Has anyone ever dipped their car?

"Slant6" (slant-6)
03/04/2014 at 15:26 • Filed to: None

I weekend drive a 1965 Dodge Dart. Her name is Helena, after her original owner, my great grandmother. Someday I would like to restore Helena and possibly do some slant 6 turbo manual swap with a roof rack or something. That is someday. Now I live with my parents. I'm a junior in high school. I inherited this car when I was 3 months old and it was in a garage in Flemington New Jersey as of about 2010.

I like the current patina, but plastidip kits only cost about $400 and I could choose a nice color I like and peel it off when I can afford my own house and have the funds to do a real paint job/ engine swap.

I was thinking I could bondo out the dents and bondo in the trim holes and just plastidip it over and have a smooth surface. I can keep the trim incase I want it sometime in the next 15 years.

Ant thoughts? What color? I'm thinking matte navy blue or black, or do rent it out for weddings and have it painted white.

DISCUSSION (37)

camaroboy68ss > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:32

If your putting bondo right on top of paint it won't adhere very well and come easily, same with the trim holes, there is nothing for it to bight to. Save the money on plasti dip. A few guys around me have done it on 90s cars and it looks bad in my opinion, the patina has way more character, even a car with primer spots all over it.

Coty > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:34

Cover that patina and I will hurt you.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:35

I plastidipped my 2000 Buick LeSabre, even spraying it on right over rust spots and scrapes on the side. It looks pretty good, has a nice matte finish, and I did it with $100 worth of spraycans so I guarantee you can do better with an actual kit.

Build log of the Big Black Buick is at: http://imgur.com/a/EAgIm

Roundbadge > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:35

I have no experience with plasti-dip, so feel free to ignore this...

Looking back when I was in high school, I probably wouldn't have been interested in a car like this. Now, after looking for years for something with character (looking only...purchases have to be practical right now), it makes me weep. That car is awesome.

You lucky, lucky sumbitch. Whatever you choose, take good care of her.

AM3R > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:36

I helped a friend dip part of his car. I ended up doing the entire hood. It's really not a hard process, and it can look amazing if you do it properly. He was going on a trip to canada for 2 weeks (business) with his new S4, and wanted to dip the whole thing as he didn't want to deal with all the rock chips/salt.

Have you considered vinyl wrapping it? A vinyl wrap will always look better than a dip, and it'll last longer too. Still can be DIY'd.

JustWaitingForAMate > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:36

You're going to cover up charm and history with pastidip? For shame!

Mercedes Streeter > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:38

When I had my factory wheels I had them Plasti-Dipped. Good product and it'll look good and last long if you do it right.

However, I would never ever consider painting an entire car in it, especially a classic car...it just looks flat out ugly...

I'd preserve what's left of the car and get to work on restoring it. The patina the car has in your photos look better than any Plasti-Dip job would.

My old wheels, for a visual...

Kinja'd!!!

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:39

I have some experience, I've done my wheels which were originally chrome and a bug/rock guard on the leading edge of my hood. First of all the stuff isn't very durable. Do you park this thing indoors during to week? If not I'd stay away.

In an attempt to toughen up my plastidip i've tried shooting a coat of regular clear spray paint over the top. This toughens it up a lot but it also makes it very difficult to remove. In my opinion, people romanticize how easy it is to remove.

The other issue is an edges or chips present a huge weakness. Once there is an opening water starts getting in and you will loose chunks of the stuff. If I were you I'd do a nice rattle can paint job before I went plasti dip. Easier to reverse and much more durable IMO.

505Turbeaux > Coty
03/04/2014 at 15:40

thank you

Roberto G. > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:41

I suggest you apply a good rust blocker (someone here could suggest a brand) and keep the car as it is now, till you can make a full restoration. I'd forget the big engine swap and I'd keep the car as much original as you can, so that when it's restored maybe you can show it at some vintage cars meeting! Just think about it... "... and the prize for the best restored 1965 Dodge Dart goes to... "

505Turbeaux > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:41

that car is all kinds of awesome as is. I wouldnt even restore it in the future. Just preserve it as is. and you werent kidding about Slant6 in your user name

Coty > 505Turbeaux
03/04/2014 at 15:42

I'm a patina freak.

505Turbeaux > Coty
03/04/2014 at 15:43

I am too, coming from these

Kinja'd!!!

