Welcome to the NEW & IMPROVED LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, & Motorcycle News!

September 1st Marks the First Day of Our New Format Here At LDJ Auto Body's Car, Truck, and Motorcycle News

Register Now to Make Sure You Don't Miss ANY of The Great New Features Starting Today!

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We decided that the official end of Summer would be the official start of the new and improved features being implemented here at LDJ Auto News!  We're excited about our new format and we're sure you'll enjoy all the great information that passes through our doors.  

Here's An Overview Of Our Newest Features

• You'll enjoy a host of new guest bloggers.  Each week, we'll have at least one new guest article from some of the most interesting and influential people in the auto industry. 

www.caruserreviews.com

• New car, truck, and motorcycle reviews from some of the best review sites on the Internet to help you find your new car, truck, or motorcycle.  We do the research so you don't have to.  From pricing to accessory packages, you'll love our new review section.

• New automotive product and accessory information.  Here you'll find information on the latest, greatest car, truck, and, motorcycle parts, accessories, and even clothing and gear.  Our bloggers will research and review the best products and find the best places to buy them.  We'll be updating our affiliate lists so you'll be able to find those products at the lowest prices possible right here in this blog.

• Live "chat" with one of our professional technicians here at LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical!  We're excited about this great new feature.  People will be able to chat live with Larry Blackan, Dee Blackman, Rich Downs, and more.  Information for the "do-it-yourself" project owner straight from the pros who do it for a living.  Get tips on choosing paint and materials for your project vehicle. Tips on bodywork, tools, proper procedures and more.  Get recommendations on what accessories are best for your particular application, and just about anything else in the automotive industry.  Live "chat" is active now.  Simply scroll down to the bottom right of the screen and click on "Contact Us" to initiate a live chat conversation.

• Each month we will be featuring a specific job or project.  Each feature project will include start to finish progress reports along with "how-to" articles, detailed pictures and descriptions of the work being done, and instructional videos.  There will also be a "discussion" forum regarding each project so you can ask questions and get exactly the information you need from our professional technicians.

• We will continue to provide you with a list of the best suppliers for ALL your automotive and motorcycle parts and accessories.   We strive to make your automotive accessory shopping experience a good one.  We monitor feedback on all of our affiliates and ensure that only the best suppliers with the best prices are listed here.  We'll continue to do our homework so you don't have to.  Our list of automotive specialists continues to grow, so be sure to check out our pages for the best bargains in town!

Next month, we are working on a "classifieds" page to allow our readers the ability to list their cars, truck, motorcycles, and related parts for sale to other readers.  Listing your vehicles and parts is free!  Reach thousands of buyers with similar interests to help you sell your items fast.

We hope you like our new format and we'd love to hear your opinions, good or bad, along with any ideas you might have for what you'd like to see here.  We look forward to seeing all of you here again and meeting all our new subscribers too!

Happy Motoring!

-Larry and Dee Blackman

LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical

Gibsonton, FL

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Car Or Motorcycle? The Dodge Tomahawk Concept Vehicle

We Love Concept Vehicles and This One Is Definitely For Our Motorcycle Fanatics!

Dodge Tomahawk Concept Has A Viper Power Plant

Creating a concept vehicle has just got to be a lot of fun!  Seriously, some of us are obsessed with drawing pictures of really cool vehicles.  Vehicles that look awesome, but, for the most part, would never become a reality.  Imagine working for a real car or motorcycle company and having the ability to make some of those cool pics become a reality.....now, that's a job I would just die for!

 

The Dodge Tomahawk Concept is an awesome vehicle.  I use the word vehicle because I think it's still up for grabs as to whether it should be considered a car or a motorcycle!  According to Allpar.com, “For the Tomahawk to have been sold in the U.S. for road use, it would have had to pass all of the automobile safety standards.  Had the engineers replaced one of the tire pairs (either front or back) with a single tire (for a total of three), it would have been a motorcycle, although I think the lights might have been in violation of the regulations.”  According to Allpar.com, a motorcycle can have no more than 3 wheels on the ground at one time.  It (The Tomahawk) has four wheels, looks like motorcycle, and actually, I don't personally care what they call it....I just want to ride it!

