Factory Five Cobra: Auto Body and Paint 101

This video details the bodywork and painting steps needed to complete a paint job on your Factory Five MK4 Cobra replica. While this video shows work being completed on a Shelby Cobra replica, the concepts shown are universal in nature, thus they apply to any project car (Shelby Daytona, GT40, Lambo - Ferrari replica / etc)
DISCLAIMER:
This video details painting work with an HVLP sprayer.
PAINTING A CAR CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH IF ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. PAINT YOUR CAR AT YOUR OWN RISK!

[@EricK-js8dy]

Did you block sand with guide coat after the high build? to what grit?

[@TacoJoe]

yes / need to block it / I spent most time blocking the top area between the trunk/cockpit (associated ridge/ledge) - and - the nose of the car. Other than these open flat areas, I didn't need to "big" block a ton because the car is so curvy and the doors were pretty good (less the drivers where I added filler). Thats a trick area too because if you add filler like I did, your goal is to match the body curve and not just have a flat door surface - you are actually building a curved surface on the door. As for grit-evercoat says to start w/220 - but - if you lay it down smooth, you definitely can start closer to 320-400. I wouldn't go too far above 400 either because you still want some ridges for the paint or sealer to grab. I used guide coat too, but really only in the block areas and the doors (I didn't hit the whole car - used SEMS). The gel-coat is reasonably thick too, so when blocking, I did eat into the gelcoat sometimes and then when I checked it w/SEMS, it almost always looked OK. I only needed to reshoot a small pot of the feather fill / that stuff worked SOOO good for me and you can usually just sand it down to fix the areas needed granted you put enough down. Guidecoat has its place, but (my opinion), isn't overly important on a car this curvy. Thanks for the comment Eric and good luck!

[@frankie21963]

@@TacoJoe I was going to ask for the succession of grit to reduce and finish the filler for paint, but you have answered my question here, thanks so much. Love your content, you're well informed and very sensible. I think you made a trouble light gauge; can you perhaps reproduce this for sale to me for my build? Thanks, Frank.

[@user-hv4vx5gb1d]

I am going through the same issue with that drivers side door. Great video

[@user-fb2kp5jd2b]

Excellent Video and Gorgeous Paint Job

[@originalaasemkhan]

You think it looks good? You kidding me? It looks AWESOME! Thank you very much for these videos. I'm thinking about one and your videos may have saved me thousands of dollars.

[@TacoJoe]

hey thanks / glad you like it / paint is holding up good 5-6 years / thanks for the comment!

[@FullTimeGT]

You really did a great job, and I'm pretty sure that most of paint shops wouldn't added that extra care you did while painting. Thanks for sharing!

[@steverice7546]

Thx for the tips and info. Car looks sweet. Well done sir.

[@Travis8126]

Nice job! I really commend guys that paint there own car. Definitely takes the build to another level. Your car paint looks awesome.

[@tigerseye73]

You have a beautiful Cobra there. Hard to believe this was your first paint job. I'm hand building my own car (actually trike). Give a deeper meaning to FFR's motto, " built, not bought" and your video is a godsend for me when I get to that stage of the build. Thank you moocho.

[@jnsfrahm]

I’ve decided to follow your example and paint my MK4 myself. Thanks for the detailed explanation of your process, the results are stunning.

[@benjaminrodriguez9968]

It looks amazing you did an awesome paint job Joe.

[@FJB-522]

Looks great! You did a really nice high quality job. I've been doing my homework trying to figure out which way to go on making my own Cobra dream come true. Thanks for the well put together and informative video. Nice work.

[@kristofcappoen43]

Your car looks amazing I have watched this video at least 5 times, I am still in the "homework" stage but you have given me the courage to paint it myself when I finally have my car. Can you our how would you paint the racing stripes? Would you paint your car black as you did and then pain the stripes over the black or do you do the stripes first ?

[@RonHiegelsberger]

Beautiful job!!👍

[@F16Skymonster]

Looks great mate you are very talented and your attention to detail shows in the final product, well done.

[@charlesclemons741]

Excellent job! I hope you're having fun with it.

