Where to buy paint for vanagon?

[westina]

Hi. I am getting close to spray my van. Color is L90D pastel white for 84 camper. I went to NAPA today and they said the color code is old and nothing comes up. He said bring a piece from the body and he can match the color. Is that a common method? I have scuff sanded the entire body, would that interfere with matching the color. Sliding door is untouched since it was in my basement, But as you know original paint is single stage. They did respray just the outside, below the windows of the van and clear coated. So most likely 2 stage job.
Should i look into another supplier and get a color mix based on the code?
I also quoted towards $400 for a gallon of base and another hundred for clear. Since its my first complete paint job, i am not familiar with the average cost of a car paint. Are they ballpark prices?
I like the deep, wet look so aiming for base coat/clear coat but also did some welding work, panel repl. some thin layer of bondo etc so the body is not flawless. Is base coat/clear coat would be less forgiving?
I am avare there is a body/paint section but wanted to get vanagon specific info so hope moderators wouldn't mind. Thanks.

[westina]

Ohh BTW napa brand was Martin seymour paint. Sales rep said goes on very thick/nice coverage etc.

[IdahoDoug]

I've heard that it's important for the seller of the paint to know what kind of sprayer you are going to use. Body shops who spray gallons a day have equipment and knowledge to handle a wide spectrum of things. But I'm assuming you are doing this perhaps for the first time and probably not full on pro equipment. So let them know that and consider calling an auto body shop supply store to see what they recommend for a home guy like you with home-type equipment.

So the NAPA guy may have a great paint or price, but it may be very difficult for you to get satisfactory results through an amateur piece of gear.
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[SyncroButter]

I sprayed ppg single stage with my Vanagon, PPG can tell you who their local distributor is in your area.

Great points from IdahoDoug re: making sure they know what equipment you've got, what environment you have (e.g. what temperature it will be when you shoot) to ensure good results.
_________________
Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
Gone but not forgotten: 1989 Porsche 944, 1973 Standard Beetle

[westina]

[westina]

[jimf909]

Here's hoping that it goes well and you post pics of the progress. I shot some laquer and some Imron years ago (the Imron still looks great) but I really know very little so can't be of much help.
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- Jim

[westina]

Also i have no paint booth. Have garage(separated from the house) which emptied already. I am thinking about cleaning/vacuming/sweeping to make it less dust prone and go commando:)

[westina]

[E1]

Things have probably changed since my custom paint days, but in this case I suspect PPG still blows Martin Seymour deeply into the weeds.

Recommend wetting down everything you can in your garage and/or using lots of plastic sheets covering things having dust. I would not scrimp on a paint gun and it may be possible to rent a small compressor, varies with area.

Pick the perfect day, too, maybe 75 degrees or so but ask that, too. Body Shop suppliers will have a ton more knowledge than any normal NAPA.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Gizmoman]

I'm currently repainting my F-250 and have learned a lot from watching you tube videos.
The Harbor freight HVLP 15 dollar gun works well enough if you aren't looking for Maserati level perfection. https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/paint/20-fl-oz-hvlp-gravity-feed-air-spray-gun-62300.html - there are you tube videos on how to set them up for auto paint. Basically, you must take it apart and clean it real good before you use it. You'll also need to regulate the air down to 20-40 psi and add a water filter at the input to the gun. So add a regulator and filter to the list.
I think using a two stage (base coat and then clear coat) is your best bet. It will give you more time and also show imperfections which can be easily fixed before laying on the clear coat. I'd also recommend going to a local auto paint supply store to get your paint. The guys/gals behind the counter can help answer any questions. For what it will cost to rent a compressor, you can possibly buy one from HF. A small one should work but don't go too small - it should have a small storage tank.
_________________
82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[westina]

[alaskadan]

The first van I ever sprayed was 74 bay tin top camper. I used napa's Martin senour paint single stage enamel. I did the body work in a small shop and rolled it out side onto a gravel driveway to spray it. The shop was so dusty after all the work that I felt wetting the driveway down right before painting was going to give better results. Did it on a calm morning. No sooner did I get it sprayed there was a bug hatch . They buffed out ha ha. The paint worked fine, put on two coats. Wet sanded and buffed it out. Almost 20 years ago. Aside from little chips in the nose from sand and pebbles it still looked good when I sold it to a samba member in jersey who drives it today. Biscay blue body and Wimbledon white roof.

[Gizmoman]

[westina]

Ok so i was able to locate a autobody store that carry few different paint brand including PPG. My paint code doesn't help much, they are mostly suggesting to bring along a piece from the van to match the color.
Also got in touch with sherwin williams auto paint supplier. So now i have to pick between
-napa(martin seymour)
-ppg
-sherwin williams.
They seemed to be 1:1 reducer, Therefore 2 quarts will give me a gallon of sprayable paint.

[mikemtnbike]

I've been confused on the HF gun/compressor needs, but air tools and their nomenclature are "greek" to me.

The gun says moves 6cfm at 40psi and need a compressor in the 1-3 hp range.

But, the compressors at HF, even at 2.5hp, don't move 6cfm at 40psi.

Is that why you'd get a regulator- to keep the PSI lower and reduce the CFM to match the compressor's capacity?

Or, am I making this too complicated and any decent compressor with enough hp can get the job done?

Thanks, OP, sorry about the semi-hijack. I want my van painted one way or another, am considering lots of options, using the piece of sheet I cut out for my Westfauxlia conversion as a test palette as I try to figure out if going to do myself or pay somebody.

Roll-and-tip interlux actually looks pretty damn good, FWIW.

Prepares to be mocked for above statement...
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[westina]

[Wildthings]

[Gizmoman]

If the gun you have will do the job - by all means go for it. I didn't know PPG was a brand of paint.

No need to get stressed about it - just lower your expectations somewhat below a factory job.

For me it's about no obvious dents, only thin body filler where required, and consistency of color and sheen. It's all about the prep - you sound like your heading in the right direction.
_________________
82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[dobryan]

Be prepared for a lot of orange peel with a turbine setup unless you get it dialed in perfectly. BTDT.

I never could get my turbine setup to work to my satisfaction and went with a HVLP compressor gun.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

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