[volvotool]

First off, I'm not at all worried about the "resale" value of my '98 V70 T5 because I figure it doesn't have any.

Secondly, I'm thinking there are some really cool colors out there that would look great on a Volvo wagon. (I've always had a fondness for Audi's "Nimbus Grey," for example. Talk about a stealth wagon!)

I plan to do the job myself, in my own driveway, using one of those portable garage tents as my "spray booth." Other than a couple of small door dings, my car needs no body work, though I imagine that the scores of bugs to sand out of the clearcoat will make up for that a bit.

I plan to respray everything but the engine bay. Yes, I know that's tacky, but I don't care. Should I pull the motor one day, then I'll spray the bay, too, but I'm not doing it just to shoot some color.

So, any suggestions for colors? Am I nuts? A good friend of mine has offered to lend advice and a bit of help. He works here, http://www.sports-car-restoration.com/ so I assume he knows what he's talking about.

 

[volvotool]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (volvotool)

Here's the wagon as it is now. (It's the one on the left.)

 

[volvotool]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (volvotool)

....and here's a TT in Nimbus Grey:

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (volvotool)

hmm - that's a nice color and nice looking T5.

Nimbus is a cool color but I think a T5 in worse condition would be a better candidate - but its your car, have fun with it - if you don't like it change it back.

 

[JRL]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (volvotool)

Quote, originally posted by volvotool »

Am I nuts?

In your backyard... in a "tent"?
CERTIFIABLY nuts!
Even if you did everything correctly, there will be so much dirt and whatever else in the paint, it will be WAY too much and WAY too deep in the paint to sand it all out and since you're not an automobile painter
It will most probably look like SH*T !

 

[Chilled Man]

lulz

do you own a S40 also ?

But I wouldnt repaint it anything other then a stock color .

Personally I think the burgandy color it is now is awsome

 

[Papa_Kirlo]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (JRL)

Quote, originally posted by JRL »

It will most probably look like SH*T !

nope, it will be Nimbus Grey SH*T.

Now seriously speaking...
As a someone who tried to paint a bumper and a front fender (2 different cars, 2 different occasions) using spray can... I should say, PLEASE DON'T. You will ruin it.

 

[volvotool]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (Papa_Kirlo)

Hmmm, I was hoping to get feedback from someone with some experience, actually.

It can be done. I've seen the results from a couple of good "driveway paint jobs", and they're certainly better than what the average body shop churns out.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (volvotool)

as Jim mentioned, the biggest issue you will face is airborne contaminents. sure wetting the floor keeps the dust down and a tent sealing off the wind will keep silicone particles and other items out but how is the humidity level and temperature?

The better you can control the environment, the better the results. A paint job is only as good as the prep work and the majority of work with a paint job is prepping, not only the car but the environment and equipment you are going to use to spray the paint.

In all honesty, it may be better and cheaper to have Macco do one of those $399 paint jobs. By the time you buy primer, paint, sanding materials, etc. you'll have half the cost of a Macco job. I had a 1984 GTI done at Macco and I dropped the car off with everything I could take off of the car, including door handles, headlights, you name it - it came out fine for a daily driver.

Another option - contact a local Vocational school that has an automotive class - you might be able to get a free paint job from the students.

 

[JRL]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? ([email protected])

If you do most or all the prepwork and disassembly, Maaco paint jobs in themselves are not that bad. It's their masking and at times their prep work is where they take their shortcuts to get a "price point"!

You would be better served to do most of the necessary disassembly and important masking yourself....slowly and carefully.
Remove the window trim, door handles, etc.
Go one better and have the winshiels removed. It probably needs a new one anyway (pitting) and for about $200, (Safelite aftermarket), you could have a new windshield and moldings installed after the paint job.

Let Maaco do the paintwork but they do NOT remove parts. They paint over everything and their masking leaves a bit to be desired, but their actual paintwork is decent enough and FAR better than you could ever do.

Personally the paint on your car looks just fine and this endevour would KILL your car

 

[BEJinFbk]

Re: Color change for the T5...am I nuts? (JRL)

Yes...You are nuts.

(

)
I agree with Jim. That car looks Great!
Unless there's something very wrong with your paint
that doesn't show in the photo, Why Mess With It?

Without spending MAJOR time and money, you'll NEVER get the
quality of a factory paint job. If you dislike it that much, Sell It!

Or blow the bucks tweaking the R...

