Author Topic: tjts1 (Read 49975 times)

tjts1 · « **Reply #105 on:** July 24, 2007, 10:07:33 AM »

As far as the work is concerned, sanding down the panel with 320 grit took about 10 minutes (you would have to do this anyway for a proper spray job), each coat takes about 1 minute to lay down, wait 24 hours to cure, sand with 1000 grit for another 5 minutes between coats, three coats total. I have about 30 minutes of actual labor into this panel. Multiply that by the whole car and ur looking at maybe 20 hours of labor in worse case scenario including the removal of trim, bumpers etc.

Thus far I have $68 into the whole paint job including supplies to paint the most of the car. I'll probably hit $100 before I'm done. Honestly I don't see any cheaper way of painting the car short of magic markers.

The reason I decided against spraying the car:
I've never sprayed a car before. I doubt my results would be all that great. I have roller painted a sail boat before though.
Lots of labor intensive masking.
Need to set up a tend to keep the dust out. My garage is too dusty with not enough ventilation. I would have to wear a jumpsuit and respirator in an already hot garage. Not my cup of tea.
A good part of the paint ends up suspended in the air. The whole process is very wasteful when you take into account the tent, masking material and wasted paint. With the roller 1.5 quarts of paint should be enough to do 3 coats of paint.
And finally I wouldn't be able to drive the car while in the middle of the process.

As for the the elitist snobs, bring it on! I wouldn't call you a snob because you make good reasonable argument and you speak from experience (and you've helped me in the past

)

Brightside is a polyurethane normally rolled onto boats that spend their whole lives outdoors. My car is garaged. If it fades I can always polish it or repaint another coat. It doesn't take a lot of effort to repair.

The rest of the process will be documented here.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=92000

Another roller painted E30.
http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteurope.de/fotost/f01655/f01655.htm

Alpine003 · « **Reply #106 on:** July 24, 2007, 05:07:10 PM »

Quote from: tjts1;30270

I wouldn't call you a snob because you make good reasonable argument and you speak from experience (and you've helped me in the past )

Wow, thanks.

If you have the inclination and determination then more power to you as all your points seem valid for your situation. As for post-maintenance and upkeep, it should be a lot better for you considering you are just painting it white.

Just wondering why no one has bothered to do an "BMW Art" car theme as long as they were brushing paint on their cars. This would seem like a good time to do one if you were the creative type.

tjts1 · « **Reply #107 on:** July 24, 2007, 07:21:34 PM »

LOL I'm not sure my art skills are up to the level of a BMW art car. Maybe if I smoked a lot of weed or something. I'm just too boring. Of all the colors in the world I picked white. Thats got to tell you something right there.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #108 on:** July 25, 2007, 12:28:34 AM »

Quote from: tjts1;30315

Of all the colors in the world I picked white. Thats got to tell you something right there.

"Weightless" white = Race cars = more stickers. lol. :cool:

I personally like white as that is one of my favorite colors. My preference would've been to get a white E30 if you couldn't tell by my name.

tjts1 · « **Reply #109 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:12:26 PM »

jpod999 · « **Reply #110 on:** July 31, 2007, 12:19:13 AM »

Damn son, that's pretty good. Keep us updated. You going to paint the black bumper trim white too?

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #111 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:44:47 AM »

wow, I'm impressed

Alpine003 · « **Reply #112 on:** July 31, 2007, 12:33:04 PM »

Looks good now but show us some pics a few months down the line.

Beans · « **Reply #113 on:** September 25, 2007, 01:04:09 PM »

Any progress?!!? UPDATE!!!

tjts1 · « **Reply #114 on:** September 25, 2007, 01:53:05 PM »

I forgot to update this thread but through the magic of cut and paste...

I haven't made any progress on the pain job since the last time. Its been so long I had to wash the car yesterday. So I took some close up pics in the sun.

Been driving around with masking tape on the car for a month now :rofl1:

Still no sanding or polish. Just the way it came off the roller.

The sunroof has been sanded and polished by hand, the rest of the roof is rough

The trunk lid needs another coat. You can see the lines where the paint is still too thin

Straight off the roller.

Hopefully I get the metal below the bumper painted before the end of the month... hopefully. I'm leaving the original diamond swarz as is between the tail lights.

Still sporting the masking tape.

No more antenna.

Its still a work in progress. To be continued.

And for comparison, a 20 year old factory finish on my GF's Volvo.

nomad · « **Reply #115 on:** July 21, 2008, 12:52:28 AM »

I have the same fan as you. It looks like you took the box that the fan plugged into on the Volvo, is that a big relay? Think I need that?
I tested my fan at the JY on a +/- battery jump and it worked great.
How did you find what was the high and low fan speed and where to splice each one in? I'd like to get it to jump up to the higher level when the temp is high or A/C is on.

If that's not possible should I just jump it straight to the aux fan? I want to be sure it comes on when idling and in hot temps.

I'm bad with electrical, good with the wrench.

Thanks!

Quote from: tjts1;27468

Its so pro style... except for the giant gap on the driver's side that I need to fill in.

tjts1 · « **Reply #116 on:** July 28, 2008, 07:32:16 PM »

A year later and the roller paint job is finished... with a rattle can, some zip ties and a volvo airdam. :p

Now if I could just find that last foglight panel.

KyleTaylor · « **Reply #117 on:** August 24, 2008, 10:52:04 PM »

How has your paint held up? I had a single stage mercedes once and it was a pita to keep shiney...

rufiox426 · « **Reply #118 on:** January 15, 2009, 04:59:36 PM »

How do i remove the expansion tank is there a way to do it right or just yank it out?

Quote from: tjts1;25156

Just when I thought all is well, I found a small drip where the expansion tank meets the radiator. DOH! Seems like the added pressure of a functional thermostat found the weakest link in the system. Pulled the expansion tank.

Radiator still in the car.

Added lots of RTV sealant over and under the old rubber seals.

Top drain.

And reinstalled the expansion tank.

Now i have to wait another 24 hours for the RTV to fully cure before I can add coolant to the system.

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #119 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:14:32 PM »

Its amazing how well the roller job came out. I have seen it done in the past and I can't say that it has ever looked so good. The white probably helps hide the flaws but I guarentee your paint looks better from 10ft than most 17 year old factory jobs. Good shit.