Powered by an 8.3L, 10 cyclinder, 90 degree V-type, liquid cooled, 505 cubic inch, Viper motor that, through a manual, foot-shifted, aluminum-cased two-speed, sequential racing-style with dog ring, straight-cut gears, could propel this beast from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of somewhere around 300 mph, this vehicle is just raw adrenalin looking for a driver or rider!

The block is a 356-T6 aluminum alloy block with cast-iron liners, aluminum alloy cylinder heads. The Bore x Stroke: 4.03 inches x 3.96 inches (102.4 x 100.6), two pushrod-actuated overhead valves per cylinder, roller-type hydraulic lifters, sequential fuel injection with individual runners.  With a compression Ratio: 9.6:1, and a Max Engine Speed: 6000 rpm fueled by 93-octane unleaded gasoline, a dry sump oil system that takes 8 quarts of oil and requires twin aluminum radiators mounted atop engine intake manifolds, force-fed from front-mounted, belt-driven turbine fans. The cooling systems actually requires 11 quarts of antifreeze!  You can find a full article on the Tomahawk at Allpar, a great site with lots of great articles on everything automotive. 

 

This is just one badass bike, or car, or whatever you prefer to call it!  Now I know you're asking yourself, why is she talking about this awesome concept bike, when, in reality, none of us can own or ride it!  It is just that, a concept!

 

Well, we can all dream, right?  Actually, the reasoning behind this story is that with a little ingenuity, you can turn any bike into your own concept vehicle!  Accessorizing your bike can turn a plain Jane into a head-turning, break tapping, talk of the water-cooler ride!

 

And, accessorizing doesn't have to be expensive.  You can add chrome to just about any part of a bike for pennies on the dollar.  Chrome accessories are great for adding flash and you can get almost any part in chrome!  Check out the great chrome parts from CruiserCustomizing.  Their chrome accessories page has "bling" for your bike from the tinyest parts to some great Kuryakyn Eagle Front Fender Ornaments and Show Chrome Accessories (big bike parts) Chrome Edge Guards for Tanks, etc.  You'll love your bike's new flashy look and there are chrome peices to fit any budget.

Check out their American Motorcycles Accessories page too, for some great ideas for your American made bike! There are simply too many neat accessories to mention here, so go shop to your hearts content at CruiserCustomizing.

 

Looking for some "high tech" accessories to bring your bike up-to-date and maybe even into the future?  BikeBandit.com has your toys! Check out their motorcycle communication page for some great "high tech" toys to customize your ride!  From the Garmin zumo® 220 Motorcycle GPS to the GoPro Motorsport Hero2 HD Digital Camera, you'll find all kinds of great accessories and upgrades to bring your ride into the 20th Century at prices that won't "break your bank"!  One of my personal favorites is the MotoComm DSR-1003G Digital Recorder & Camera System.  You can ride and record all your favorite rides and upload them to U-Tube or share them on Facebook!  The camera mounts wherever you'd like and can create a "driver's vantage point" view that will really make the viewer feel like they were there.

Adding some accessories to your ride can really make your bike look and feel new again without spending a huge amount of money!  You might not have a Tomahawk, but, you'll have your own "concept" bike, customized by you!

 

 

Happy Motoring!

-Larry and Dee Blackman

LDJ Auto Body & Custom Shop, Gibsonton, FL

www.ldjautobody.com

More about → Car Or Motorcycle? The Dodge Tomahawk Concept Vehicle

Total 2000 Mustang GT Make-Over....A Father & Son Make Perfect Team!

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet....or, in this case, Ford!  Either way, what could make a better story for the 4th of July than a great father and son Mustang make-over!

We do all kinds of custom work here at LDJ Auto Body.  From the installation of accessories to full blown custom modified projects.  One thing we love seeing here, though, is family members working together. And car projects are just custom made for that!  It's fun and, most of all, it's rewarding!

This 4th of July, I want to show you a great father - son project car that came to us for a carbon fiber hood installation and complete paint job.  This 2000 Mustang GT is Eric's first car and he and his dad, Howard, have spent countless hours working together on this project.  They have done some awesome things to the car and I think you'll agree, all their "sweat equity" was well worth the time and effort.

The car came to us as an original 2000 Mustang GT in great condition.  A few minor dings and some parking lot damage was the only "body work" necessary.

