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The journey of a 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix



Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Picked up a covercraft windshield cover.

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Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Ended up picking this sub box up from Concept Enclosures on ebay since I had some ebay gift cards. It was time to replace the large box I had and regain some trunk space.

This one is much slimmer

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Here are some side by side of what I had before

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Sits nice and flush. I did have to remove the Bose amp for it to fit. I am not using the Bose amp anymore as I have separate amps to run the speakers and subs on the car.

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I have to remove modify my amp rack a bit to get the trunk mat to sit more flush. But the added trunk space and weight savings is nice. It also sounds great.
 
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Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Had the old tint removed, which was horribly faded and had new tint installed. 20% rear, 35% front.

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Here's what it looked like before.

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Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Ended up dropping it off to get a repaint. The clear coat was gone on the front bumper and the rear had clear coat failure on them as well. Taking care of some rust on the roof that developed after the front glass was replaced. The paint on the fenders and doors had fade spots on it even though the clear was fine. Not bad considering it's been in the California sun and under high UV for 17 years.

Went to look at it the other day to see the body work done it. Should be getting primer in a day or 2.

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Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Amazing! They must be worth more in California. Hope you get a nice finish on it.

Not really. It's worth the same price just like anywhere else. I was just sick of the car looking bad in certain areas and it's cheaper to repaint then buy an entire new car.
 
Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Not really. It's worth the same price just like anywhere else. I was just sick of the car looking bad in certain areas and it's cheaper to repaint then buy an entire new car.

Cool. I get that its cheaper than a new car but theres a lot of variables to that statement. Anywhere around here, a basic paint job would be WAY more than top dollar on the car. Thats between you and your shop though, none of anybody's business. If I may, I'd like to make a couple observations from the pics... bumpers will turn out SO much better if sprayed off the car, and leaving them fully connected sets you up for peeling next to the fender. Same around the door moldings. Hopefully the clearcoat won't bridge there.

I know you know plenty about finishes and care and enjoy making it look like a million bucks so I wonder if you could ask for an extra coat of clear then cut and buff it at home. The one extra coat allows sufficient film thickness to knock the texture completely flat for a show car finish. With two coats, flattening dust nibs is about all that can be done and leave enough clear there. That is assuming a common mid grade or better paint is used. However if the painter is not used to spraying three coats it can turn into a sag-fest.

One more... silver is difficult to spray flawlessly. If you do end up with a little mottling of the metallic, well thats kinda how it goes. Tiger stripes aren't acceptable but some blotchiness of the color is common. Many times its due to insufficient coverage (not enough coats) rather than gun technique. Often the defect is less visible in direct sun. Matching the consistency of the original color can be challenging.

Just benign discussion not intended to make you uncomfortable, and don't feel like you must reply. Its not often that an opportunity to discuss actual paint pops up here so yep. Keeping fingers crossed for a beautiful finish. I can relate to the bad spots bugging you. The OE paint is fairly amazing IMHO, but age is creeping up on them.
 
Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

No need to worry about parts coming off the car. I already talked to the guys there on what I want and how I want it done. The car will be coming apart in pieces. I'm not rushing them. I want them to do it right.

Been to this shop a few times so I know their work. They do a good job. They painted my SD air dam among other things.

Already talked to them about how many coats of paint and clear. It's getting plenty of clear. Which is a good thing. Gives me much more clear to play with.

But you bring up some valid points.
 


Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Awright! I figured you were hip to the plenty of clear thing and am glad to hear that you're familiar with the shop. We'll be waiting for the "afters".
 
Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Are you going to actually rack up some miles on the Camaro?

What will you coat it with after the curing time? try Uber this time? then you can drive an Uber car.
 
Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Are you going to actually rack up some miles on the Camaro?

Yeah I already racked up miles this week. I need to get it smogged anyway.

What will you coat it with after the curing time? try Uber this time? then you can drive an Uber car.

Lol no it won't be uber. I haven't decided yet. I have Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light + Exo combo coming in. It's either that or Gloss Coat. Leaning towards GTechniq right now. But a coating won't happen anytime soon until the paint cures. I do have some Meguiar's M305 to use until then which is fresh paint safe.
 
Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

Have not done much lately after getting the car back from the paint shop. Slowly putting things back on. It needs a paint correction badly but that will have to wait until these annoying rain showers stop. Once I am finished doing that and making some slight changes I will post up more photos.

Today I made a little change to the cluster gauge vinyl. I was not aware that the pontiac lettering was not the same as what is found through out the car. I never really compared it once I got them.

50/50

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While I had it out of the car I polished out the cluster and coated it with optimum opti-lens.

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