[@jillbrady9404]

Thank you. We are going to be ready to paint in the Spring and your video was very helpful- thoughtfully done.

[@bobt471]

Awesome job painting and Explaining!!! Thank you !

[@davidsantiago5937]

She looks good, that's what matters. And you did a nice job. Factor Five has the best kits out there for the money and FF were very helpful and were fast when I had a problem, of course something I didn't understand. I built one for a friend 15 years ago and he totally loved his dream car.

[@davidfrank2824]

Let me just say thank you for sharing your knowledge. Doing the winter I plan on taking my pickup truck all the way down to the frame. And since it is a pickup truck automatically means wheel wells and cab corners repairs. I like how you explained everything. Unfortunate enough to have my neighbor who has painted cars and large Peterbilt tractors for 30 plus years. I don't like having to ask someone to do things for me I pretty much try to do it myself. In the past he and I has had a arrangement that anything gas or diesel related he has me fix it for him and whenever I need a little bodywork done for patch some rust he does that for me. That's like during the summer we cut his grass and in the winter he uses his snowblower that I rebuilt for him and clears my driveway and walkway. Thanks to people like yourself it gives me more confidence to try to do this myself. I know it's going to be alone process and at different stages things are going to happen. It's hard to ask someone to work around your schedule. I have everything in my garage to start painting. On top of that I have a 80 gallon compressor that is more than enough for any paint gun out there. I most definitely hit the like button and the subscribe button. I'm saving your videos so when it gets closer for me to start I can go back and rewatch all your videos. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@carlosmcmahon623]

It looks awesome, and nothing wrong with your methodology; as your end result, is what you wanted and the public will admire, your work.

[@mikerobertson3455]

Car looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing and inspiring.

[@gerhardpet1]

The paint job looks fantastic!

[@johnbrandetsas1971]

After watching this, I’m confident in painting my own Cobra, once I get it, that is.

[@andrewbardwell4832]

I’ve made a lot of videos over the years... you’re really good. Great explanations, well presented and your car looks amazing.

[@TacoJoe]

Much appreciated!

[@mdavis472000]

I have seen this car in person many times. It is stunning! Another great video TacoJoe!!! Thanks!

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks Mr. Davis - I'll add that your FFR has a mighty fine paint job too!

[@1straightcut]

I think your paint job looks great! I appreciate your practical approach and all of the excellent information. I'm a rookie and not a paint snob, so this looks like a great place for me to start. My project will be much smaller surface areas and on fiberglass. Thanks so much for spelling this out for us!

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks Mark / glad you liked it!

[@grimm39697]

Thanks for sharing. I've enjoyed all your videos. I'm saving my dimes for one of these kits myself, so enjoying the "pre purchase" research. I didn't realize there was an automotive lacquer paint before watching this. This is good news! I do woodworking as a hobby and spray lacquer finish on furniture all the time with a Fuji Spray system. Tool already owned!!!! Looks like I'll be going with the lacquer paint eventually too! Thanks again!

[@TacoJoe]

Fuji makes a nice turbine and it sounds like you are all set / Lacquer comes in all the colors too - checkout the "restoration shop" website (TCP Global) to see the options - Thanks for the comment Mike and good luck with your future build!

[@rbyikes]

Doing body work on my now. I aligned the front edge of the door, and filled the body below the door at the wheel house. When the doors are open, the thickness is the same all the way around. I think it also used less filler this way. I pondered what to do for months on how to solve that problem. I have my slick sand and harbor freight guns standing by as well. I also picked up a sparyit sp-33000 lvlp gun. It is supposed to make my smaller compressor work less. The videos are great, and very inspiring. Thanks, and keep posting.

[@TacoJoe]

Hey thanks Richard / glad you liked it and I like your filling strategy to keep the doors the same thickness by filling the body vs doors (great problem solving there) - good luck with paint and thanks for the comment!

[@jnsfrahm]

Very informative. I plan on painting my kit as well, it arrives next month so I have plenty of time to figure out my scheme.

[@carlosmcmahon623]

Great job, it looks fantastic, and there is nothing wrong with your paint job. ("PERFECTION")...

