AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Project Cars => Topic started by: vangremlin on December 03, 2016, 06:42:28 PM

Title: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on December 03, 2016, 06:42:28 PM
Many of you have been following my little car Pepe since I brought him home from the junkyard in May 2008 (pictures below).

I had him repainted in 2009/2010.  While the initial result looked really good, it lacked staying power and within 3 years the clear coat was peeling off in some spots.  I had those areas touched up, but the paint continued to degrade, so its time for a new paint job for Pepe.  I dropped him off at the shop today, the same place that did the touch up a couple years ago.  The paint job will look very similar, with some minor differences, and with portions of the back painted black like Amc1320 did to his Kammback, which was a throwback to the Gremlin.

Pepe will be in the shop for a few months, but the painter said he will be taking photos and sending them over as he makes progress, which I will post on here.

Pepe in the junkyard

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/Photo_051808_004_zps60e2156e.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/Photo_051808_004_zps60e2156e.jpg.html)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/Photo_051808_002_zps345c0a41.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/Photo_051808_002_zps345c0a41.jpg.html)

Pepe comes home

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/Photo_052608_001.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/Photo_052608_001.jpg.html)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/Photo_052608_002.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/Photo_052608_002.jpg.html)

Current state of the paint job, lots of clear coat peeled off

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/BCF74196-8B93-4516-9E37-DFE99B3ACE39_zpsbwmhrgci.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/kammback/BCF74196-8B93-4516-9E37-DFE99B3ACE39_zpsbwmhrgci.jpg.html)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/73D9D71D-722F-4FD4-B3A6-3CE2E2ECFDE4_zpshwgyd1of.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/kammback/73D9D71D-722F-4FD4-B3A6-3CE2E2ECFDE4_zpshwgyd1of.jpg.html)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/2CFF196F-565F-47A9-8127-4E0693FE2497_zpsv035pvhx.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/kammback/2CFF196F-565F-47A9-8127-4E0693FE2497_zpsv035pvhx.jpg.html)

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/brilliantd/kammback/902BA925-A68A-4406-874F-153007E37A00_zpsu4ysrpqj.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/media/kammback/902BA925-A68A-4406-874F-153007E37A00_zpsu4ysrpqj.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: mudkicker715 on December 03, 2016, 08:58:41 PM
Holy crap, that degraded. Wow. I mean i expected some but that is alot of degradation.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: amcfool1 on December 04, 2016, 12:39:03 AM
hey, ain't nothing but a thing! I salute you for keeping it this long, and keeping it alive. Paint ain't nothing but a thing! If you have the financial means, go ahead and have it painted right. If you don't, it's still a living Eagle, and, getting pretty is the LAST priority. Remember, ..."Shine they may, but run they must!". good luck, gz
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: Prafeston on December 04, 2016, 11:16:02 AM
I didn't know the story behind Pepe! That's so cool you saved it from a Junkyard. I true underdog story! :)
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on December 04, 2016, 11:35:05 AM
Holy crap, that degraded. Wow. I mean i expected some but that is alot of degradation.

Yeah, when the stuff on the roof started peeling, when we would have a rainy day, big patches would come off, kind of like peeling off your skin after you had a sunburn lol
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on December 04, 2016, 11:43:07 AM
I didn't know the story behind Pepe! That's so cool you saved it from a Junkyard. I true underdog story! :)

When I found Pepe, the tags on the plates were 16 years old, so I have to assume it had not been run during that whole time.  I got it running within about a week, a real testament to those AMC 258 engines.

By the way, Pepe is named after the 4WD truck in "Romancing the Stone."  The owner kept referring to the truck as Pepe, my little mule.

Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: AMC of Houston on December 04, 2016, 02:17:29 PM
I'm sorry Pepe is going to Paint Jail for a while; maybe he'll get time off his sentence for good behavior.   But I can't wait to see the outcome!!
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: Prafeston on December 04, 2016, 03:38:40 PM
When I found Pepe, the tags on the plates were 16 years old, so I have to assume it had not been run during that whole time.  I got it running within about a week, a real testament to those AMC 258 engines.

