I was thinking of painting my cuda convert as I would think the factory did it (everything bolted together).

I feel restoration shops believe they have to paint everything off the car, but that is not how the car was original made right?

Does anyone restore a car like the original way anymore?

Would I be nutts for trying? I think it would save me money and from a judging perspective, its more correct of a restoration.

I just did mine that way. Turned out fine. Everything is sprayed in primer. Then I painted the underside, inside of trunk, engine compartment and back side of panels and doors with single stage. Then did final assembly and had a pro spray the outside with base/clear. To assemble and adjust gaps after painting didn't make sense to me. To each their own.....

Were ebodies painted with the doors off the car? A friend thought so. My door posts had a lot of blue paint on them, so I tend to believe the doors may have painted off the car on the assembly line.

Im currently doing my E body project this way. Its black, Its gonna be driven, and Im not too worried if its OE correct or not, I just don't have the man power, time, and room to shoot it in pieces.

All the sheet metal was on the car when it went through the dip & paint process. For cars with front & rear valances below the bumpers, they were removed after paint so the bumpers could be bolted on & then re-installed.

Thanks Barry. I am leaning towards having my car done this way.

Its getting blocked and sanded twice to be laser straight (spending the money for it the be insanely perfect) and I think the labor costs should go way down if they don't have to take stuff off, put stuff on, re-align, blah blah blah.

Yep, leaning towards painting it just like the factory at this point. Maybe shops do it the other way to charge you more, and its become the norm.

I did run into a friend that said I could use a paint booth west of town (if I supply the owner beer!). I am now really thinking of shooting the car myself. I painted cars years ago, and its got me thinking.....

I could shoot it once, bring it home and wet sand it (or do it there), then bring it back for a second coat. Going with B5 blue single stage (they way the car was done new). Hate clear coat.