Stock paint has crooked emblem, clear coating over it, what to do?

[DomsKat550]

I can print you a Suzuki logo whatever colors you want directly on to a colored rectangular background all one layer so you can hide any blemishes on base paint with the decal and then clear over everything- I have a sign shop

[oldGSfan]

I can print you a Suzuki logo whatever colors you want directly on to a colored rectangular background all one layer so you can hide any blemishes on base paint with the decal and then clear over everything- I have a sign shop

I appreciate that! But I chatted with Chuck today and he graciously offered to help. The paint is OEM so it can be scanned and get the 'good stuff' where he lives (he has good experience with his paint guy). In CA it's not so easy - my experience goes anyway and the paint isn't the good stuff. I have a repro decal. It will also be good to have some nicely matched extra paint for a couple of other little areas.

[oldGSfan]

This site is the greatest. Dom offered help with a sticker to hide my mishap, and Chuck offered to get some paint mixed up. I went with the paint route because it's not that expensive and I can make it like new, given I have the decals, plenty of urethane reducer and 2K clearcoat. The bodywork is in great shape. I shipped a side cover to Chuck and will get that back along with a pint of the paint this weekend. He says the match is excellent, like 99% - and that's close enough for me :-)

I helped a good friend paint his '55 Corvette a couple years ago, and he has all the high quality gear, glaze, primer, and skills. I have an awning big enough to convert to a booth, a nice new LED light, box fan and a bunch of heater filters, masks etc. Why not?

Here's where it gets interesting.... I have a 2nd complete set of '83 bodywork in nice shape - that set needs a couple of small dings attended to but will come out as good as the first. So I am thinking why not paint both sets while I'm at it? All I need to do is get a 2nd set of blue model decals and do the labor. I don't have a 3rd bike for that set, and the red bike looks pretty good. So either it or the red bodywork may become available.

[Big Block]

I wish you were closer, I've been thinking of a blue set for mine. Anyways, it sounds like it is going to turn out fine for you.

[chuck hahn]

Scanner gave a 98 percent match. It looked pretty darn good when the guys took the lid off the can after shaker mixed it up. Laid lid on the cover under their bright light thing and it looked awesome to me. Toms gonna love it once its sprayed out and cleared. Came out to be a Honda car color called Bali Blue if i remember correctly.

[oldGSfan]

Scanner gave a 98 percent match. It looked pretty darn good when the guys took the lid off the can after shaker mixed it up. Laid lid on the cover under their bright light thing and it looked awesome to me. Toms gonna love it once its sprayed out and cleared. Came out to be a Honda car color called Bali Blue if i remember correctly.

Yeah, that looks like the color - as best I can tell from photos of Hondas online. I will take a pic of the tank under the same lighting & same location before and after.

My friend who is gonna help painted this '55 Corvette. I helped mask and mix. He rented a booth to do it. He had never painted a car before or restored one either. But he did a fantastic job restoring this, all work himself except the engine rebuild. It's immaculate and has quite a story, racing trophies, very interesting mods from way back. Wall Street Journal did a nice article on it but it's paywall-restricted. His dad had 2 Corvettes and did a coin toss to see which of the kids (twins) got which. Well, he got the '78 but eventually ended up with the '55. His dad became friends with Zora Arkus-Duntov after meeting at shows. Duntov said that the way this was modified, Muncie 4 speed, 283 solid lifter (from a '61 after blowing the original 260), and '57 Rochester FI is how he wanted the Vette to be from the get-go but the accounting dept disagreed.

[chuck hahn]

Just checking to see if the packages have arrived yet

[oldGSfan]

Just checking to see if the packages have arrived yet

Yes sir! UPS man just came by with the paint a couple of hours ago, and the side cover came yesterday. Check your texts, I'll be sending you $ tomorrow.

[chuck hahn]

Be sure to shake the can super good before opening it so the settled out metal flake is fully remixed into the paint. I would even use a stir stick after opening to mix it even more.

[Don R]

You could smooth it with filler and apply a vinyl rectangle from a sign shop over the bad spot and then put the decal on that. Like the sticker has a background.

[oldGSfan]

Hi Don - I know you from SOHC Honda land, hehe. I have gone whole hog and prepped 2 complete sets of bodywork for paint but got sidetracked a bit on a Norton - I need to build a paint booth. I have the right paint and decals and all the prep work done. I need to get going with the booth - a couple of hours' work and get to it! The weather is now cooperating.

[chuck hahn]

Get to painting already. Ive been waiting to see what that paint i got for you looks like.

[oldGSfan]

I know, I know. The thing is, I have taken on a project (nearly done) for a recent widow. I met her and her husband at a Norton show. He had big dreams of getting it sorted but sadly passed on. She wanted to sell the Norton for funeral expenses, but had no idea of how, or how much. It was nice but neglected. I offered to clean it up and have it looking really good. Like you did for me, I am just helping out. I got the front end spiffed up and did some polishing. I hope it makes a good price for her. I have treated and painted the rusty barrels, done up the front end with seals, rebuilt the carbs, put a bunch of new stuff on it, and done many other tasks. The tank, side covers, seat and pipes are very clean and new. The rest just dirty and rusty. It has 8K original miles and a blue CA plate with '71 registration sticker (Year of Manufacture status is obtained). Maybe a Vietnam casualty? Really odd but it is bona-fide original and never opened up.

[Rob S.]

Right side shift?

Electric start?

Tell us about it. Year? 'Compression release' lever on the handlebar? How's it run?

How about a (cold) start up video?

[oldGSfan]

f

Right side shift?

Electric start?

Tell us about it. Year? 'Compression release' lever on the handlebar? How's it run?

How about a (cold) start up video?

It's a '71. It's a right-side shift, kickstart like my N15. No electric start. No turn signals. I know second-hand that it runs. It shows 8K believable miles on the clock. The cheese head screws on the timing cover have never been turned. Many other signals show me that it's original. Look at the inside of the headlight wiring. It's 1971 in there.

In a few days, I'll fire it up, get the carbs synced and set up, and test the charging system. I have a lot of parts from other 'sources' that I acquired during my N15 build that fit this baby right up. Very satisfying.

I have done the cylinder barrels by using phosphoric acid then clean and paint with VHT brake and caliper paint. Same stuff that has stood the test of time on many of my bikes cylinders. This bike will look new except for the rims and fenders. Those are tricky and expensive so I am doing the best I can to make them look OK.

The frame had chips and rust so I hit it with my Dremel triangular sander and then painted with epoxy black. It looks good. If I can't sell it for a reasonable price, I will make an offer. I'm not in this to scam her, just trying to help.