Hey Everyone! 98dsmkid here. I wanna first say a big thanks to Ludachris for giving me an opportunity like this to show my work. It is definitely an honor to be working/painting your car. I'll do the best I can to give you a flawless paint job.

Alright down to business. I'll be documenting the process of our Great Site Founders car as much as possible on a daily basis. I've already the started the tear down of the car removing the door moldings, fenders, mirrors, front and rear bumpers, wipers etc. I'm using a DA sander with 240 grid sand paper to strip and feather everything out then will switch to 600 and 800 grid for a smoother finish. Here are some pictures of the progress so far.

Perfect start- what paint products will you be using? (PPG/Omni, DuPont/Nason, or other)

JusMX141 said:

Perfect start- what paint products will you be using? (PPG/Omni, DuPont/Nason, or other)

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I'll be using PPG OEM Code 4037 W12 from Mitsubishi motors.

No more dirty ass car for Chris .. Nice

Looking good man

Pipnorcali said:

No more dirty ass car for Chris .. Nice

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Right?!?!?

Really Chris? More work to the non-racecar??

snowborder714 said:

Really Chris? More work to the non-racecar??

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Would you rather I test Mark's skills with the race car?

Nope, but I would also expect to see some racecar updates if you're posting updates about the DD

snowborder714 said:

Nope, but I would also expect to see some racecar updates if you're posting updates about the DD

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Technically, I wasn't posting the updates.

Bring the race car over to my place

Looks good Mark! Body work aint no easy task thats for sure.

98dsmkid said:

I'll be using PPG OEM Code 4037 W12 from Mitsubishi motors.

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Nice- that's the same code as PW7 Chrysler white, so it's common in case any touch-up is ever needed.

I set Talondave up with some Omni Plus basecoat for his 1G middle of last summer- it's a custom mix that I came up with which started as a coarser variant of GM Storm Gray (GM WA391E / PPG 5407). I chose DCU2082 Stratoclear with 2085 Slow Hardener to get the clear to flow in an effort to save the guys doing the work time sanding and buffing...turned out awesome. PPG has some great products.

Tough to tell here, but the color is very flaky and vibrant- perfect for a drag car.

Not sure if Mark is using solvent based paint. But in the county we're in, water born is all we can get as far as bases and clears go. Urethane primers are still legal here.

That is unless you know people

turbodsm90 said:

Not sure if Mark is using solvent based paint. But in the county we're in, water born is all we can get as far as bases and clears go. Urethane primers are still legal here.

That is unless you know people

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I hate water borne paint. Any painter use intoned elite? I love it. Car looks good so far. I wish mine was white I hate color changes. Lol

turbodsm90 said:

Not sure if Mark is using solvent based paint. But in the county we're in, water born is all we can get as far as bases and clears go. Urethane primers are still legal here.

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It blows my mind that solvent-based primers, clears, and ancillaries (flex additives, gun cleaners, etc) are still able to be sold in California yet they're so preoccupied with waterborne basecoats.

There was a huge push on waterborne paint here in PA with the last Governor we had but as soon as the current governor was elected he threw that out immediately. Back to Deltron and others for now at least.

A few local shops did convert (mostly dealers and large-scale collision shops) and it seems some guys actually prefer waterborne because they have less trouble with lifting/adhesion and incompatibility to various primers and clearcoats. Of course these are trained techs with proper equipment- definitely doesn't favor your weekender looking to do touch-up or paint their flatbed trailer inexpensively.

turbodsm90 said:

That is unless you know people

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Been mixing PPG at my workplace since April of 1999. I'm sure I could ship the basecoat anywhere in the lower 48 states- definitely can't ship reducers without ridiculous hazardous permits and additional charges, however.

Well House of Kolors has some ways around Californias system and leaves it up to the user to make it California legal. It has to be mixed a certain way for California only so the VOCs are compliant. But that goes out the window sometimes.

I know a guy at a local supply store that has some stock that cant be sold over the counter anymore. But the owner will sell it to friends cash, etc. Worked out for a recent "lowrider project" my brother did. He loves Urethane based paints vs the water born stuff, but thats what hes worked with for the past 22 years.

Don't tempt me Jason, cause a backup plan is always a good thing to have when building custom cars (my brothers profession), he loves PPGs quality.

Thanks Everyone

Update. Well after 2packs of 5 240grid, one 1/2pack of 600 and 2packs 800grid sand paper I finished the right fender, both side moldings, mirrors, roof, both doors and hatch. They're almost ready for primer/paint. I Still need to work on the driver side quarter panel and Left fender and both side skirts. Ludachris ordered new door skirts and wing and having them shipped to the house, So when those come in I'm just gonna have to scuff them up with a scotch bright pad making sure the paint sticks when I spray the paint. I'll post a video of the car when I get a chance.

JusMX141 said:

Nice- that's the same code as PW7 Chrysler white, so it's common in case any touch-up is ever needed.

I set Talondave up with some Omni Plus basecoat for his 1G middle of last summer- it's a custom mix that I came up with which started as a coarser variant of GM Storm Gray (GM WA391E / PPG 5407). I chose DCU2082 Stratoclear with 2085 Slow Hardener to get the clear to flow in an effort to save the guys doing the work time sanding and buffing...turned out awesome. PPG has some great products.

Tough to tell here, but the color is very flaky and vibrant- perfect for a drag car.

