How to Apply Stripes and Polish Your Mustang – Restoration Guide

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #1

Begin the polishing process after the final color or clear coat layer has been applied and the vehicle has been baked to cure the paint. This involves first sanding the cured paint with an extremely fine (1500- to 2000-grit) abrasive before it is polished with the appropriate compound. A combination of hand work and using a variable speed electric buffer is usually required. In any event, the paint must be fully dry/cured before this step is begun. Proper waxing is al step.

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MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #2

Smaller components are handled in a similar manner, although fewer color coats and less sanding/polishing are required. The best possible color match, along with minimized if not eliminated visual flaws, is the key. It’s especially important that the edges of parts such as these, which are next to other parts/panels, get fully/properly painted to provide the best transition.

 

 

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #3

On larger panels such as the hood and trunk lid, where the underside will also be body color, one side must dry before the other side can be painted. With computerized paint mixing, color consistency is not a concern. However, the top/visible side should be painted along with the other exterior panels using the same paint batch whenever possible. The underside should be painted after the top side. There will be some difference in any case because the underside will not likely be sanded as much, nor will it likely receive as many color coats as the exterior surfaces. Masking should not be needed.

 

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #4

Sometimes there is a need to mask off the exterior surfaces to allow painting a different color on a nearby area. This case of the door surfaces is a good example. First  apply color to the exterior surfaces with the color brought around to the other side as is needed. After these body-colored areas have been dried/cured, they can be masked off and the additional color(s) can be applied. Proper paint application and positioning of the masking tape is crucial to ensure a sharp transition line no potential overspray.

 

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #5

Similarly, a sound-deadening or corrosion-resistant coating can be used on the back of a body-color panel. Many of the exterior body panels, such as the valance panel shown here, will have a coating applied as protection and to help seal out the elements. In this instance, you should apply the exterior color coat before the rear coating because the coating produces an uneven surface that’s less conducive to proper masking.

 

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #6

There are several options for applying stripes or graphics over the newly painted surface. Here we show how the “C” stripe for our car was laid out prior to the car being masked off. We used a painted-on stripe like the original, so it had to go on top of the body color but underneath the clear coat. Notice how the paint has been left wet-sanded to provide better adhesion for the stripe.

 

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #7

The entire vehicle was masked off prior to the stripes being painted on. Because the stripes are a different color, it’s crucial to completely cover the vehicle. Even in a wellventilated booth like this one, it is possible for stray particles to ruin your day. The normal sanding/polishing process would likely remove any of the lighter paint that might settle in an unwanted area, but it is better to avoid such things if possible. Although the stripes were just additional paint layers they clearly would not blend in.

 

MUSTANG RESTORATION:  POLISHING THE PAINT AND APPLYING THE STRIPES – STEP #8

We still had a problem with the masking tape lifting off the irregular surface of the doorjamb despite the care we took when masking the car before spraying paint for the stripes. Depending on when such a problem is discovered, it may be possible to remove the excess paint from the stripe with thinner on a rag and some carefully rubbing. This can work if the underlying paint has already been baked and cured. Otherwise, the portions of the paint stripe that are kept can be masked off before the excess is lightly sanded off and the area is touched up with body color paint. In areas such as this, it is easier to blend in the fix.

Written by Frank Bohanan and Republished with Permission of CarTech Inc