Matching paint

[Coltrane]

Hey everyone! I have a fiberglass cowl hood that’s still the black color like it came, and I’d like to have it painted to match my car (white 1985 Monte Carlo SS). Only issue is that my car is original paint, and if I just got the paint code the hood would (I assume?) be brighter than the rest of the car.

Have any of you gone through this or know how I can really match the paint? Thanks so much!

 

[69hurstolds]

You're sort of in a pickle. Most of the time, with base/clears, body shops can "blend" the top colors with the tops of the fenders to gradually take the starkness off the color shade difference. But you have lacquer as an original coat, and hardly anyone will paint that stuff now. But talk to the shop and see what they recommend. They're professionals, right?

Also, good body shops can check the shades and match it up. They do have different shade formulas for the same color that adjust for that. Paint batches, even factory ones, have "GM tolerances". Meaning the shade could be off a tad regardless, but still "pass". Reminds me of the early 5th gen Camaros, the ruby red cars especially, having issues with the front and rear bumper cover shades being way off in the beginning. The issue was the parts were painted elsewhere and not with the rest of the body parts. They fixed it eventually, but thousands hit the streets before they did finally fix it.

Anyone with an original paint 84 H/O can look at their front header panel and it too, likely is a shade off. Body paint guys know there are variables that can change the shade just a tad when painting parts not made of the same materials.

 

[pagrunt]

One solution for a almost direct match is to see if your local paint shop has a color scanner to take a "picture" of the original paint (after a good cleaning of course) to have them get a formula to have the hood match. *DISCLAIMER* Not all paint systems will give a perfect match.

 

[Coltrane]

Thank you both for your replies! I wanted to ask here before talking to a shop just to make sure I was heading in the right direction.

 

[melloelky]

some shops(not all)have the in house camera like pagrunt said.those cameras provide a "blend-able match" if the shop you go with doesn't have one(or a mixing bank) ask them to invite their jobber down to scan the adjacent panels.it's usually factor of two.if they comply ask them to please buff the fender tops/header panel before starting that process.

 

[08Malibu]

some shops(not all)have the in house camera like pagrunt said.those cameras provide a "blend-able match" if the shop you go with doesn't have one(or a mixing bank) ask them to invite their jobber down to scan the adjacent panels.it's usually factor of two.if they comply ask them to please buff the fender tops/header panel before starting that process.

With it being white, a competent painter should be able to tint it to match. That’s assuming the vehicle hasn’t been hacked up already.

 

[Coltrane]

With it being white, a competent painter should be able to tint it to match. That’s assuming the vehicle hasn’t been hacked up already.

Car seems solid to me!

 

[08Malibu]

Car seems solid to me!

That it does. I’d definitely find someone will to make it match, rather than someone that wants to blend to match. Can’t beat the integrity of the factory finish.

 

[Coltrane]

That it does. I’d definitely find someone will to make it match, rather than someone that wants to blend to match. Can’t beat the integrity of the factory finish.

Will do! Hood is off the car, so I’ll call them up and see what they think is best. I’m just glad there is some sort of option!

 

[DROLDS84]

Car looks good shouldn't be a problem matching the paint. Let them know when you go in you want it right. There could be several different formulas and they probably have some spray outs of that paint code already. Try to find your local privately owned BS that has a good reputation. Stay away from dealerships and BS that have a sign that says no guarantee on color match.