Paint Repair for your Mustang

Knowing how to repair the paint on your Ford Mustang
is a great skill to learn to help keep your cars paint looking as good
as new.  Below is a step by step guide to help you through the process
of repairing minor or even major damage to your mustang’s paint.  

To start repairing your paint your going to need a few tools to get the job done.

1. Color matched paint, (Check with a dealer or paint manufacturer for help)
2. Clear coat, (Again check with a dealer or paint manufacturer)
3. Primer, (Wurth Rustop primer works well) 
4. Solvent, (Products like Prepsol or rubbing alcohol)
5. Cleaner, (Wurth citrus degreaser or something similar)
6. Sandpaper, (A heavy 600 grit and a fine 125 grit)

Now
that we have the tools it’s time to put them to use.  It is best to
give yourself at least 24 to 48 hours from start to finish for the
project.  You need to give yourself plenty of time to let the paint dry
so you don’t ruin the repair.  

Step
1: Make sure you thoroughly wash the outside of the vehicle especially
around the location of the paint damage, excess dirt will lead the paint
to look malformed or bond improperly.

Step
2: Use your solvent to clean the area of damage and one to two inches
around the damage.  Wax build-up and other contaminants on the car could
cause the paint bond improperly and could cause the paint to lump or
bubble up.  

Step
3: Check the paint damage and see how deep it goes.  Major damage that
is deep enough to affect the primer under the paint will take a little
more work than minor damage that only affects the top coat.

Step
4: Take the coarse sandpaper and sand the damaged area including the
small area around the damage to get all the paint uniform.  Switch to
the fine sandpaper and make sure the whole are is nice and smooth.  

Step 5: Use cleaner to clean any excess dirt or paint that has accumulated while sanding the damage.

Step
6: If the damage was minor skip to the next step.  If the damage
affects the primer apply primer in a nice even coat over the exposed
area.

Step
7: Time to begin applying the paint.  For best results apply a single
coat of paint and give it a few minutes to lightly dry.  Check the shade
of the touch-up paint to the cars original shade and continue repeating
the process and the touch-up and original paint are the same shade. 

Step 8: If your applying clear coat make sure to use it as the last two or three coats you apply after applying the paint.

Step 9: Once your done painting leave the car in a dry indoor area for at least 24 hours to allow the paint to dry properly.  

Step
10: After everything has been allowed to dry remember to wash and wax
the car to help protect all the hard work you’ve done.

So
there you have it, from start to finish repairing the paint on your
Ford Mustang is a simple, straightforward process to help extend the
life of your paint.