Sure wish I would have had that kind of luck with mine...Though I was told it ran 4 years previous...I recall the tags on the plates being from late 90s...so it likely hadn't been run very much if at all since.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: rollguy on December 12, 2016, 11:20:26 AM
I have heard that there is a wide range of quality for clear coat finishes, and that may be the reason for yours going bad after only a few years. Also, a good quality hand wax job often will help keep even the lowest quality clear coat lasting longer.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: eaglefreek on December 12, 2016, 11:58:33 AM
I have heard that there is a wide range of quality for clear coat finishes, and that may be the reason for yours going bad after only a few years. Also, a good quality hand wax job often will help keep even the lowest quality clear coat lasting longer.
It might also be a prep issue. That clear is coming off way too easy.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on December 12, 2016, 09:06:44 PM
Hard to say what went wrong with the clear coat, whether it was prep, or low quality clear, or not enough clear coats, or ????, but it needed fixing.  The shop that did that paint job is no longer in business. 
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: eaglefreek on December 13, 2016, 11:28:44 AM
The shop that did that paint job is no longer in business.
Gee, I wonder why?  ::) Hopefully this shop gets it right and you get some kind of warranty.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on December 13, 2016, 06:46:39 PM
The shop that did that paint job is no longer in business.
Gee, I wonder why?  ::) Hopefully this shop gets it right and you get some kind of warranty.

Exactly!!  The new shop did some touch up work for me a few years back which has held up well, and the shop seems to be going strong, long wait time to get Pepe in.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on January 17, 2017, 06:36:59 PM
Work on Pepe is coming along nicely.  Here is a link to an album with photos of the body work and priming to date.

http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/library/kammback/Paint%20job%202016
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: rollguy on January 20, 2017, 03:49:17 PM
I sure hope all the plastic (fender flares and rocker panel covers) is removed and painted separately.  Those things are so easy to remove, and the job will be so much better. Just my opinion though.....Rich
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on March 04, 2017, 11:00:21 AM
I picked up Pepe from the paint shop yesterday, just about 3 months after it went in.  I'm digging the new paint job, even if it looks a lot like the old one lol.  There are a few teaser pictures several posts below as attachments (thanks photobucket), or follow the link to the album that has all the pictures from the re-painting process.  He's a happy (and awesome looking) Kammback once again!

http://s62.photobucket.com/user/brilliantd/library/kammback/Paint%20job%202016

Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: Prafeston on March 04, 2017, 01:30:50 PM
Let's hope this one lasts!
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: amcfool1 on March 04, 2017, 05:19:54 PM
very nice! what kind of rims are those? good luck, gz
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on March 04, 2017, 06:14:46 PM
very nice! what kind of rims are those? good luck, gz

Thanks!  They are American Racing 895 16 x 7 wheels with Toyo Open Country AT 215/70-16 tires
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: racerkilla on March 04, 2017, 10:47:39 PM
NIce looking car.. always like two toned
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: rollguy on June 24, 2017, 10:21:54 AM
I am happy for you and Pepe' with the new paint!  It looks awesome!
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on June 24, 2017, 12:03:06 PM
I am happy for you and Pepe' with the new paint!  It looks awesome!

Thanks! 
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: bradd04 on July 05, 2017, 06:00:24 AM
Looks really nice. The paint shop did a good job.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on July 05, 2017, 03:35:16 PM
Thanks.  I think the Kammback body style looks good even today!
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: maddog on July 17, 2017, 05:28:39 PM
i like the tweaks you made to the paint but I had to use the link you posted as the pictures aren't showing up.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: vangremlin on July 17, 2017, 07:47:34 PM
Because of the Photobucket issues, I'll attach some of the pictures here.  You can still click on the link to the folder in Reply #15 above to see all the photos.  Thanks for looking!
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: maddog on July 17, 2017, 09:11:38 PM
thanks vangremlin I love how you did the back in all black, it looks really cool.
Title: Re: Pepe's New Paint Job
Post by: trooper5707 on October 14, 2017, 04:51:06 PM
One of the nicest I have ever seen. Great save!