The make-over consisted of fitting and installing a cowl inducted, carbon fiber hood and a complete paint job including a painted "Lemans" stripe package.  A great combination for this car. 

The car was scuffed and prepped for paint and some the minor body work taken care of.  DuPont was the product of choice and DuPont supplied everything from the filler to the paint and clear coat.  We work almost exclusively with DuPont here at LDJ and find their products work great for us and our customers in terms of durability and cost.

After repairing the minor body damage, the new carbon fiber hood was installed and fitted.  The hood really made a difference in the look of this car.  Adding a rounded effect to the entire front end and also adding 3 1/2 inches to the overall height of the hood.  The cowl inducted hood changed the entire look and definitely brought out the "muscle car" look in this Mustang.

After completing the prep work, the car made it to the paint booth where Larry Blackman, owner of LDJ Auto Body, works his magic.  Larry has been doing custom paint work for almost 40 years and his expertise shows in all of his work.  You can see more of his work at our website, www.ldjautobody.com.

The vermilion red base coat with a light metal flake and very light pearl really brightened up the look of the car.  The Lemans stripe is done in a "gun-metal blue-gray pearl" which brought out the blue in the metal flake and just looked fantastic.  The stripe package really put the finishing touches on this awesome looking 2000 Mustang GT! 

This full make-over also included a vast amount of engine and suspension work that was done by Howard and Eric themselves.  I wish you could hear it run!  This cars sounds great and runs even better.  I asked them to give me a list of what they had done and I'll let Howard tell you in his own words what modifications were done to the car, "We started with brakes and suspension. We replaced the brakes, shocks, struts, ball joints, and lowering springs.  We also installed 4.10 gears and a cold air intake and installed Comp 270 cams, long-tube headers, and catless X-pipe.  Inside we installed racing seats and a short throw shifter and finally we purchased a 3 1/2 inch cowl hood. Then we started searching for a painter and decided to go with LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical.  We're very happy with the outcome of the paint and the hood installation! 

Howard and Eric did an outstanding job on the motor and suspension work.  Here's a shot of "under the hood"!   You can see the time spent under her hood is significant and the car runs great.  Awesome job guys!

All in all the car looks and runs fantastic.  The addition of the cowl inducted hood really put the finishing touches on the overall look of the car.

LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical is located in Gibsonton, FL, just off of I-75 and Gibsonton Dr.  If you would like further information regarding custom paint or custom modification work for your project, please feel free to give us a call at (813) 644-4497.  You can send pictures of your project for a free estimate to estimates@ldjautobody.com.  Don't forget to stop by our facebook page at www.facebook.com/ldjautobody and "like" our page! 

We love happy endings!  A big "thank you" to Howard and Eric McCorkle for bringing us this great 2000 Mustang GT for a make-over.  We wish you all the best and hope you enjoy this great car.

Happy Motoring to all our readers!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical
Gibsonton, FL 
(813) 644-4497

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2000 Mustang GT - A Father & Son Project by LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical, Gibsonton, FL

2000 Mustang GT Project Car!
A Father and Son Colaboration
by Howard and Eric McCorkle! Great Job Guys!

Cars are something that all of us deal with daily.  But, our first car....well, now, that is something special!  We all remember that special day when we got our driver's license.  That day is, if you think about it, the first real step into the future.  The day when we experience real freedom. It's a special feeling to push that key into the ignition knowing that we are truly "on our own". 

The next step to "emancipation" from parental control is the day we get our first car.... And our first car is something that stays with us for the rest of our lives.  I'll bet there isn't a single one of us that doesn't remember the day we bought it!  I can even remember how it smelled!  Seriously....our first car is something special.  It is a special feeling that we just never forget. 

That's why this story is special to me.  I love seeing a father and son team up and work together on that special vehicle.  It's something I have been lucky enough to share with many "father and son" teams and each and every one of them makes me smile.

Our latest project car was just that.  We got an email from Howard, Eric's dad, asking how much it would cost to "just paint the car and install a carbon fiber hood".  There's "no body work" the email went on to say, "but, my son would like a nice paint job, and we're thinking about a Lemans stripe package".  "He is paying for the work himself and I have heard that you guys do some really great work there." "I'd like to see him get a nice job." "Please get back to me. Thanks. Howard".  As I read the email, a smile crept over my face as I thought about all the "first cars" we had painted here at LDJ.

