

Re: Frame paint

Welcome. Just about any auto body supply shop should have it. The last one I bought was called Chassis Black, semi gloss.

[Kurt G.]

Re: Frame paint

Not sure where you are at. If you have an OReilly auto store nearby they have a ready to spray chassis black in gallons. Or you may want to check out Eastwoods. They have several good products. Also, POR15 has a product, when sprayed looks really good, plus it is a good bare metal protectant under your finish paint coat.

[Scott F.]

Re: Frame paint

Thanks for the response guys, so any semi gloss chassis paint would work and have the correct sheen if the car were being judged? I thought about POR 15 but have decided to go with an etching primer and paint.
Scott

[Chris S.]

Re: Frame paint

Consider powder coating - satin black
Dupont black with 50% flattener added
I do spray outs with different % of flattener - til you decide on the sheen you want
Are you getting the car judged ?

[Scott F.]

Re: Frame paint

Hi Chris, thanks for responding. I am not pulling the body at this point but just wanting to do a really nice frame on that could only be detected by lifting the car for inspection. I really don't understand at this point the whole judging rout which is why I joined NCRS. To learn!! I bought my first Vette last fall (78) rebuilt the engine and painted the car. Up to that point all I knew to do was change oil, batt and alt. so being still new to all of this I am still trying make some decisions. With that being said I would like to restore to the maximum potential in case I decided to go further in the future.
thanks
Scott

[Chris S.]

Re: Frame paint

Scott - trust me - we are ALL here to learn - no one knows it all......
If you are interested in Judging - buy a judging manual (JM) - and read it and read it and read it.....
Make friends with good people who have done these cars.
Learn from their mistakes :-)
Figure out if you want to pull the body and do a body off or a nice body on.....
Body off's are easier (IMO) but typically more $$
THere are nice cars out there with body on's......

[Scott F.]

Re: Frame paint

Hey Chris, I really struggled with whether to lift the body or not. The deciding factor was I would like to have the car drivable by next spring. I will put a lot of time in it this winter but got scared the time might get away from me. The frame truly only has surface rust and the body mounts are in really great shape. With that being said, I am pulling the engine to re seal clean and paint, restoring engine comp, already have the rear end and tank out, wire wheeling the frame, cleaning and re painting everything underneath, scraping the paint all the way down to the glass and re painting. Should be a busy winter. Hahaha
Scott

[Patrick H.]

Re: Frame paint

I've even used Rustoleum in satin black with a brush and it didn't look bad at all. If you prep it right and use a high quality brush you won't get brush marks.

[Scott F.]

Re: Frame paint

Hi Patrick,
Thank you for responding, I have heard of the rustoleum approach. Do they sell it in a can to brush on, any input on the prep process you are referring to?
thanks
Scott

[Patrick H.]

Re: Frame paint

Hi Patrick,
Thank you for responding, I have heard of the rustoleum approach. Do they sell it in a can to brush on, any input on the prep process you are referring to?
thanks
Scott

Yes, I just buy a quart at Lowes or Menards. However, if it's rusty you might first paint it with Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator. I always hit them with a wire brush too prior to painting.

[Steven B.]

Re: Frame paint

Sherwin Williams used to sell an additive that eliminated brush marks. I last bought it about 12 years ago. It worked great.

[Scott F.]

Re: Frame paint

I can check that out too.
Thanks for the input.
Scott

[Scott F.]

Re: Frame paint

The process I am using is to wire wheel everything first. I am concerned with in spots (no pitting) there seems to be a tarnished look and I am concerned as to whether that need to be taken down further or not. If this makes sense? Hahaha
thanks
Scott