https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...09-16_0010.JPG

The plan was to shoot the car in the brightest white we could find, a color called Summit White. We had some mixed in Axalta Cromax SBBC base coat and prepped the car for application.

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A booth-load of panels were mounted in the paint booth, then cleaned and degreased with wax & grease removers and preparation solvents. They were then wiped with a tack cloth to pick up any fuzz left behind. Even though lint-free Sontara towels are used, you cannot be too careful.

The first parts to receive the Summit White came out really slick. Painter Jeff Wittlich sprayed several base coats, and then shot Axalta clear over them to bring out the gloss and protect the color.

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The backsides of the hood and deck lid were sprayed white as well.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t...05-16_0013.JPG

Once the parts had cured, the body shell was rolled back into the booth and prepped for color. The shell was masked with paper, plastic, and 3M tape, then cleaned and degreased, and wiped with tack rags. Jeff also hung the doors and fenders to spray them in color.

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The panels were masked to protect the backsides.

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The floor was washed to remove dust, and the car was masked to the floor to keep the bottom side clean.

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Soon, it was time to spray the color!

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The Cromax base coat “flashes” and dulls, awaiting additional coats and eventually clear.

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After the appropriate drying time had passed, Jeff sprayed the clear and the shine began to emerge.

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The stark contrast between the satin Imron black and the glossy Summit White became apparent once the masking was removed.

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Next, the the outside of the decklid and hood were prepared and the backsides masked for color.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...12-16_0015.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...12-16_0017.JPG

More parts were also readied for paint, like the grille surround, rear wing, fender extension, and cowl screen.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...12-16_0019.JPG

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Careful masking is done to ensure crisp edges.

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These parts then all received the same color / clear treatment as the body.

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The inner fenders were body worked where needed and recoated in epoxy and then satin black Imron.

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After some cure time, the exterior body panels were wet-sanded to remove any surface texture or possible impurities in the clear. The process starts with 800 grit and goes all the way to 5000 grit before polishing is done.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...16-16_0039.JPG

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The body shell was also wet sanded with blocks to flatten the surface.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...16-16_0042.JPG

The decklid was installed in preparation for the stripe layout. The stripes are a standard GM Z/28 stripe, and we used the original GM assembly manual for the layout specs. The only difference will be a red outlining pinstripe around the black main stripes rather than have them all be one color.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...19-16_0003.JPG

We like to use FBS stripe tape for these layouts, as they come in various widths and usages.. Some are more flexible for tight corners, some are more rigid for long, straight lines without “hourglassing” or stretching and creating distorted lines.

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Note that the car must be re-masked for the stripe application process.

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...19-16_0009.JPG

The center is painted in black, and then the outermost stripe is painted in “Victory Red”, which matches the Pantone color of the COMP Cams logo.

The decklid spoiler was also striped druing this process, and the mounting holes are visible here.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...23-16_0017.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...24-16_0021.JPG

Again, after the stripes and clear are hardened, they are wetsanded flat so that the stripe is not raised above the surface of the car.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...26-16_0003.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...26-16_0004.JPG