I remembered my youngest daughter's first car, a Mitsubishi Eclipse that Larry had literally "cut in half"!  Yep, she wanted that car more than anything in the world, and, at that time, the only way we could afford a DOHC, fully turbo charged, gleaming black Eclipse was if we "fixed one up" and the only one we could find to fix up was basically "a total loss" in the rear end!  So, Larry and I bought another one and he cut the damn car in half and welded the two halves together!  Walah!  One gleaming black, DOHC fully turbo charged Mitsubishi Eclipse commin up! Yes, having one of the best body men on the planet for a dad has it's advantages!

As I answered Howard's email, I already knew that we'd be taking on this job.  My husband Larry is a great bodyman.  But, first and foremost, he is a dad and a husband.  And, I also knew that Howard had come to the right place to get his son's car painted and modified.  As Larry looked at the pictures of the car, I could see the smile....the same smile I see every time we paint a "first car".  It is just something that he loves to do....and, he loves seeing the look on the face of that "first car owner" when they see the car for the first time after it's done.

This is an awesome representation of what a great
father & son team can do when they put their heads
together!  This beats all the video games and time lost
with our kids due to "texting" and "facebooking"!

This car was special though.  We both love Mustangs and Howard and Eric had already been very busy doing what guys do to "first cars"!  When I was asking Howard for his permission to share this car with all of you, I also asked him what he and his son, Eric, had done to the engine and the rest of the car....it was obvious that they had been working hard on turning this first car into something very unique!  In his own words..." We started with brakes and suspension.  We replaced the brakes, shocks, struts, ball joints, and lowering springs. Installed 4.10 gears and a cold air intake. Installed Comp 270 cams, long-tube headers, and catless X-pipe. Intalled racing seats and short throw shifter. We purchased a 3 1/2 inch cowl hood. Then we started searching for a painter and decided to go with LDJ Auto Body and Mechanical. Very happy with the outcome of the paint and the hood installation!  And believe me, they did an outstanding job!  Here's a shot of "under the hood"!  I wish I had recorded the sound of this car....it's awesome!  You can see the time spent under her hood is significant and the car runs great.

The car was in great condition for it's age to begin with.  A few minor scratches were the only "body work" that needed to be done.  We started by removing the finish on the vehicle.

The car was fitted with a new, fiber carbon, 3 1/2 cowl inducted hood.  After fitting and prepping the hood.  The painting process began.

From primer to base coat, the car progressed nicely.  The Lemans stripe package really impressed me.  The color of the stripe is a pearl, gun metal blue-gray that really set off the red in the car's primary color scheme.


The paint job was completed using all DuPont products.  From the filler for the 3 very minor scratches to the base coat / clear coat finish, DuPont supplied every stitch of the material.  Even the outrageous "gun metal blue to silver" flip / flop pearl Lemans stripe was DuPont. 



The finished product is spectacular and the color combinations are fabulous.

The 2005 Mustang GT has some fantastic body lines and screams "muscle car" with styling that brings back the original "pony" car itself. 

Ford's attempt at re-creating the original look of the early Mustangs was a huge success and the Mustang, new or old, has become one of the most popular cars on the road today.

We hope Eric enjoys this outstanding "first car" as much as we enjoyed helping him get this project finished! 

We'd like to thank Howard and Eric for letting us share this great vehicle with our readers and we wish them all the best.






For more information on restoration and custom paint work, give us a call at (813) 644-4497.  Larry Blackman is always available to answer your questions and help you find the best solutions to getting your project up and running at prices that will fit your budget. 

We also do motorcycle restoration and custom bike work. 

Estimates are always free so call us today to see how little it can cost to get your dream car or bike on the road today!

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body and Custom Shop
Gibsonton, FL
www.ldjautobody.com
lblackman@ldjautobody.com

More about → 2000 Mustang GT - A Father & Son Project by LDJ Auto Body & Mechanical, Gibsonton, FL

Auto Window Tinting 101 – What You Need to Know

When it comes to adding style to your vehicle, there are few things that can do more than window tinting. However, it also offers many other advantages, including helping protect your interior from UV damage, keeping your car cooler and can even offer protection for those with medical conditions aggravated by sunlight. Of course, there are a few things you should know before you slap a sheet of tint on your windows.

