Prepping stock paint ...

[Bnemo]

Hello again...
This is kind of along the same line as the previous thread but I'll be more specific. I have a 99 Grand am the had some damage done to the front fender. I am replacing the fender and am going to try my hand at some mableing on the hood and front fenders,blending to the stock color on the dorrs. The existing paint is in good condition w/a little fading. Here's the question....When prepping the existing stock paint, do i need to try to remove the stock clear coat completely, or just scuff it up and remove al the 'shiny' spots? What grit would be advisable to start /finish with. Should I prime over the existing paint?..anything else I might be missing? Sorry for all the ?? but I know if you don't get it right at the start , the end willl be a mess....

 

[hoss]

if the paint is in good shape ( not comming up anywhere or has chips) then you'll be fine just scuffing the surface. if you are going basecoat or acrylic enamel the parts you can wet sand the surface w/ 400 grit before you paint. if you are going to clearcoat the surface and not paint a color then use 800 grit.

after the clear has dried i use 1500grit on my dirt spots and 2000grit over the entire thing then buff.

 

[Bnemo]

Thanks Hoss.