After having gone through this process many times and trying all the methods
others suggest, we have found the best method is to be carefully painting
all panels inside and out off the car, hung from the ceiling and anchored to
the floor so things can't move. All fasteners, body brackets, etc. are laid
out and painted seperately too.
Then all panels are carefully installed for the final time on the already
assembled and detailed rolling chassis assembly. Fender beading is applied
as the panels are installed. Surprisingly, the issue of scratching while
handling has really not been an issue as we had expected.
The biggest advantage to all this is being able to keep all body shop dust
and any possible overspray issues completely away from the clean and
detailed chassis assembly. It is amazing how dust can find its way into and
all over absorbent items like wiring harness cloth loom and air ducts. Once
in there it's almost impossible to effectively clean. This "panels off"
paining method also saves about 30 hours of painstaking masking and sealing
of the car required if the panels are done on the car.
It should be stressed that the outer body panels and all associated hardware
have already been fitted and proven out before painting so minimal fussing
and struggling will be required to final install the freshly painted panels.
Rich Chrysler
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Wignall" <ourxke@hotmail.com>
To: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 1:51 PM
Subject: [Healeys] Painting and fitting body panels
>I have reached the point of restoration of a BT7 restoration where the
>fenders
> and both shrouds are stripped and primed and ready for painting. The
> undersides will now be finished and painted, but we are trying to decide
> whether to final paint the outer sides of the panels prior to assembly or
> after fitting them. Alternatively, finishing both sides of the fenders now
> but
> not final paint the outer sides of the shrouds until they are fitted. Any
> advice from others that have already done this? We are using Dupont 2
> stage
> base/clear system.
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