[don lemek]

If you are not doing any panel replacement I would remove the body and then blast it so you can get to all the hard to get places above the frame and rocker area that the frame covers, and blast the frame by itself, if it is a convertible I would finish everything on the underside and wrap it in plastic and put it on the frame, do body work and paint the car all apart doors, fenders, ect, off. A cp you can do it all off the frame, just make a dolly.

 

[don lemek]

Back when the cars were lacquer you can get away with painting it with the doors on and the trunk in place, but with basecoat clearcoat you will end up with a paint line or overspray line because you will need to have the doors closed and the trunk closed and you can't just open it up and spray the jambs and inside the trunk with out masking it all off, then the tape line. I would paint it apart, paint your bolts and after if you chip any bolts air brush any small chips. If you are just building a nice driver, keep the doors and trunk on it will be fine.

 

[don lemek]

So tell me what you do, you paint the whole car (cowl back) with the trunk and doors open or closed? Then, with the paint still wet you open or close the doors and trunk and paint the jams and inside the trunk and hinges? No matter how you do that you will over spray the finish on the body? You can't do that with todays paint and still get a good job. With every thing off but the hinges, you back tape the door and trunk openings and paint and clear everything, doors and fenders must be hung on stands and the hood and trunk flat like on the car, the only way to get a good job.