So I am painting all the hard metal interior pieces and the paint is aqua and is metallic. So as far as I understand is I cannot color sand smooth because of the flake right? Should I use a clear coat? If so gloss or semi?? Thanks guys.

 

Anyone done this?

 

is it the same color you are going to paint the entire car with later ?

 

It is just off color a bit from exterior. Ext is painted last year this year is the interior.

 

I would think that the bigger problem with that is the fact that getting the doors and such clean enough to paint would be.. well, fun. That, and the worn down (if it is) window sill from people's arms...

But I don't know why you can't sand down the old paint. You won't get it smooth, though, because of all the texture on the doors and quarter panels.. The dash, sure, I want to say that's a smooth piece, as is the column. But the doors are textured metal skin, as is the quarter panel, and getting all that sanded is going to be just simply *frustrating*.

Your best best is to media blast with very fine media the four panels in question, then wash it with soap and water, then wax/degrease it, and shoot it with sealing primer, then shoot your new color. The sealing primer is a good idea regardless if it's original paint. Gives you a barrier so the new paint and the old don't get all in a fight and the old paint wins.

Me? Well... I got all crazy in the brain and covered all that in red vinyl. I wasn't gonna paint that texture, and besides, I had a little rust (that I treated) so... it was either new inner skins or... Tada, covered the doors, quarter panels, dash, column, and ashtray.

It looked SO good... I miss that car.

/livin' vicariously through y'alls projects.
//Mine is a motorcycle currently, Ride is being repainted...

 

If you want the original look, order some interior lacquer spray cans from a resto supply house. Prep the surfaces as needed, mask off adjoining areas you don't want paint on, and spray away.

 

That's what I did. Restoring the aqua color just didn't know if it needed clear