The Painting Project of My Monte Carlo SS
I have decided to paint my Monte "Torch Red". Torch Red is a GM color that is used on Corvettes, New Monte Carlos, Many other Chevys, and many Pontiacs. I started painting it on 6-28-99. It took me about 2 months working mostly all day but it would've been a lot quicker if I knew what I was doing. I painted it myself at my dad's used Truck dealership in their body shop with help from Steve (the guy who works in the body shop) teaching me the basics. All the paint is top of the line DuPont base/coat clear.
Please be patient while the pictures load. The last few are finished product.
Before
This is a picture of my car before I started painting. It is stock silver with gray stripes.
Day 1, 6-28-99
 |
 |
The First thing I did was remove the old decals (stripes and SS stickers) |
 |
 |
Day 2, 6-29-99
 |
Here I have some body work on the back corner finished with a coat of primer on it. |
Day 3, 6-30-99
Removed Drivers Side Rocker Panel and did more body work. (Sorry, I didn't get any pictures).
Day 4, 7-1-99
 |
I took the doors off and sand blasted the door jams. I also finished the body work on the drivers side except the door and rocker. |
 |
I have the new rocker panel just about ready to go on. |
HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!
Day 5, 7-6-99
More body work
 |
Finished New Rocker on drivers side. |
Day 6, 7-7-99
More Body Work. Removed old rocker on passenger side.
Day ?? 7-17-99
Have body work completed. Both rockers in place.
 |
Sanded. |
7-20-99
I had to sand all the old paint off on the drivers side fender and door due to a bad repair in the past.
 |
Here is a picture of the door taken apart to paint. I had to put the doors back on to make sure everything lined up alright after replacing the rockers. They will come back off before I paint within the next few days I hope. |
7-22-99
|
I taped every thing up and is ready to prime. (Aren't the headlights awesome!!:) |
|
Here it is all primed |
7-23-99
|
I have part of it block sanded. Once I get it all sanded it will be primed again and blocked once more. This will take care of any small minor dents which may not even be noticeable until it is clear coated. I also had to peel all of the tape off because the weather has been in the 90's so if I leave it on to long it will never come off.... Oh, but I couldn't resist but to leave the headlights covered :) |
8-5-99
|
Here it is, all taped up and ready to paint. I took all the wheels off so they don't get over spray on. I will polish them while they're off too. |
|
In my spare time I have been polishing the original wheels. They shined up a lot better than expected. To polish them I first sanded of the clear coat off with 80 grit sand paper, then I sanded the scratches out with 400. After that I used Aluminum & Mag polish. For the paint I just used regular wax. It took me about 3 hour each. In the picture you can tell which one I polished. |
8-6-99 THE BIG DAY!!
|
Now it has three coats of paint and lots of clear. The doors, hood, and trunk will be painted separate. No the color didn't get changed on the computer, this is the actual color. You can't get much brighter than this. |
8-7-99
|
|
I untaped everything. I put the back marker lights and taillights back in. I also put the interior trim back on that I took off to paint behind. Put polished wheels back on. These pictures weren't taken until the next Monday when I brought it outside. Check out the shine in the bottom three pics. |
8-14-99
|
Yesterday I hung the doors, hood, and deck lid. First thing this morning all the painting was done. |
|
Over the last few days in my spare time I have been detailing the interior. I've held off on the Armor All though so I don't get it on anything needing paint. I've also under coated the sides of the trunk and painted the hinges semi-gloss black to match. (The 6x9 speakers are soon to be replaced by 10" subwoofers as soon as I have a chance to build a box). |
8-16-99
|
I got the doors and trunk back on. I didn't put the hood back on yet because I need to power wash the engine. |
8-17-99
 |
Painted fuel tank and rear axle black. I also painted the shocks yellow. |
|
Undercoated wheel wells. |
|
Here are some pics of the almost completed car. |
Done!!!
SS Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo SS, Super Sport, Fourth Generation Monte Carlo, Chevy Bowtie, Chevy Power , Aero Coupe, Aerocoupe, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 83-88, Aaron Elenbaum, '87 Monte Carlo SS homepage, Monte Carlo SS Photo Gallery, Future Plans, Guestbook, links, 305, 350, 400, 427, 454, Muscle Car, Classic car, Buick Grand National, Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, G-body, g body, Painting a Monte Carlo SS, Custom Paint, Red,