Seasonal Considerations

Many drivers don’t realize that adding window tint to their cars can have a huge impact on their comfort throughout the year. For instance, just a slight tint can help block sunlight and heat during the summer months. This can make a drastic difference in your comfort levels, particularly when getting into a car that’s been parked in the sun during the summer. Of course, you should still use a windshield sun screen to really cut the amount of heat buildup in your car. During the winter, you won’t notice any adverse effects from tinting, either.

Health Considerations

Some individuals actually have a medical reason for adding window tint. For instance, medical conditions like lupus and eye health problems can be severely aggravated by direct sunlight. Other conditions include skin cancer, allergies to sunlight and photosensitivity. Adding window tint can save pain and suffering for these individuals.

Save Your Interior

While it might seem benign, sunlight is actually a damaging force of nature. All you have to do if you need proof is look at an item left in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time. Paint fades, vinyl cracks, fabric fades and loses elasticity – sunlight is actually a slow death for the interior of your car. For instance, if you have leather interior, you’ll find that prolonged sun exposure can cause serious damage in a rather short period of time. However, adding window tinting to your vehicle can block the UV rays responsible for drying, cracking and fading your leather interior. Not only does that prolong your interior’s life, but it can have a beneficial effect on your time and finances as well. Less damage means less time and money spent on conditioners and protectants.

Legal Considerations

Of course, adding window tinting is not as simple as you might suppose. You might think that all you have to do is head down to your local aftermarket shop and buy a roll of tint. That’s wrong, though. Most states in the US have some very specific rules regarding the amount of tint (the darkness of the tint) that you can have on your windows. There are even laws that determine which windows can be tinted and how much tint is legal for each window. Understanding your state and local laws is vital. The best place to find out what your state requires in the area of window tinting is your state’s DMV website.

Which Windows Can Be Tinted?

Most states allow you to tint all your vehicle’s windows except the windshield. However, you do need to be aware that the degree of tinting varies with window placement. For example, rear passenger windows can have a darker tint than the driver window. Failure to comply with these laws can result in fines, and you might find yourself forced to remove the tint that you just paid good money to have installed.

As you can see, window tinting for your car can be a huge benefit, but there are some specific laws that you need to know prior to having it applied. You also need to remember that if you move to another state, your car might not comply with their regulations, so find out what to expect beforehand.

Don Elfrink is the owner and operator of AutoMatStore, an auto flooring company based out Columbia, Missouri. Before AutoMatStore Elfrink was the operator of a automotive production site. AutoMatStore focuses on all-weather, logo, carpeted and molded car mats.

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A Blast From Our Past! 1966 Nova Painted by Larry Blackman Turns the 1/4 in 7 Seconds!

There are some jobs we like to keep the "braggin rights" to and this is definitely one of them!  A great friend and great driver, Hollis Jones, shown below turning the quarter mile in 7 seconds!  

Larry Blackman painted this beautiful 1966 Nova years ago and she still looks great today!  Shown in the video with the original motor, she has since gone through some major engine upgrades.  But, this was the motor that took Hollis to the top and ensured his success in the drag lanes!  The new motor is shown here in the pic to the left!  Some major upgrades there!


Hollis Jones, owner of City Suburban Auto Parts in Joliet, IL, "has loved the sport of drag racing since we met", said Larry Blackman.  "This guy just loves going fast and I love watching him do it!"


Hollis and Larry have been friends for over 40 years and that's a comraderie that won't ever quit.  Larry painted the car for Hollis back in the '90's and again in 2008.  "He just loves white, and as hard as we tried to get him to add some color to that car, he just wouldn't budge on that", Larry said of the now 70 year old drag car driver.  "Even his wife couldn't talk him in to putting even a stripe on the pure white car".





We've since found out that Hollis sold his auto parts empire and is now driving that beautiful car full time!  We wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.


Drive safe, Hollis!  You're the best!

More about → A Blast From Our Past! 1966 Nova Painted by Larry Blackman Turns the 1/4 in 7 Seconds!