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Yup, Its pretty much the same paint Man that's a nice color. Do you know what kind of gun they used and tip? I'm using a Sata4000hvlp 170365 spray gun with a 1.3mm tip. I'm assuming they had to use a 1.4 or bigger since they were shooting a metallic. Looks like a mean dragster

I like using Urethane based paints easy to work with but all honesty It really depends on what the client wants typically I have a guy at a paint shop mix my paint for me or for more custom paints I either have TCPglobal mix my paint or like turbodsm90 said House of Kolors since I've been ordering from both for the past couple months. Good customer service.

Need any help on any upcoming projects? I've always wanted to learn body work and I'll gladly help /w labor if you don't mind teaching me a few things here and there.

Do you have any tips for taking off and reattaching the side skirts? I have heard they are a major pain and I plan on taking mine off to respray in the next year or two.

98dsmkid said:

Man that's a nice color. Do you know what kind of gun they used and tip?

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Not sure- the guy who painted it was a friend of Dave's....I just supplied the product and tried to make it as easy on them as I could.

I recall them saying they were having a little trouble with the coarse flake reacting with the solvent at first when they were shooting the engine bay, but I had them back off a little on the reducer for spraying the body and it turned out great.

98dsmkid said:

I'm using a Sata4000hvlp 170365 spray gun with a 1.3mm tip. I'm assuming they had to use a 1.4 or bigger since they were shooting a metallic.

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Mmmmm.....Sata....

Most of the guns we have here at work are budget-based for walk-in customers and generally have a 1.4 tip aside from a few 1.7 primer guns. The 1.3 is more popular with shop guys who are trained while it seems a 1.4 is better for the average user who tends to put paint on a little dry for fear of runs.

98dsmkid said:

Looks like a mean dragster

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Sure does- I hope she performs as good as she looks this coming season.

98dsmkid said:

I like using Urethane based paints easy to work with but all honesty It really depends on what the client wants typically I have a guy at a paint shop mix my paint for me or for more custom paints I either have TCPglobal mix my paint or like turbodsm90 said House of Kolors since I've been ordering from both for the past couple months. Good customer service.

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I've always wanted Global in here- they seem to have great coverage with Global finishes....especially on the fleet colors (Kenworth, Peterbilt, etc). Converting fleet colors to automotive paint lines is rough and sometimes doesn't match too well.

We could afford to lose a line or two here, like DAR Delstar enamel and DDL Duracryl Lacquer- the only people who buy those are guys restoring very old cars to exact OEM specs. We're lucky to sell a gallon of Lacquer in a year- it's just taking up space.

Aside from those two lines we have:

Omni MAE Acrylic Enamel
Omni MTK Single-Stage Urethane
Omni MBC Basecoat
Omni MBP Basecoat Plus
PPG DCC Concept Single-Stage Urethane
PPG DBU Deltron Universal Basecoat
PPG DBC Deltron 2000 Basecoat

....along with an assload of primers, surfacers, and probably 6 or 8 different lines of clearcoat.

any updates? I decided to sell my door caps if you're interested Chris.

ALLOUT CL55 said:

any updates? I decided to sell my door caps if you're interested Chris.

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Thanks man, but I found a pair from a member a week or so ago and am having them shipped to Mark. Appreciate you letting me know though.

Hey guys! Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Sorry that I've been MIA lately just busy with family since the holidays are here. Sadly I wasn't able to work on the car as much as I wanted to due to this stupid rainy weather were having I did however squeeze a few hours of work whenever the weather permitted it tho. Here are a few updates as of now.

The wing for the talon came in last week and the door side skirts came this week but I didn't open both until 2 days ago and upon opening them I notice the right side tip of the wing was cracked and side door skirts were scratch up pretty bad. No worries, needs little work here and there nothing that can't be repaired

I also fixed the drivers side quarter panel along with a couple dents on the car by pulling them out and using bondo/body filer to make the body straight again. Car is almost ready for primer and paint.

Side skirts, mirriors and side moldings are ready for primer and paint.

Tomorrow I'll work on the front bumper repairing the bottom crack and the wing, I'm hoping by mid afternoon I'll be able to start taping up everything and maybe shoot some primer on.

JusMX141 said:

Mmmmm.....Sata....

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Most of the guns we have here at work are budget-based for walk-in customers and generally have a 1.4 tip aside from a few 1.7 primer guns. The 1.3 is more popular with shop guys who are trained while it seems a 1.4 is better for the average user who tends to put paint on a little dry for fear of runs.


Sure does- I hope she performs as good as she looks this coming season.


I've always wanted Global in here- they seem to have great coverage with Global finishes....especially on the fleet colors (Kenworth, Peterbilt, etc). Converting fleet colors to automotive paint lines is rough and sometimes doesn't match too well.

We could afford to lose a line or two here, like DAR Delstar enamel and DDL Duracryl Lacquer- the only people who buy those are guys restoring very old cars to exact OEM specs. We're lucky to sell a gallon of Lacquer in a year- it's just taking up space.

Aside from those two lines we have:

Omni MAE Acrylic Enamel
Omni MTK Single-Stage Urethane
Omni MBC Basecoat
Omni MBP Basecoat Plus
PPG DCC Concept Single-Stage Urethane
PPG DBU Deltron Universal Basecoat
PPG DBC Deltron 2000 Basecoat

....along with an assload of primers, surfacers, and probably 6 or 8 different lines of clearcoat.

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Hahaha Yeah Sata's got some good stuff No doubt! Really, That's Interesting I'm actually looking for someone who sells or who can distribute paint. You just might be that guy I'm looking for I'll pm you with details, haha I'll be your number one client, I'll end up ordering from you every week.