Paint Process

1. RUSTPROOFING: Assembled car bodies are chemically sprayed to clean and etch the metal surfaces for corrosion resistance and paint adhesion. Unassembled sheet metal parts follow the same process.

2. BODY AND SHEET METAL PRIMERS: Four corrosion resistant primers, especially formulated, are hand sprayed on the body in areas where rust might develop. Lower areas considered especially vulnerable are coated with another rust inhibiting compound.

3. PRIMER COAT is applied to all outside and inside surfaces of front fenders and hoods. The parts are mechanically dipped or flow-coated to insure coating in all seams and secluded areas and baked at 390 degrees F. for 30 minutes. A coat of sealer is then applied by hand spray to all surfaces requiring another coat of lacquer.

4. FLASH PRIMER AND PRIMER-SURFACER COATS: An air-dry flash primer coat is hand sprayed on surfaces below the body belt line. Then a gray primer-surfacer coat is hand sprayed on all outside surfaces of the body and oven baked for 45 minutes at 285 degrees F.

5. INITIAL SANDING: Power wet sanding, followed by hand sanding, is done on all body surfaces requiring lacquering. This ensures a smooth surface for the lacquer finish. to remove the water, the body is wiped and run through an infra-red oven.

6. LACQUERING: Three coats of acrylic lacquer are spread on the exterior surfaces of the body and sheet metal parts to build up a finish of the required thickness for each color.

7. INITIAL BAKING: To harden the paint for final sanding, the body and sheet metal parts are baked for approximately 10 minutes at 200 degrees F.

8. FINAL SANDING: To remove body surface defects, power and hand sanding is done with fine grit sandpaper and mineral spirits as a wetting agent. Sanded areas are wiped to insure a clean surface before final baking.

9. FINAL BAKING: To assure a durable, hard, high luster finish the lacquer is baked for 30 minutes at 275 degrees F. Reheating the lacquer after final sanding permits paint film to soften, allowing surface blemishes and sanding scratches to disappear during the thermo-reflow process.

10. UNDERCOATING: To block out road noise, an asbestos fiber sound deadener with asphalt base is sprayed inside the wheel housings and on the bottom of the underbody at designated areas.

11. PAINT REPAIR AND PROTECTION: Mars, nicks, or scratches that occur during final assembly are corrected at the factory before shipment. When required, light "slush" polishing brings painted surfaces to a high luster finish. Wax is applied to all horizontal surfaces of each vehicle and polished out for protection during shipment. The wax contains no silicones, thus eliminating any paint contamination problem.