Three tries and it's still too dark! I have a wing and a set of stage 2 side scoops I'd like to mount before the cold weather sets in but I don't know what to do! Anyone else have 16/9004 bright silver mettalic and have problems getting a color match? I'm taking into consideration the paint is going on 20 years old but it's WAY off. Previous owner says the paint is original but this overspray has me wondering?

Maybe it's the mixer and I'll try a different NAPA tomorrow? Here's a pic of my car...does it look the same as you other silver Fieros?

Silver is one of the WORST colors to match - specifically due to sun fade. Also, the overspray shown doesn't look any worse than the other factory paint I've seen - and (from my monitor's rendition of the photo) it looks about the same as my Dad's '88 GT.

My suggestion would be to find a shop that can color match a sample... then bring them in a quarter panel. But beware that the fade level may even be different between a quarter panel and the wing!

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Looking for Fiero posters?

[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 12-21-2006).]

If you have an Oreilly Auto parts near you they (at least the one close to me) have a "camera like thing" that they take out to the car and take a picture then the computer does a blendible match. Also, it the color is to dark try increasing the air pressure on the spray gun. If it is too light decrease the air pressure. Hope this helps, Jerry

quote Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: Silver is one of the WORST colors to match - specifically due to sun fade. Also, the overspray shown doesn't look any worse than the other factory paint I've seen - and (from my monitor's rendition of the photo) it looks about the same as my Dad's '88 GT.

So I've been told about silver and that the overspray is common.

quote Originally posted by MinnGreenGT:My suggestion would be to find a shop that can color match a sample... then bring them in a quarter panel. But beware that the fade level may even be different between a quarter panel and the wing!

Thanks...I just may go this route. If the wing was a little off I could live with that but the stage 2's would look retarded if they didn't match.

quote Originally posted by 86goldse4speed: If you have an Oreilly Auto parts near you they (at least the one close to me) have a "camera like thing" that they take out to the car and take a picture then the computer does a blendible match. Also, it the color is to dark try increasing the air pressure on the spray gun. If it is too light decrease the air pressure. Hope this helps, Jerry

No O'reillys in my area Thanks for the air pressure tip though!

You know that NAPA stands for Not-A-Part-Available just kidding (I'm a former driver for NAPA and heard that from a Firestone mechanic). Any good paint supplier will have the same camera thing or the laser if changing the air pressure doesn't work for you start calling around and see if you can find a place that has that computer color matching because silver fades fast in the sun the first couple of really sunny summers is the worst for paint fading.

With silver paint, you cannot just spray a panel and expect the color to match with the old paint on the remaining panels. With silver, you need to blend the paint into the area around your new pieces because silver just doesn't match well. Spraying a wing seperate is the only piece that you can spray seperately......any other panel needs to be painted on the car and blended into the surrounding areas. You probably have the proper color matching paint, but make sure that you stir the paint thoroughly and try different air pressures at the gun to match the old paint. Silver is one of the harder colors to spray, and blending is a requirement.

Mark

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Mark is right. Silver and gold are nearly impossible to match by painting just a panel. Sherwin Williams supplies NAPA for their Martin-Senor paint....same stuff. You might try taking a part to a Sherwin Williams automotive store and have them mix it to match the panel as best they can. Ive got surprisingly good matches once in a while. I just had silver mixed for a new Honda with hail damage. It was still slightly off, but not enough to be noticable if you didnt know it was painted. A lot of paint stores also use an infared scanner to 'read' the paint for a custom match. Also like Mark says, paint technique can also affect the hue. Generally, lower pressure makes it darker and higher air pressure will lighten it. Putting too many coats of clear can even make it appear darker. I usually go with 2 coats, 3 if Im color sanding and buffing.

I went to a different NAPA today for a fresh quart and it looks much closer The paint man told me he gets alot of complaints about the NAPA in my town. I didn't opt for it because I have a gun and compressor but they even put it in aerosol cans for twenty bucks! Thanks for all the tips and pluses to those I hadn't already! Happy Holidays.