Pre-Paint Advice

[Paul Clark]

Thinking about new paint on the 87 GN, and was wondering about sources for weather stripping, opera window trim, etc..
Don't want to sound "snobbish" but I'm really hoping for replies from those that have actually used and been satisfied with the products, rather than just getting lists of sources who sell them.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
I want to do my homework before I drop the car off at the shooter.
This includes removing parts myself to hold down the labor cost.
Another question regards the rippled paint below the bottom door creases.
Keep it, or sand it down and finish like the rest of the car?
Thanks
Paul

 

[Mad_Trbo]

I think the ripple paint is a personal choice. I personally sanded mine down and finished like the rest of the car. What I was wondering is if the manufacture used a different grade or type of paint down there to avoid chips. If not then I don't get the purpose of doing so.

As it relates to weather stripping, I used POSTON's trunk, upper window and lower door seals. The trunk was no issue at all, the upper window trim took a while for the window to seat. Up until the point of seating, the window had a little problem going up and when shutting the door it was a little more difficult. Could have been due to an improperly adjusted window, but after time it worked itself out.

 

[Sam Colalillo]

compare Gm to metro

I own two G-Bodies, one is a 1986 MonteCarlo, and the other is the wife’s 1987 WE-4. Both cars are T-top cars. Both cars have been torn down completely and repainted.

I used all GM stuff on the Buick it fit great and installed really easy. Bargained with my local dealer until I got him to come down on the price. I was painting the car at the time, ordered everything at once, and he gave me a break.

On the MonteCarlo I used after market stuff except for the window felts. The stuff I used was manufactured by METRO. This stuff looked way better than the GM stuff. The rubber was more consistent in appearance, softer, and seams to feel more durable than the GM seals. When I installed it: It did not install as easy as the GM stuff. I had to work with it more to get it to fit into the T-top channels. Next I went to install the tops back into the car. I had to bend the center rail up in order to get the tops to go into the channel that holds them tightly into the center of the car. I did get them to go in though. It took a lot of pushing and squeezing but I got them to latch into place. I had to press on the glass top so hard I was afraid I was going to break it. After a couple of months I pulled the tops out and they went back in much easier. The seals collapsed and retained their memory. They crushed into place and stayed there. The doors were the same way, hard to close at first but now much better. Also all of the plastic Christmas trees provided with the seals that hold the seals in place around the windows were to big. I had to reuse the ones I removed, or I could have drilled the holes out bigger in the car so they would fit. There is still a gap in-between the t-top and the roof where the T-top seal is supposed to fit tightly against the seal on the B post.

Hope this helps.

 

[onefastcar]

i"m puttin mine back together this weekend i'll let ya know what seals and how difficult the install is. :wink:

 

[TurboJoe3.8]

Paul, I had my GN repainted last summer, and I removed all the parts and trim myself to keep costs down and to see what needed refinished or replaced. I researched all the Buick boards about info on weatherstrips and decided to use factory GM's on everything but the seals around the doors- I used Metro for those- I can tell you that I am really satisfied with how everything turned out-it was more expensive in the end but the results were worth it! Easy install and super nice fit and result! Almsot forgot, I had the factory 'chip-guard' on the bottom removed- I like the way it looks without it, and besides it's not a daily driver anymore, so it won't see too much road . HTH's :biggrin:
Joe

 

[Instro84]

the purpose of the rippled paint is to prevent stone chips inthat area. i dont know how the factory applied it but the paint store i use has it whick is mixed with color and sprayed on needded area.

 

[Paul Clark]

Many thanks for all the info, folks.
I appreciate it.
Haven't seen anyone mention the rubber trim around the opera windows yet.
Is that rare stuff?
Thanks again.
Paul

 

[Sam Colalillo]

Many thanks for all the info, folks.
I appreciate it.
Haven't seen anyone mention the rubber trim around the opera windows yet.
Is that rare stuff?
Thanks again.
Paul

The trim around the window, is part of the window. When you pull your interior panels out of the car you will see the fasteners that hold the opera window assembly to your car. I believe a 10mm socket takes them off and then be rear carefull using a putty knife to get the windows out of the car.

Remember, be real carefull getting those out, do not damge the trim. The only way I know off to replace that trim is to buy a new window assembly. They come out pretty easy though.

 

[Steve V]

My GN was redone March 2005. I used GM seals,it's Top. It fit very nice.