Protect Your Vehicle's Finish From the Summer Sun and Heat

Summer is my favorite season. Fun in the sun, vacations, and all kinds of great things to do. Now, we all know that protecting ourselves from the Sun has become a very important issue for our Summer activities. Depending on where you live, the Sun can really do some damage if you're not careful! Here in Florida, the Sunshine State, everyone knows the advantages of sunscreen. Without it, you can turn a fun day in the Sun into a very painful evening!

You car, truck, or motorcycle has the same problem. You vehicle's paint is subject to extremely intense heat and the same UV rays that we protect ourselves from during the Summer months. Those UV rays and heat can really do some damage without proper protection. Although most "clear coat" finishes do have some protection from UV rays built in, during the intense heat of the Summer, it's just not enough.

Protecting your vehicle's finish from the Sun and it's damaging effects is easy to do and very affordable. Definitely more affordable than re-painting your car! We've all seen what can happen to a finish when left in the Sun's heat. Peeling clear coats and dull finishes are not at all pretty. And, they can be easily avoided.

Using a wax on your finish that offers UV protection is one way to combat the Sun's damaging effects. There are many waxes and finish protection products on the market today that offer great protection from the UV rays of the Sun. Wax will also condition the finish and keep it looking great all year round!

Here at LDJ Auto Body, we recommend using a high quality carnuba based wax like Meguiar's to keep you finish looking great for years. These products come in many forms and are easy to apply. It's definitely time well spent when it comes to keeping your vehicle's paint looking new.

When applying wax to your vehicle, start with a clean, dry, finish. Wash the finish first to remove any road residue, bugs, tar, and dust from the finish. Dry the vehicle with a shammy. Be sure to move the car to a place that is out of the Sun. Depending on what product you choose, apply the product according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Some finish protectants are a one-step process where you simply wipe the product on and rub till it's absorbed. And, some require that you wipe the product on, allow it to dry, and then wipe it off. In either case, be sure to use a very soft cloth or pad that is recommended for the product that you're using. Make sure that there is no dust or particles in the cloth or pad that will scratch the finish.

It's just that simple! Now your car, truck, or motorcycle is ready to take you to all those fun destinations the Summer Season has to offer! Check out our "Finish Care Products" page to find some great deals on all kinds of products to keep your vehicle's finish looking great.



Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body & Custom Shop
Gibsonton, FL

More about → Protect Your Vehicle's Finish From the Summer Sun and Heat

Summer Sunshine and Your Car's Finish! How to Save Your Paint!

Summer is my favorite season.  Fun in the sun, vacations, and all kinds of great things to do.  Now, we all know that protecting ourselves from the Sun has become a very important issue for our Summer activities.  Depending on where you live, the Sun can really do some damage if you're not careful!  Here in Florida, the Sunshine State, everyone knows the advantages of sunscreen.  Without it, you can turn a fun day in the Sun into a very painful evening!

You car, truck, or motorcycle has the same problem.  You vehicle's paint is subject to extremely intense heat and the same UV rays that we protect ourselves from during the Summer months.  Those UV rays and heat can really do some damage without proper protection.  Although most "clear coat" finishes do have some protection from UV rays built in, during the intense heat of the Summer, it's just not enough.

Protecting your vehicle's finish from the Sun and it's damaging effects is easy to do and very affordable.  Definitely more affordable than re-painting your car!  We've all seen what can happen to a finish when left in the Sun's heat.  Peeling clear coats and dull finishes are not at all pretty.  And, they can be easily avoided.

Using a wax on your finish that offers UV protection is one way to combat the Sun's damaging effects.  There are many waxes and finish protection products on the market today that offer great protection from the UV rays of the Sun.  Wax will also condition the finish and keep it looking great all year round! 

Here at LDJ Auto Body, we recommend using a high quality carnuba based wax like Meguiar's to keep you finish looking great for years.  These products come in many forms and are easy to apply.  It's definitely time well spent when it comes to keeping your vehicle's paint looking new. 

When applying wax to your vehicle, start with a clean, dry, finish.  Wash the finish first to remove any road residue, bugs, tar, and dust from the finish.  Dry the vehicle with a shammy.  Be sure to move the car to a place that is out of the Sun.  Depending on what product you choose, apply the product according to the manufacturer's recommendations.  Some finish protectants are a one-step process where you simply wipe the product on and rub till it's absorbed.  And, some require that you wipe the product on, allow it to dry, and then wipe it off.  In either case, be sure to use a very soft cloth or pad that is recommended for the product that you're using.  Make sure that there is no dust or particles in the cloth or pad that will scratch the finish.

