1999 Corvette - FRC Refresher CoursePart 2: Prepping, painting, and installing our L5 Motorsports body package From the January, 2013 issue of Vette By Jay Heath Photography by Jay Heath
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In our Sept. '12 issue, we introduced you to the concept behind our two-part FRC "refresher course"—specifically, to breathe new life into a '99 hardtop using a coordinated set of aftermarket appearance upgrades. Along with the obvious benefit of rejuvenating a once-proud C5, the project would furnish us with an opportunity to address the topics of paint and bodywork, areas often overlooked when dealing with Chevy's non-rusting, non-denting fiberglass flier. As noted in our last installment, the figurative cayenne in our aesthetic sauce piquante came in the form of a suite of 'glass body panels from Lewis Five Motorsports. The package included flared front and rear fenders, along with a set of matching splash guards. While our initial test installation revealed the L5 panels to be of unimpeachable quality, they—like all non-factory body components—would need to be tweaked just a bit to match the car prior to the final install. That left only the matter of paint, an area in which car owner Greg Lovell would brook no dissent: The Vette wore an integument of scorching Torch Red when it left Bowling Green, and so it would in its new incarnation. One gallon of DuPont ChromaBase (as mixed) and another gallon of ChromaClear were selected for the job.  1. As we noted in our Sep...  1. As we noted in our Sep ’12 issue, Lewis Five Motorsports supplied us with a full complement of flared fenders for our ’99 FRC. The rears ($899 for the pair)—shown here during a quick-and-dirty initial test fit—were designed to swell the car’s aft wheel openings by 2 inches per side.  2. The fronts flares ($899)...  2. The fronts flares ($899) were much more subtle, at 3⁄4-inch each. For committed attention seekers, L5 offers a full wide-body kit featuring front and rear fascias, side skirts, and more.  3. Rounding out the package...  3. Rounding out the package was a quartet of fiberglass splash guards ($149.99 each for the front and rear pairs). These pieces are also available in exposed carbon for a bit more money. Before we go on, it bears mention that the process of preparing, painting, and installing automotive body components is at least as critical to the final result as is the quality of the parts themselves. With that in mind, we made certain to use someone with extensive experience in the field of Corvette 'glasswork, the better to ensure that our FRC's snazzy new outerwear wasn't rumpled by inexpert execution. Following Lovell's recommendation, we entrusted the job to Rudy Gonzalez, a paint-and-body man at Plant City, Florida's Stingray Chevrolet who takes on freelance assignments in his off hours. The folks at Stingray were even good enough to let Gonzalez perform the work onsite, using the dealership's pro-quality paint booth and equipment. While a step-by-step recounting of the process would require more space than we can spare here, we've done our best to show you the major portions. Even in abbreviated form, it's clear that is an undertaking best left to experienced professionals wielding specialized tools within the confines of a purpose-built facility. With that said, let's take a closer look at what it takes to turn a tired C5 into a dazzling magazine cover car.  4. To make the most of the...  4. To make the most of the extra clearance provided by the new fenders, we ordered up a set of Forgeline’s smashing CF3C Concave wheels ($5,134 for the set, as configured), sized 18x10 front and 19x13 rear. Forgeline offers these (and other designs) with backspace measurements calculated specifically to work with the L5 kit.  5. Finding tires to fit our...  5. Finding tires to fit our extravagantly sized new rims was no easy feat, but fortunately Nitto had us covered with its Invo ultra-high-performance street radials ($1,268 for the set). Sized at 275/35ZR18 in the front and a Ferrari-spec 345/30ZR19 in the back (the latter shown here on the right, next to one of the previously installed 295/35ZR18s), they should confer meaningful improvements in both looks and handling performance.  6. After applying an initial...  6. After applying an initial coat of primer, Rudy Gonzalez begins the process of “blocking,” which will remove any minor surface inconsistencies from our fiberglass parts. Here, he applies the glaze he’ll use to fill in any low spots.  7. With the glaze dry, Gonzalez...  7. With the glaze dry, Gonzalez uses sandpaper (180 grit first, then 220) to achieve a smooth, level surface. He’ll repeat the blocking process on the remaining three fenders.  8. Next comes more sanding,...  8. Next comes more sanding, this time working with 180 to 320 grit in preparation for another application of primer.  9. More primer follows, this...  9. More primer follows, this time applied in four medium-wet coats.  10. Fully blocked and primered,...  10. Fully blocked and primered, this fender is almost ready to be painted.  11. But first, Gonzalez wipes...  11. But first, Gonzalez wipes it down with grease-and-wax remover to get the surface as clean as possible. Once that’s done, he’ll go over it again with a sticky rag, known as a “tach rag,” to pick up any stray dust or lint.  12. With the fender dry and...  12. With the fender dry and contaminant free, it’s finally time to move on to the painting phase of the job. Half a gallon of DuPont Torch Red ChromaBase was mixed to create one gallon of usable paint.  13. Gonzalez shoots the first...  13. Gonzalez shoots the first coat of paint, using an overlapping pattern to ensure uniformity. He’ll apply a total of three medium-wet coats, using the tach rag between each one to remove loose overspray.  14. Next comes the clearcoat,...  14. Next comes the clearcoat, in this case three applications of DuPont ChromaClear. Gonzalez will once again use the tach rag between each coat to remove any airborne grit that might have settled on the fender.  15. Once the last coat of...  15. Once the last coat of clear is dry, Gonzalez installs the fender on the car. Because the paintwork is being performed one panel at a time, you’ll notice a slight color mismatch between the freshly sprayed fender and the untouched rear fascia. That would soon change, with Gonzalez repeating all the foregoing steps on each remaining panel.  16. With all of the newly...  16. With all of the newly painted panels installed on the car, the next step involves using a specialty compound from 3M to buff out any small scratches in the finish.  17. Gonzalez then uses polish—also...  17. Gonzalez then uses polish—also from 3M—to remove any swirl marks.  18. Finally, he applies a...  18. Finally, he applies a coat of 3M wax—the final step in this three-part process to ensure that the new paint looks its best. The entire operation—removal, prep, paint, and reinstallation—took approximately 40 hours, well within the expected range for a job this comprehensive.  19. The finished product does...  19. The finished product does not disappoint. While the Tiger Shark hood and front fascia weren’t official parts of our install project, we find that they make an ideal complement to the L5 fenders.  20. This rear three-quarter...  20. This rear three-quarter view provides a good view of the right rear flare and splash guard. Lovell covered the latter items in clear door-guard material, so they could be installed and removed without damaging the paint.  21. Note how the back wheel/tire...  21. Note how the back wheel/tire assembly fills out the fender opening without protruding beyond the bodywork. Proper backspacing is the key.  22. Up front, the subtly bulged...  22. Up front, the subtly bulged fender, brushed-aluminum Forgeline, and color-keyed C6 Z06 brake caliper make for a devastatingly cool combo.  23. With 690 mm (total) of...  23. With 690 mm (total) of gummy rear Nitto pressing the pavement, straight-line traction should not be an issue. Flush-mounted export taillights provide another aesthetic point of interest.  24. Lovell found the looks...  24. Lovell found the looks of the unadorned nose lacking, so he installed this C5 crossed-flags emblem in front grille opening. The mesh material was pirated from a fifth-gen Z06 and cut to fit. vette
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