Reduce SPI epoxy question

MJM

Promoted Users
I'm currently stripping the paint off of the cowel / louvers, and prepping it for epoxy. My question has two parts.


1st, can I reduce the epoxy and build it up, like 4 or 5 coats. 2nd can I apply base directly to the epoxy?

The reason I'm asking is the louvers in the cowel are a pain in the butt to strip the paint from. I've spent 5 hours and am only a 1/3rd done prepping the louvers. I will finish stripping the paint from the louvers but.......was thinking ahead about having to sand the louvers again after epoxy and 2k. My thought was if I can spray the epoxy nice and flat between the louvers, I wouldn't need to sand them again?

I want the best possible out come so, I'll heed to the professional and backyard hacks suggestions.

Disappointing day, 5 hours of work for very little progress.
20220619_161600.jpg


20220619_161518.jpg
 
Last edited:
I do have the means to media blast the louvers but, I'm concerned that I won't get all the media out from below the louvers. It would have to be aired out thru the weep holes on the side of the cowel.
 
Which one of you is brave enough to say.......suck it up buttercup, welcome to the world of automotive painting. You're going to have to sand the 2k between the louvers, no way around it
 
Last edited:
Spray the entire panel with epoxy then when spraying the 2k avoid the louvers. Spray the drivers side and passenger side with 2k, then either rotate your fan nozzle 90 degres or adjust your position relative to the panel so when you’re spraying you’re spraying the narrow pattern. Meaning, if your normal fan shape is an “I” instead of loving left and right you’d move the gun up and down to spray a thinner pattern. You can use that thinner pattern to cut in the thin strips in window side and hood side of the louvers while avoiding the louvers. Just beware the paint will go on heavier when doing that so move a little quicker.

Then when it comes time for base and clear you and just scuff the epoxy on the louvers and seal the move on to base.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MJM
Sanding between the louvers and stripping old paint between them are two completely different things, It will take only a small fraction of the time to sand primer versus stripping old paint. You want to take the time to prime well and sand well on those louvers as doing so will give you a nice result.
 
Sanding sucks. Whenever I've tried to avoid it I've only makes things worse. I dreaded the side louvers on my F100 to the point that I considered filling them in so I wouldn't have to deal with them. In the end it was only a handful of hours against the thousands I've put into the truck. So, buttercup...
 
  • Like
Reactions: MJM
Sanding sucks. Whenever I've tried to avoid it I've only makes things worse. I dreaded the side louvers on my F100 to the point that I considered filling them in so I wouldn't have to deal with them. In the end it was only a handful of hours against the thousands I've put into the truck. So, buttercup...

I have entertained the idea of cutting out the louvers, and making it so it can be a removable panel. The issue that's preventing me from moving forward is the one raised windshield wiper metal. It's really close to the louvers. I'm not sure if I could flange infront of that raised portion, and if would would look good. I don't think there is enough metal / room to do that.
 
Last edited:
I think you're overthinking it. I have louvers like that on my Mustangs. On my 67, I sanded the sides (not stripped) so they were tapered and feathered with the tops that were stripped, and then just sprayed with unreduced epoxy. Avoid 2k on those areas by masking it off when you do 2k. You don't need to reduce the epoxy for those.
 
I think you're overthinking it. I have louvers like that on my Mustangs. On my 67, I sanded the sides (not stripped) so they were tapered and feathered with the tops that were stripped, and then just sprayed with unreduced epoxy. Avoid 2k on those areas by masking it off when you do 2k. You don't need to reduce the epoxy for those.

Thank you for your suggestion.

I understand what your saying, however, there is 5 coats of paint on the inside of those louvers. The color green, red, blue, gray and black. There are some chips of paint missing on the inside louvers. Also, there are several places the paint is so thick, from one louver to the next is 1/8" wide. The louvers should be 3/16" wide.

The inside of the louvers needed to be stripped of all paint to assure myself I would have no adhesion issues down the road.

Stripping of the paint is going a bit faster thanks to my wife who bought me a tool for Christmas I had forgotten about

Never thought I would have a use for it but hey, never say never.

Flat blade with no teeth
20220620_085747.jpg


Flat blade wrapped with PSA sandpaper.
20220619_191905.jpg


Making progress
20220620_134143.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top