It's just that simple!  Now your car, truck, or motorcycle is ready to take you to all those fun destinations the Summer Season has to offer!  Check out our "Finish Care Products" page to find some great deals on all kinds of products to keep your vehicle's finish looking great. 



Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee Blackman
LDJ Auto Body & Custom Shop
Gibsonton, FL

More about → Summer Sunshine and Your Car's Finish! How to Save Your Paint!

Prepping For A Show Quality Finish - How The Pros Do It

Ahhh, the satisfaction of the "do-it-yourself" project.  It's a great feeling to finish a big project and see the return on your "sweat equity" investment!  Working on a classic or custom vehicle project that you've done yourself certainly ranks high on the list of "do-it-yourself" accomplishments.  While going thru my list of blogs that I follow, I came across a great article for the "do-it-yourself" car enthusiast that was really well done.  It's definitely an 8 or better on the rating scale for covering some great information and so I'd like to share it with you here.  It's a great place to start for anyone wanting to take on the job of putting an excellent paint job on your custom or classic project.

1970 Convertible GTO from blog post at AutoMedia.com

The folks at Automedia.com have put together and article entitled "Paint Secrets" that is one of the best I've seen in awhile.  It is in-depth enough to get you headed in the right direction when getting ready to do a quality paint job.  The article is written by Jim McGowan of Automedia.com and he has done a superb job in our opinion.  Jim's advice here is excellent and following the instruction he has put together will definitely head you in the right direction for a beautiful finished product and as you can see from the final picture, this GTO looks great.


Jim touched base on a very important point when he said to check with your shop to find out what type or brand of paint system they are planning to use when spraying the final finish.  We can't stress this enough.  Paint systems are all different and they don't mix well!  Always stay with the same manufacturer throughout the project AND if you have any questions regarding which products to use durring the prep work, ask those questions before you start.  There is no shame in not understanding what products to use. There is a seemingly endless list of products available for different uses and even products by the same manufacturer can cause problems depending on what system you are using.  It's always better to clarify those questions prior to using any product in the paint prepping stages as an error here will not only require extra work, but, can be extremely costly depending on what needs to be done to correct the error.  Ask first and be happy later!

If you are going to be spraying the primer yourself, there are a few suggestions I might add to make the difference between a good and a great paint job.  If the vehicle has had a significant amount of body work done, using a high build primer will give you the advantage of making sure those little spots don't blemish the final finish.  High build primers are thicker and will help first timers get a little better coverage on hard to see and feel low spots.  It's a little harder to sand, but, also more forgiving to the amateur when sanding and blocking the primer.  The primer is final finish before the color and how you prep that will determine what your final finish is going to look like.  The better the primer finish, the better the paint job. 

Scan down the sides of the vehicle.
Look for any highs or lows.

Looking down the sides of the vehicle is key at this point.  Use different lighting to ensure that there are no ripples, high spots or low spots.  Check the body lines for any indentations that occurred during sanding.  Feel the finish using the "flat" of your fingers and palm of your hand.  Close your eyes and follow the finish with your hand.  If you can "feel" it, you'll definitely be able to "see" it and now is the time to "fix" it!

When it's time to apply the color, the first thing to do is to "wash" the finish with a high quality wax and grease remover.  Don't skimp on quality here.  We recommend Prep Solvent-70 by 3M, but, any good prep solvent will work.  Use two rags when performing this process.  Wet the first rag with the solvent and wipe it onto the surface and then immediately use the second, dry rag, to wipe it off.  Do NOT allow the solvent to air dry on the surface.  This defeats the purpose and allows the grease and grime to stay where it was.  This process is key to a good final finish in that it removes any substances that might cause blemishes or "fish-eye" in the final product.  Do this process in small areas and ensure that you don't miss any areas.  Don't forget to get into the small groves and areas that aren't as easy to get at as those areas are the very ones that will allow moisture and corrosion later on and give those things a starting place.  Use this process to inspect the entire car for any items that need to be fixed, like edges where the primer might have been broken through.  This is the perfect time to do your final inspection as you do have to go over the entire vehicle.  Also, do this step right before you are ready to apply the paint.  Don't wait for a long period after as airborne chemicals will have time to settle on the finish if you don't do it right away.