Takuro Spirit > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/04/2014 at 15:43

Ooh, that did turn out nice. I feel I'm heading a similar direction with the Camry, once I tint the windows. Something about the light tan interior and no tint bothers the crap out of me.

Slant6 > Roberto G.
03/04/2014 at 15:43

I want to keep the slant 6, too many are swapped with v8s, but I also want a car that can go fast and that I can enjoy. A sleeper of sorts.

Coty > 505Turbeaux
03/04/2014 at 15:43

That'll do it

Takuro Spirit > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:44

Keep patina, seal it in with clear coat like dem hot rodder boys do it.

Slant6 > Takuro Spirit
03/04/2014 at 15:45

I haven't thought of that. It's not that bad of an idea. I love the patina, but I also like the idea of being structural sound.

Takuro Spirit > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:46

It's a mid-sixties Mopar. It didn't have much structure when NEW.

Slant6 > Coty
03/04/2014 at 15:48

I want to cover it so the future can enjoy it. Also my grandpa is breathing down my neck trying to get me to restore it to showroom condition and then never drive it, like he does.

Slant6 > Takuro Spirit
03/04/2014 at 15:49

True. All the more reason to protect it while she's in one piece.

Coty > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:50

That sounds terrible.

Mustafaluigi > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:52

Plasti-Dipped my Firebird about 2 years ago flat black and it is now starting to chip and peel. It has been outside the entire time and I don't think I washed it but 2 times. It holds up really well, especially if you keep it clean, where I didn't. I suggest getting the DYC Spraying system over the cans as they will most likely leave zebra stripes. Its going to take about 3 gallons of the DYC pre thinned paint to cover a car with that much metal. Cover the centers of the windows and spray then peel off where you don't want it. They have been going crazy with the additives like metal flake, chameleon stuff, pearlizer, and gloss.

DipYourCar.Com

Slant6 > Coty
03/04/2014 at 15:55

He has a 65 rambler, a 80 rabbit diesel, a 66 belvedere ii, and a 77 Mercedes diesel all restored and he never touches them. It's so sad. They're pretty boring cars, but should be driven.

Ok, not boring, but they're not the coolest cars out there.

jariten1781 > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:55

Scotch brite the whole thing for adhesion, apply rust stopper, flat clear coat. Maintain it regularly and you should freeze it in time.

Coty > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:57

:'(

pdx107 > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:57

Don't even think about doing that.

I would take it home to give my new dart a companion.

Takuro Spirit > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 15:59

POR15 the bad spots, and clear the rest.

Slant6 > pdx107
03/04/2014 at 16:01

I Stopped thinking about it as soon as people started commenting.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Takuro Spirit
03/04/2014 at 16:03

It will look much better once the weather improves and I can finish painting the wheels. Next up: Performance enhancements!

*fills gas tank with Viagra*

*Cialis in the airbox*

*steroids in the brake lines*

*hydraulic fluid laced with cocaine*

pdx107 > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 16:04

Ok good, now bring it over to keep my Dart company?

cretony38 > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 16:05

My inherited '64 Valiant with the slant six could smoke those 13"s!!! Get a stick shift if you can the automatic will put you to sleep.

Awe_thentiX > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 17:18

We dipped my friends Evo X in grabber blue. I thought it looked pretty good once you get past the shock value. If you do plastidip your car, prep work should take 3 times as long as you originally planned. Overspray finds its way everywhere.

George McNally > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 18:25

That's a cool car just the way it is. If it were mine.....I think it would look cooler if it were lower and had shiny black steelies (with spacers to get the tire out to the edge of the wheelwell) with the largest tires I could get under the fenders.

Slant6 > George McNally
03/04/2014 at 18:44

right now I'm thinking rain gutter roof rack, along with some stiffer shocks keeping it at stock height and repaint the original steelies black (all scratched up and a little rusty. I also want to get new matching tires. Right now were on $25 a piece used tires. I like the idea of spacers, but I have a really weird bolt pattern (5x4) so i doubt i could find spacers.

A3R0 > Slant6
03/04/2014 at 21:50

Hey there again Slant6,
I would say not to paint it. Keep it the way it is, it looks awesome. Save the $400 for The Silver Moose!

Big-Boi > Slant6
03/05/2014 at 23:20

I plastidipped the wheels of my Jeep. Has stayed on through a few off-roading trips plus daily driving it through the snow (which means a TON of salt) and it still looks great. It was super easy to put on.