Cortez Silver Paint Match

[Greg L.]

Hey guys I have myself in a bit of a pickle and really need some advice.

I had my car painted with lacquer a few years ago(lots of posts here about that) and about a year or so ago I noticed that the door jambs and headlight bezels don't match the rest of the body. I wish I had seen this sooner so I could have talked to the painter about it but to be honest I let it sit for quite awhile so the paint would dry before reassembling it.

Now a little background, due to a poor first paint job I had it painted a second time, yes the paint batches each came from two different PPG sources. I told the painter that I wanted at least 2 qts left over for any future mishaps and had thought the painter would mix all the paint together(is that not a standard practice with different batches)? Well he didn't. He left me with two batches of paint a gal that matches the door jambs and about a pint that matches the rest of the car. Lacquer isn't available in Canada so when I was in Seattle last summer I brought back 2 qts and guess what, it doesn't really match either the jambs or the body...

I really don't know what to do as this car is literally ruining my love of the hobby and to go as far as I have with it and have mismatched paint just isn't very satisfying.

My thoughts now are to take the gas cap door and try to find a dupli-color match at one of the auto parts stores or have it matched locally with a modern paint and spray that on the jambs and bezels. I honestly don't know what else to do anymore.

What would you guys do in a situation like this? I'm not getting any younger and really need to get past this so any advice is appreciated!

[Bill C.]

Re: Cortez Silver Paint Match

I would do a spray plate/card using the lacquer that does match.

then send it to a PPG lacquer supplier (in the US) and have them color match it before sending it to you.
just be sure you explain to them whether you will clear over it or just but/polish it like factory.

that would seem a reasonable way to get as damn close as possible.

BUT beware that there are a pile of things in the painting process that can effect tint.
such as thinners used/ line pressure at the gun/ and what type of gun (tip etc..)/ air temp/humidity

even if you had a full gallon of the paint that was used on the 1st paint job, then still is no guarantee it will match.

and for what its worth - blending panels (specially small ones) against other body panels using lacquer is no easy feat.
in your case it may be better to paint the upper surround/hood/wiper door area and blend down into the natural body line of the fenders (where top and side meet).

I'm no expert but getting the headlight doors to match the nose is gonna be tough -
the door jambs at least are not noticeable when the doors are closed....

my 2 cents.

Bill

[Reba W.]

Re: Cortez Silver Paint Match

To add to what Bill has said, silver is one of the hardest colors to match with today’s technology. Good luck in your quest.

[Michael H.]

Re: Cortez Silver Paint Match

Don't forget they didn't match very well at the factory. Headlamp buckets were painted inside the car on the floor. I would get the closes match you have as it won't be noticed. I your cars paint looks like the way they applied the paint at the factory they won't be looking at the door jams.

Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: Cortez Silver Paint Match

To add to what Bill has said, silver is one of the hardest colors to match with today’s technology. Good luck in your quest.

Reba------

One of the most difficult colors to match with ANY technology, old or new.

[Greg L.]

Re: Cortez Silver Paint Match

Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far.

Bill,
I was thinking that by taking my gas cap door to the PPG dealer in Seattle that I was basically doing what you suggest in spraying a card with my last pint and mailing it in. Actually your suggestion was my original thought but since I was going to be around Seattle I figured I'd go one better and bring an actual sample with me, have it matched and problem solved but that's not how it worked out...
One thing that I should have mentioned is that the top coat has a degree of clear on it. I'm not sure how much clear but the painter suggested that he use a clear because of issues he had with polishing the color. I was reluctant until he said that silver is mostly clear anyways and I had also read this other places as well so I believe that we compromised with him adding a small about of color to the "clear" topcoat thus giving it some color.
Could this be causing my mismatch issues as I don't think the jambs have any clear and I know the bezels don't have clear because he didn't want them back for the second paint job.
I appreciate your suggestion to repaint the upper surround, etc but I'm respectfully not going to consider any paint work beyond the door jamb area. I just feel it will open a whole new bag of worms for me if I do that.

Reba,
Thanks, I'll take all the luck I can get! I'm curious to know if you judge the jambs or do the exterior Judges do them with the body paint?

Michael,
The body paint looks awesome, not too shinny with very fine orange peel. The painter nailed the sheen and texture but botched the jambs and bezels. Maybe I'm hung up about nothing but when I look at the jambs I see a slightly bluish color and when I look at the body I see a slightly greenish color. The PPG person told me there is only two components to Cortez Silver, silver and green so I don't understand why I see a blue tint on those jambs and feel that it will be noticed during judging. Maybe it's not a blue I'm seeing but an absence of green? Just grabbing a straws here...

I'm still open to any ideas here short of course a repaint.

[Bill C.]

Re: Cortez Silver Paint Match

If you are happy with the tint of the gas door - it will work ok
they use a camera to get a picture for the tinting machine Just be sure it's clean
you ideally need about a 3x3 area for the camera to position on.

did the painter clear over the lacquer or did he mix clear into the last batch of paint he used to finish the car?
clear will change how the metallics lay and will effect tint somewhat. Could add a flop to the color

I think you will have a fun time getting a match.

Remember.
Thinners, air temp, humidity, air pressure at the gun makes big differences.

I would take the head light assemblies out of the car and paint them
then compare them to the surround. If you like the tint, them assemble otherwise respray them until they do.

As for the door jambs. Paint them without any clear added. Use you gas door as the tint compare.
Just work them till ur happy.