And going to oppositeville in Bizzarroland with light paint outside
and dark paint under the hood? I mean...C'mon...Naaaaasty...I shudder to think...

But hey, these regrets are yours to have, not mine!

 

[jrodT5]

If you can pull it off that would look awesome!
I have helped a buddy paint a talon in his garage with a small compressor and Iwatta gun.
We swept really well, let the dust settle for about a day, wet the floors down real well, hung tarps along the walls, wet those as well, then went to town spraying. It came out super nice for a garage job.

 

[volvotool]

Re: (jrodT5)

To recap: The reason I want to paint it is because I don't like the color. If Volvo made a T5 wagon in a color I really loved, then I might sell mine and hunt one down, but they don't. The reason I want to paint a wagon that's nice, Chris, is because cars in good shape to begin with are easier to paint, cost less for body work, and generally look better when they're done. Plus I've owned this car for a couple of years now, I know what's under the paint, and there are no unpleasant surprises lurking. Makes sense, right?

And thanks for your usual gloom-and-doom, Jim, but I've restored a couple of cars ('65; '68 Mustang; '84 GTI) and a few motorcycles ('74 BMW R75/5; '55 R/67; R/68 Replica) so I have some idea what I'm doing. I've always farmed out the paint work, and it's generally been a bit of a disappointment, so I'd like to try my hand at it. Or do all the prep work myself, at the very least. And if I chicken out on building a paint booth in my driveway/garage, I think I can persuade my friend to shoot it in his shop's booth. So no worries. http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

Quote »

If you can pull it off that would look awesome!

Thanks! I always thought Nimbus Grey looked pretty cool, and I think it could be stunning on a Volvo wagon.

 

[washdup]

Re: (volvotool)

That grey you like is very similar to the Titanium Grey used on recent Volvo Rs. I had it on my '04 R and got lots of compliments on it. Interesting you don't like the burgundy color on your car now; that is one of my favs; but there is no accounting for taste. Have fun.

 

[volvotool]

Re: (pelicanflyt)

Quote »

Interesting you don't like the burgundy color on your car now; that is one of my favs; but there is no accounting for taste. Have fun.

Blech! Half the minivans on the planet seem to be painted nearly the same color. So maybe that's why I want to change....

 

[JRL]

Re: (volvotool)

Quote, originally posted by volvotool »

And if I chicken out on building a paint booth in my driveway/garage, I think I can persuade my friend to shoot it in his shop's booth. So no worries. http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

That would be a much better decision, MUCH better....

 

[[email protected]]

Re: (volvotool)

Quote, originally posted by volvotool »

Thanks! I always thought Nimbus Grey looked pretty cool, and I think it could be stunning on a Volvo wagon.

I believe there were two '01 S4 Avants sprayed in Nimbus grey, I recall seeing one that was from Annapolis back in 2002 when I had my Imola Yellow S4 Avant - the color looked great on a wagon.

Go for it - if I had some paint skills, I'd do some touch up on my T5, the roof has a few scratches from a PO's roof rails.

 

[FORD420diesel]

Re: (volvotool)

FWIW, my dad built a paint booth in our driveway and sprayed a '66 Stingray convertible he was rebuilding. He'd never done it before, and it came out great!! Then later, when I was driving, I had an '88 VW Fox coupe, and we (he...

) sprayed it purple with twin white racing stripes....twice... (I got into a bad accident, bought a parts Fox for $1, and swapped over a TON of parts).

In both cases ('Vette in built paint booth, Fox in barn and then garage) the paint jobs came out remarkably well!! http://********************/smile/emthup.gif So, FWIW, it's really not THAT bad of an undertaking as everyone is saying!! Helluva lot of prep work and wet sanding and all to do though, so not a job for a few hours...it'll take a week if you have a regular job as well!!

-Steve

...Just my $0.02

 

[Papa_Kirlo]

Re: (FORD420diesel)

I don't want to sound negative but how can you compare paint job on Stingray and V70? Take a look on the wagon's roof - it's bigger than whole vett...

 

[heavyiron]

Re: (Papa_Kirlo)

Go to a shop with a downdraft paint booth / heated dryer. No paint ever cured well on a driveway. Make sure the car is grounded to remove any static build up and you sould be good to go.

Major cost in changing colors on cars is in prepwork. So doing that yourself will save you a bundle. But PLEASE have it sprayed in a proper booth.