73 340 rallye charger

[Photon440]

So I have this charger, a 73 340 Rallye Charger. It is a complete numbers matching car with 88,000 original miles on it. I am restoring it back to original condition. My question is, and this is by opinion, should I paint it base/clear or single stage paint or does not matter?

It depends on a couple of things: do you want your car to look as good as the factory could make it then, or would you like it to look as good as the factory could make it with todays finishes?

Also, what is your car's colour? If it's a non metallic colour, you can easily polish out singe stage paint to make it smooth and shiny. But metallics stand a lot less buffing because you'll disturb the reflective particles that are embedded in the substrate.

I'd love to meet Ron 73's supplier. The last three cars that I bought paint for (my road runner, a neon, and a Lexus) cost me more for hardened enamel than a base/clear respray would have cost.


-=Photon440=-

 

[Ron 73]

It depends on a couple of things: do you want your car to look as good as the factory could make it then, or would you like it to look as good as the factory could make it with todays finishes?

Also, what is your car's colour? If it's a non metallic colour, you can easily polish out singe stage paint to make it smooth and shiny. But metallics stand a lot less buffing because you'll disturb the reflective particles that are embedded in the substrate.

I'd love to meet Ron 73's supplier. The last three cars that I bought paint for (my road runner, a neon, and a Lexus) cost me more for hardened enamel than a base/clear respray would have cost.


-=Photon440=-

That would be Pages automotive in Meadville Pa. This was 5 years ago est, I told him that i wanted a decent but cheap paint, i was about broke at the time and being i do my own work, i chanced it and so far i cant complain after 3 + years with it on there. but at about 332 for mine i thought it expensive but was told base/clear a heck of a site more.. I was told wrong? I have been wrong before but thats not a problem, im a good learner most of the time. All i can say is what i know and have not bought paint now for a long time, whats it cost for a couple gallon of clear.and base? as compared to the enamel i bought? i might still have the papers here somewhere but im sure it was around 332 and thats including the harder..

 

[iraqivet01]

2 stage paint job.

You want it to look old school, just don't wet sand it down as much and leave some of the orange peal.

Most people who will buy a repainted car would rather insist on a 2 stage paint job.

 

[moparmaniac10]

Ron,
I just priced out my paint and for my color ew1 in basecoat is $125 for a full gallon. The clearcoat is about the same. So it is about $250 to repaint my car in base/clear. I do get a discount though.

 

[Ron 73]

Well, Im not even tempted here to try to sway you but if i would have known this back then, i still would have went with what i did, the prices of clear and base i never even thought about. Ive always used Acrylic enamel, to many years and im one who if i find something that works for me i keep it.. Ive never painted with the stuff and didn't want to use my car as a test run, and honestly thought what i was told was true. You do what you want, base and clear most anyone i think would like over the enamel though.. JMO. Good luck which ever you choose and i do hope you'll show us when your done..

 

[khryslerkid]

Single looks more original, because its what was used back then. Clear coat can look too "wet" especially with a solid color. Not so much on an metallic color. To me, using clear coat looks wrong. You do everything on the entire car just like original and you go and apply clear coat to it and that just screws it up...

 

[moparmaniac10]

According to the poll, most people like the base/clear option. So yesterday I went and purchased all the needed materials for the paint. I am going to leave a little orange peel in it to make it look more factory. I've wet sanded single stage paint job so straight that everyone thought it had clear on it. Plus, clear is so much easier to wetsand and buff than enamel. Thanks for all of your input guys. You reaffirmed what I was thinking.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I think in the end, that's a smart decision. One that I would probably have made too.....even though I have experience shooting single stage enamels, it's a PITA compared to base/clear. Post up some pics when you're done.

 

[blackblazer717]

I have always and will always restore my mopars and everyone elses mopars with single stage, it will present much more accurate than base clear. The paint jobs originally sucked, and they should always suck ( and i use this term loosely) i rest my case

 

[bigredbird]

The paint jobs originally sucked, and they should always suck ( and i use this term loosely) i rest my case

Now there's a great definition of "showroom-quality restoration." :headbang:

 

[khryslerkid]

I don't know it anyone mentioned it yet but have you ever had to touch up a bad scratch or a nick on a bc/cc vehicle? You might end up repainting the whole panel. And hope it matches...

 

[Photon440]

I don't know it anyone mentioned it yet but have you ever had to touch up a bad scratch or a nick on a bc/cc vehicle? You might end up repainting the whole panel. And hope it matches...

They have blending clearcoats to help with that.

