Front/Rear Fascia Painting Please help!

[brimis]

I'm going to have repair work done on my 84 Corvette and would like to know what type of paint is used on the front/rear fascia. If I understand correctly, because of the material used on the fascia a different type of paint is required as opposed to the paint that is used to paint the car itself. I'm only looking for enough knowledge to sound dangerous when I walk into the bodyshop I decide on to do the work.

 

[vetteboy86]

You are correct the paint they apply to the front and rear clips is different. I can try to contact my painter, but I think it is a flex agent they add to the paint. These body parts can flex, whereas the fiberglass body panels do not necessarily.

 

[tnovot]

Yes, it is a flex agent added to the paint. Not sure if the flex agent also needs to added to the primer although that would make a lot of sense. Maybe added to the clear coat also?
It you need a new bumper(s):
OEM fronts are still available but the rears are not. Rears are available in fiberglas but body shops sometimes do not like to use them because they have to be reshaped a little to give a good fit. Check with Corvette Central and Mid America for availability.
You could use a later C4 rear along with the newer tailights to give an updated look.

 

[brimis]

Yes, it is a flex agent added to the paint. Not sure if the flex agent also needs to added to the primer although that would make a lot of sense. Maybe added to the clear coat also?
It you need a new bumper(s):
OEM fronts are still available but the rears are not. Rears are available in fiberglas but body shops sometimes do not like to use them because they have to be reshaped a little to give a good fit. Check with Corvette Central and Mid America for availability.
You could use a later C4 rear along with the newer tailights to give an updated look.

My thanks to all!

 

[thirdtimevetteowner]

brimis,
Check my avatar pic. My car is an 89 that had the 92 front and rear fascias on it when I bought it. The rear is fiberglass and the front is not. I had a small mishap one day pulling it in the garage, and the front got scraped up a little. When I got it back from the paint shop it didn't match at all, so I took it back and he fooled around for 3 & 1/2 weeks trying to match it. He ended up getting a guy to take a pic and got a computer generated color match. It is right on the money now, but the downfall was I didn't get to drive it much this summer. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Rich K

 

[brimis]

brimis,
Check my avatar pic. My car is an 89 that had the 92 front and rear fascias on it when I bought it. The rear is fiberglass and the front is not. I had a small mishap one day pulling it in the garage, and the front got scraped up a little. When I got it back from the paint shop it didn't match at all, so I took it back and he fooled around for 3 & 1/2 weeks trying to match it. He ended up getting a guy to take a pic and got a computer generated color match. It is right on the money now, but the downfall was I didn't get to drive it much this summer. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Rich K

Been there! I had a fellow computer match the car, bought the paint, had a fellow do a little fiberglass work and the car looks like, need I see it. Hence, I'm going to have the car painted.
Thank you

 

[nyernga]

Just did mine earlier this year. Old school was to mix the flexing agent into the paint. New school, and the process I used, was to apply the flexing agent IMMEDIATELY prior to the color coat. It comes in an aeorsol can and I think it's called bulldog or something alomg those lines. It sprays on but have the color coat ready to go soon after.

 

[nyernga]

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