When you are satisfied that you're ready to go ahead with the color, follow the instructions exactly as the manufacturer recommends.  Measure twice, mix once is the attitude to have here! 

I concur with the writer that the initial color coat should be kept just slightly lighter.  This coat should be used to find any problems that are going to arise.  Look for any anomalies in the finish.  Sanding this coat with 1500 will assure good adhesion of the following coat and give you the ability to look for any problems while you're sanding.  Make sure to go over the entire vehice with a "tac rag" to remove any traces of dust or debris from the sanding. Once the finish has been sanded, you're ready to lay the final coats of your color.

Jim's description of the spraying motion is very important here.  Lay the paint evenly using your wrist with a snapping motion to avoid "lingering" in any spots.  Slow and steady wins the race here.  Start from the center of the hood, deck lid, and roof panels and work toward the edges. Watch the paint as it hits the surface and ensure that it is wet, but, not heavy enough to run.  This is an art that you will perfect as you go and looking at the surface as you paint is the best indicator.  Gravity fed guns do not require a lot of pressure, but, you must atomize the paint to ensure good adhesion and keep the solids, like metal flake or pearl from concentrating in one spot.  Check for even color in between coats.  Mentally make a note of anything you need to give attention to on the next coat. 

When spraying base coat / clear coat systems, remember that the clear is going to protect the finish for a long time.  This is not the place to save money.  The clear is going to be the layer that is brought to a mirror-like gloss in the final process of your finish, but, some of it is going to be removed in that process!  On "high-end" show cars, I have sprayed as many as 5 to 6 coats of clear, or more, and sanded them in-between.  Depending on what you want the finished product to look like, I recommend at least 3-4 coats of clear on any show quality finish.

Lastly, I also concur with Jim McGowan on his last statement that "rubbing out" or buffing of the completed finish is best left to the pros until you have gained a good confidence in your abilities.  On show paint, I wet-sand the entire vehilce "by hand" allowing me to see any imperfections that need attention.  Tiny bugs, dust, or any other anomalies should be wet-sanded out.  After wet-sanding the entire car, start the buffing process using a high quality machine buffing compound.  Buffing compound is extremely abrasive.  Be careful even when wiping the excess off with a rag as the compound will leave scratches where you wipe it!  Keeping the buffing bonnet perfectly flat on the surface is the key here.  Keep the bonnet clean!  Remove any excess compound by running a screw driver or other sharp object against the bonnet as it spins.  Watch for "caking" of the compound on the bonnet.  I prefer a "foam" bonnet over the "wool".  Wool was fine in the old days when foam wasn't available, however, it's much harder to burn the finish with foam than with wool, so it's a good idea to use foam, especially if you're just learning.  I also prefer foam because it is a lot more flexible and offers better action on edges and "hard to get to" places. 




 After buffing the entire vehicle, the next step is to apply machine glaze.  Machine glazing removes any swirls from the compound and brings out the "mirror-ike" finish in the clear.  Once again, glaze is also an abrasive, so be careful when removing any glaze after you're done as it will scratch the beautiful finish you've worked so hard to achieve. 

Take care in choosing the proper products to perform the final steps in buffing and protecting your finish.  Meguir's is a leader in automotive finish care products and their products are formulated to give you the very best in finish care.  You can find all the products you need at our "Onine Finish Care Store".  The products listed here are the ones we recommend and the links here will get you the best prices as they are direct from Meguir's! 

When the finish is complete, I like to give it a machine wax followed by hand rubbed wax for the final finish.  Hand rubbing the final wax coat gives you a good basis for getting all the residual compounds out of the small crevises and corners and leaves a thicker coat of wax to protect that finish. 

1970 Cutlass 442 Convertible painted by Larry Blackman
Notice the mirror like finish down the sides of a completely straight quarter.
Viewing the vehicle from this angle shows all imperfections.
See more paint work by Larry at www.ldjautobody.com

OK, now, stand back and observe the beautiful, new finish on your vehicle! 

Happy Motoring!

Larry and Dee

More about → Prepping For A Show Quality Finish - How The Pros Do It