Taking the time to repaint your classic car may take a while, but you'll be absolutely blown away by the amount of money you can save and you'll be proud that you did it yourself.

You can expect a full paint job to take a few days minimum, as the steps are fairly time consuming. Before you begin you'll need to make sure you've got the rights tools and equipment to do the job properly and safely.

For safety equipment, make sure you've got some goggles and a mask. It's also a good idea to wear some old clothes as they will probably get paint on them.

For tools, you'll need a spray gun, air compressor, buffer, masking tape, some plastic sheet or newspaper to cover the windows, and an electric sander with enough 1,200 and 2,000 grit sandpaper to finish the job. For the paint, you'll need topcoat and clear coat lacquer.  

This job is best done in a garage, but if you don't have one, then outside will work. Just make sure that you do the job where nothing will fall onto the surface of your car. Also, make sure the surface of your car is completely clean and remove all dust from the area you're working in.

The first step in the job is to sand down the entire surface you plan to paint and remove all of paint you plan on replacing. To get the best final product, you'll want to remove all of the paint down to the car's metal surface. This is the best surface to apply new paint to. Be sure to use circular motions while working with your electric sander as you can damage the car otherwise.

When the surface you plan to paint is completely sanded, you can begin to prime the car. Start by masking off all of the areas of the car that you don't want to paint and covering them with newspaper or some plastic cover. This refers to windows, bumpers, any pieces of plastic or logos.

When your car is prepped with masking tape you can start to apply the primer. Refer to the instructions on your specific primer for mixing and application as different brands require different care. Apply two coats of primer and allow to dry as required by the brand.

Once your car is primed and dry, use your 2,000 grit electric sandpaper to make the surface smooth.

Mix your paint as required by the manufacturer and begin to spray the car one panel at a time. Take your time, allowing the paint to dry as specified by the manufacturer. You'll need to apply three topcoats to get a good finish and two layer of clear coat lacquer to finish the job.

Remove your masking tape and allow the paint to dry. Buff and polish the surface of your car to finish the job. If you need more in-depth restoration work done on your car, contact Ray Donch Body Werks Inc.