I will be painting my 1997 Chateau van this summer, Medium Willow Metallic paint code SH. It's the standard wheel base window van. I'm not a professional painter but I have done several cars. The last was a 2001 TJ Jeep. I have access to a booth and all the equipment in our community restoration shop.

My question is now that I live in Phoenix AZ and the van is outside all the time, which paint system and brand would hold up the best to these conditions? How much paint should I buy for the job?

 

Oh wow. I think I'd try to find a vehicle painting forum for that kind of info. Also your local paint supplier may be an excellent source of info on sunbake in your area and the # of clearcoat layers that is needed. Be sure to post some pics once you get it done.

 

I went out today and I found it very hard to find any nearby auto paint suppliers. The ones I dealt with 10 years ago are gone!
We have the Matrix paint computer mixing system in our shop but the paint is crazy expensive.

 

A few things we don't know----are you changing the color or simply refreshing what's already there? Is this accessible paint booth tall enough to paint the roof too---does it have scaffolding or rolling ladders to reach up there? Are the paint guns typical siphon-fed cup types or the newer HVLP gravity-fed guns? Those can affect how much material you'll need.

I once owned a body shop in the mid-80's---materials that were once "expensive" at $50 for an entire gallon now cost upwards of $500-600 for the same color and quality I was using. Probably the best evolution of autobody refinishing is how much clear coating materials have improved, how their use can somewhat reduce costs a bit, or more accurately not have them escalate to even crazier levels. Since they are greatly improved their selection becomes more important especially for your climate. You'll want something with UV resistance built in otherwise the color coat will suffer. Whatever color you do use make sure to buy the highest quality clear coat you can afford.

Assuming you're just refreshing your existing color coat that won't be too crazy a cost. There should be an on-line calculator for quantity of materials you'll need for your van. By my old-school guesstimates you'll need one gallon of the color which should allow for two coats of the entire van. Clear coat will be about the same.

Do keep in mind my guesses are based on 1985, your gallons-per square feet might be very much different today.

 

A buddy repainted just the roof of my high top van and the materials alone we're about $500. Paint is expensive as heck, now.

 

I'm painting the same color with the exception of the roof. Thinking of doing the roof in the lower body accent color of silver to cut down on heat soak. Still trying to get the silver code?

Our booth is oversized to accommodate vans and I'll spray of a rolling ladder. We use HVLP gravity-fed guns and several of our member were paint and body shop owners prior to retirement. The shop manager was a vocational college instructor in auto body work!

 

Okay---sounds like your booth, equipment and volunteer help are all great and ready to go--that's a huge obstacle so many can't find a way around when thinking of a similar project.

Simply refreshing the color will require much less color so that's the good news. Wherever you buy your finishes will have a color chart you can choose whatever accent color you want. Its not necessary to have a Ford specific color. I'd maybe suggest a DIY bed liner material for the roof, its available in lighter colors these days. I like the brand: MonstaLiner

I'm sure you're already been told masking things off will be the biggest chore here. Were this me I'd remove everything down to outside door handles, door lock cylinders tail and headlight assemblies, door and body seals including the front door glass run channels---anything that would typically not be on the van body when it was painted during original manufacture. That's just me and that's not a project too many want to tackle.

 

Bed Liner, what a great idea THANKS.

 

I'm guessing you used the new paint booth at ARC? I've got several questions for you as I'm looking at doing the same thing at the same place. Shoot me a PM if you would.
Thanks, Jim

 

Bed liner worked out well. I've been over at the ARC's building the last couple days documenting the reopening plans.

 

I'll pop over if you're still there..