On the paint besure you strip it!!!Don't let stupid body shop tell you they can "seal" it and the lacquer cracks won't come through. I did and my hood was repainted twice and then on the 3rd try they stripped and voila. Now,I am dealing with cracks in my roof,on the side where the body side moulding was. These were a lot slow to reapper but they have. I am trying to get the body shop to say how they play on fixing it before I return the car. Sanding and uffing with hide it for a while,but it'll be back. HTH

 

[canadianregal]

I was thinking about the sealer

Local paint shop told me they could seal the old paint tosave time but i dont think its a good idea---guess ill strip it first---oh well might as well spend the time now as twice as much later---all this for a NA regal but i like her

 

[Underboost]

Local paint shop told me they could seal the old paint tosave time but i dont think its a good idea---guess ill strip it first---oh well might as well spend the time now as twice as much later---all this for a NA regal but i like her

I would sand the car down. I had that Swedish customizer Bernt Karlson at Classics by Bernt paint my car he's the guy that does a lot of work for Boyd on that Hot Rod TV show on TLC the guy charged me $4,000 That included sanding the car down painting,color sanding etc. "soup to nuts" I go to pick the car up 4 weeks later and he didn't paint the bumpers, or mirrors until I told him to. That was in 98 now there are cracks appearing on the deck lid and hood so obviously he didn't sand the car either. Not satisfied at all! This guy was supposed to be one of the best maybe I didn't have a million dollars to give him but he should have said look I only do custom pain jobs. For 4k you might want to talk with x he does excellent work. instead of doing a half ass job. Sorry for rambling on but I'm still kinda pissed. Anybody know of any one in So Cal for paint? Brent

 

[canadianregal]

Boyd Coddington

I think Boyd sucks--i like chip foose so im not surprised the paint job sucked--sorry for you to hear that though---good luck and thanks for the info

 

[TurboWh1]

The rippled paint that you are speaking of is simply called rock guard or chip guard. You can buy it from any paint store and is applied before the base coat is applied. I've painted a few cars and I worked in a body shop. Its simply a matter of what you like best. I personally didn't go with the rock guard. It just looks so much sleaker.

 

[canadianregal]

rock guard

ive been told that rock guard traps moisture between the paint and the metal and petty soon turns to rust and then to rot and then bye bye metal and your beloved regal returns to dust---not gonna happen to my regal--no rock guard here only smooth sleek paint so thatif a bubble does form i will see it and kill it befor it gets a chance to spread--just my 02

 

[Underboost]

I think Boyd sucks--i like chip foose so im not surprised the paint job sucked--sorry for you to hear that though---good luck and thanks for the info

I think Boyd sucks too and Yes Foose is the sh!t. But this paint job was before Bernt had anything to do with Boyd. I wonder what chip would charge? I'll find out and get back :biggrin:

 

[turbo39151]

Just redid my 86 gn. I gutted the interior and used a rust inhibitor and light rubberizing spray and dynomatted the whole car. I pulled all the weather stripping myself as well as the head lights/tails, bezels, and bumpers/fillers, fender molding, window trim. (all those pieces were painted separately)

My painter removed the glass and the door handles and locks and the under hood pad. It was easier to do all of the jambs etc, with every piece gutted from the car!

He charged me $2800 for PPG Black/clear coat, wet sanding, polishing, etc. Excellent result. Looks awesome.

Also, left the crinkle finish for rock chips and for a stock type appearance.

Also, had window tint redone at the same time because the windows were easy to access and do properly.

Interior cloth/carpet was supplied by JAX. Rubbers were supplied by Kirban (also window rattle repair kit too), Misc odds and ends came from ebay, this board, local yards, etc...

Overall the project looks fantastic. (Better than my newer cars!)

 

[canadianregal]

Painting interior

I recently stripped my interior completely right to the firewall including the dash and hand sanded and wire wheeled everything--then 3 full coats of rust converter then a coat of tremclad black---i fitted 2 bucket seats from a sunfire GT and the console shifter--my dash was green but after plenty of washing and adhesion promoter then got a coat of vinyl black--after removing all the chrome parts and buick emblem of course---im gonna coat with rubberized rock guard and then i got a roll of insulation that goes under laminate flooring as the insulation is very dense and has plastic on one side and is about quarter inch thick , im going to cover all the metal ,floors,ceiling and doors and all with this stuff for sound deadening the all the trim parts are all black---the seats in the back are being covered in black leather as well as the buckets---Ilove black :biggrin: then all new rubber seals..

 

[RobV6]

Canadianregal is right

I agree with Canadian regal. I was going to do a cheapo paint job. My buddy owns a body shop. We stripped the car to meatl toook all rubber out. Replaced the seals. I used poston. except fpr the trunk. Used Kirban.
Car is white kept original color. Found 2 rusted holes one under stainless piece that goes at bottom of car. Car came out from 1-10 about a 7.
I have had no cracks or problems with the car in the year done.
Trying to help. You have to decide. I planned on keeping this car.

 

[canadianregal]

Robv6

Kirban---is that a supplier for rubber seals?

 

[turbo39151]

Kirban is a vendor.

www.kirbanperformance.com