Of course, if it's really bad, and you do have to repaint the whole panel then even if it's single stage you will still hope it matches.

 

[Ron 73]

When i paint a car i try to save enough to do a panel if its necessary, If to much time passes and it gets faded you do run the risk of not being able to match it up using the same (in my case).. but to be honest and ive already said ive never used B/C but if its the same, it to would apply id think, kind of more a question i guess.. Small scratches i think would be able to buff out wouldn't they in the clear coat?

 

[moparmaniac10]

I have had a small chip in a bc/cc paint job before and dabbed in some paint, let it dry, dabbed in some clear, let it dry, and then wet sanded and buffed the area, and you could not even tell where it was at. Granted I did this on a brand new paint job, where I slipped with a screwdriver putting the wiper arms on a 57 Chevy.......

 

[moparmaniac10]

Remember guys, I am selling this car as soon as it is done. So do you think people would rather pay for a car with an old "crappy" looking single stage job, or a nice shiny paint job?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Let me put it this way....and no disrespect meant, since I don't know your ability...OR even if you're doing this yourself. If you're not doing it yourself, then disregard.

Base/clear came about for a couple of different reasons......besides all the EPA greenie stuff. Single stage paint actually requires something that's rare nowadays. Experience and knowhow. Base/clear I have always said was invented for people who don't know how to paint. Again, no disrespect meant. It's kinda like MIG welding. If you keep messin around with it, sooner or later you'll luck up and get it right even if you've never touched a welder in your life. Much the same way, it's a LOT easier to paint with base/clear than it is with single stage. With single stage, you actually have to know some about the chemical makeup and mixing procedure, GOOD prep work and spray techniques. Also, your work area has to be CLEAN as an operating room, because you can't just sand bugs outta single stage. lol So, that's why I have always said base/clear was made for people that caint paint. lol

Like I said, no disrespect meant. If I paint a car again, I will use base/clear.

 

[moparmaniac10]

Hey Rusty, I hear ya on that one. I just started using base/clear about 10 years ago. For the prior 10 years, single stage was all I ever used. I couldn't afford the base/clear paints. One other thing you didn't mention about the single stage, don't ever get a sag or run in it, cause they were next to impossible to sand out without noticing it or burning through. I included some of the work I have done. the stripes on hte camaro are painted on and so was the flying chicken on the Trans Am.

 

[moparmaniac10]

Here are a couple more.

 

[Doright]

Let me put it this way....and no disrespect meant, since I don't know your ability...OR even if you're doing this yourself. If you're not doing it yourself, then disregard.

Base/clear came about for a couple of different reasons......besides all the EPA greenie stuff. Single stage paint actually requires something that's rare nowadays. Experience and knowhow. Base/clear I have always said was invented for people who don't know how to paint. Again, no disrespect meant. It's kinda like MIG welding. If you keep messin around with it, sooner or later you'll luck up and get it right even if you've never touched a welder in your life. Much the same way, it's a LOT easier to paint with base/clear than it is with single stage. With single stage, you actually have to know some about the chemical makeup and mixing procedure, GOOD prep work and spray techniques. Also, your work area has to be CLEAN as an operating room, because you can't just sand bugs outta single stage. lol So, that's why I have always said base/clear was made for people that caint paint. lol

Like I said, no disrespect meant. If I paint a car again, I will use base/clear.

I would agree with that :grin: BC/CC is easier more work but easier.

But some one called single stage crappy?:eusa_think:
I don't know about that one???
Each has there place in Urethane's, and after reading this whole thread I know your already committed to a BC/CC job BUT a single stage job would have been easier less expensive and more original looking, All single stage is Is Base coat and clear coat mixed together and being a solid color in White would have been a simple job and would have shined just as nice as any BC/CC job after cutting and buffing and would have looked more period correct.

 

[moparmaniac10]

I understand everyone is saying "period correct" paint, but in the same sentence they are saying they would buy the bc/cc job first cause it is "nicer", "shiny", etc. And that is what I am looking for. There is not going to be a line of inverstors at the Barrett Jackson auction waiting for this car. They will be in line for that 71 Hemi Cuda convertible. But there WILL be a line of normal people wanting to buy this car when they see it cause it is painted "shinier".....if that is even a word.....LOL. The other trick of the trade, to make a bc/cc job look like a single stage is to add a touch of flatting agent to the clearcoat and don't buff it as much, or don't buff it at all. I did it to a 55 chevy once and everyone said it was a single stage job, it was kind of funny. Either way, the car will look great. Got the engine all painted up and the engine bay is all detailed now. Time to start on the trunk area.