I painted my '85 GW Limited Edition and my ex-1500 during C-19. Everything is ABS. As recommended, if the panel(s) were just to be painted over old paint with no work/repair(s) to be done, 800 grit, followed by a grey scrub pad, clean with isopropyl, tack cloth, 2K primer (not necessary but can level the surface), sand and use grey scrub pad on the primer, clean with isopropyl, tack cloth, then paint. Had the paint mixed at the local auto paint store. Finish with three coats of clear. Prep work is the key to a great finish, no shortcuts. When you sand painted surfaces, the surface just has to be smooth and clean, no need to try to remove the existing - makes a good base.
The good thing about painting is that if you have an "oops", redo the process, it's just paint. Professional painters have "oops" as well.
This is the primer I used:
- 2K Epoxy Primer.jpg (246.82 KiB) Viewed 149 times
The panel shown should only need a light sanding, then the grey scrubby, final with isopropyl, and send to painter. If you had to deal with ABS, no paint, sand and clean with isopropyl, tack cloth, 2K primer then prep for painting.
I also painted the backsides to get rid of the course surface. You can see the old and new:
- Panels Backside Painted.jpg (288.4 KiB) Viewed 149 times
The fender and anything else that was open to the elements was coated with a Cerakote product as a protectant.
If there are ABS cracks or those little spider cracks around holes, you must "V" the cracks, use ABS cement to seal the cracks, then sand, prime and paint. There are a lot of cracks and areas that need to be fixed on the GWs with fairings and such. If you do not do this, the crack(s) will probably show through after painting.
The paint job is only as good as the prep work. I would estimate that prep work is at least 80 percent of the job.
Good luck, look forward to seeing the finished product.
