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My TR3 was frame-off restored by the PO in 1986-87. He stripped bare the body, priming it with aircraft primer (he was an American Airlines mechanic) and then painted it with PPG Ditzler Duracryl acrylic lacquer in Signal Red. It was then clear coated. The current status of the color and finish is quite good, as the car was stored for most of the thirty years prior to my purchase in 2017.
Keeping it the same color, I need to repair some unwanted mirror holes, scrapes, dings, and bubbling and can either have it done, or learn to fix and paint it myself. Assuming I have the right equipment, how hard would it be to do touch up work with a current paint (which one?), notwithstanding the whole matching-the-color challenge, particularly with a clear coat involved?
On the subject of body work, how difficult is it weld/close half-inch holes (where the mirrors and luggage racks were mounted) and flatten the front edge of the bonnet so it conforms to the curve of the apron? Right now, it's bowed a bit more and allows air underneath that front edge (good for cooling, bad for having the bonnet flying up unexpectedly). The rear edges, where it curves to conform to the scuttle curve, would also need to be "reshaped." Turn it over to a professional or give it a go? What's the worst that can happen (with the understanding that you don't know anything about my skill level and or aptitude for learning to do this)?
Keeping it the same color, I need to repair some unwanted mirror holes, scrapes, dings, and bubbling and can either have it done, or learn to fix and paint it myself. Assuming I have the right equipment, how hard would it be to do touch up work with a current paint (which one?), notwithstanding the whole matching-the-color challenge, particularly with a clear coat involved?
On the subject of body work, how difficult is it weld/close half-inch holes (where the mirrors and luggage racks were mounted) and flatten the front edge of the bonnet so it conforms to the curve of the apron? Right now, it's bowed a bit more and allows air underneath that front edge (good for cooling, bad for having the bonnet flying up unexpectedly). The rear edges, where it curves to conform to the scuttle curve, would also need to be "reshaped." Turn it over to a professional or give it a go? What's the worst that can happen (with the understanding that you don't know anything about my skill level and or aptitude for learning to do this)?