[@timothyobrien1850]

Well presented and informative. Thank you

[@cobrajet8866]

Best Black I have ever seen.

[@BradThePitts]

Everybody - it's noteworthy to mention that this is a single-color paint job. Painting the classic double stripes with outside pinstripes, yet still having the finished result smooth is a much more challenging procedure.

[@johnbrandetsas1971]

Now you tell me….

[@glennsibbitt6729]

It's gorgeous !!!

[@AmateurHourGarage]

Great info and great video. This gives me confidence to try it.

[@michaelclinesr.436]

Looks just fine.

[@user-mm8jv3tn2l]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your experience. RSB

[@josehernandez-ni9jm]

Awesome, thanks. Look into pulling the trigger on a project.

[@stefanospasaro7668]

What a Awesome Video information outstanding your Cobra's paint job looks Awesome 👌 i don't think i would attempt it but Congrats to you. 🙏👍

[@TheGetRight]

I...I think you're my favorite channel

[@centralbears3010]

Best paint job i ever seen. EXCELLENT VIDYA!

[@TacoJoe]

thanks for the kind comment / I'm very happy with how the pain turned out and glad you appreciate it!

[@user-hv4vx5gb1d]

My compliments very nice

[@colehara]

Looks great! 🇨🇦

[@centralbears3010]

OUTSTANDING!

[@stevepeterson1377]

Not only is your video great in content but the graphics and video were excellent. I have a 20 year old Everett-Morrison that needs painting. Your video convinced me that I won’t be doing the painting.

[@grobertaguilar6023]

Beautiful job. You are inspiring me to do the same.

[@mooosestang]

Ughhh! This is the part i'm dreading the most. I tried to fill some rock chips with a sandable primer/filler on my mustang hood prior to vinyl wrapping it. It looked great until i laid the vinyl on and then it was obviously not smooth enough as every little imperfection showed through. I'm leaning towards plastidipping the whole body using dipmycar's kit. They use an electric turbine type gun.

[@TacoJoe]

I just plastidipped some wheels and it went very well / they look very good. Don't fear painting either - just set the expectation that it's going to take you twice the time you think it will, but if you take your time, you will be happy with the results. Thanks for the comment!

[@tdalb8985]

Looks Great.

[@chuckhelson3744]

Haha. To a professional painter your theory and approach are probably all wrong, but in the end , I think your finished product is all right. Everyone has an opinion. Because it’s your car/ project, yours is the only one that counts. I think it looks great …. And thanks for the walk through on your procedure.

[@kevinwells768]

Thanks for the video - been looking forward to it. My brother just gave me a gun for shooting poly primer for christmas, so I'll be doing that at least. I just completed grp-ing and filler prepping a hardtop. Once the damp goes I'll be on to that as a test piece to cut my teeth on HVLP spraying.

[@TacoJoe]

Sounds great Kevin / your comment makes me want to go paint something myself -lol / good luck with paint!

[@kevinwells768]

@@TacoJoe Just a follow up.... thanks for the great videos and replies. Hardtop is nearly done, after being split into 4 pieces and re-glassed back together to fit a 427 shape. Body paint job next...after mistreatment with resin and guidecoat during the hardtop prep. Here's a quick walk around.... kzbin.info0B_9zDOgmKk

[@BKMDano17]

I'm in the process of building my second factory Five Cobra the first was over 20 years ago. I sure do like black my last car was black and it was gorgeous. I think it did a pretty good job really maybe remember all the prep I did I did all the hard work somebody else shot the color. It's a good video it reminded me of how to do it haha. It's going to be a while though things have gotten so expensive and factory Five is having a monster supply chain issue. Even so I made a couple of modifications to the frame that I wanted to do last time and that'll keep me busy until summertime maybe factory get caught up we'll see. Looks real nice and by the way you're graphics and editing are very good you must do this for a living???

[@Robert-mn8gc]

Beautifull Job . I personally wouldn't have used " Bog or Filler " Would roughed up the existing surface & layed down layers of chop strand matt in epoxy or vinyl ester & blocked it back . Then the Grey Gelcoat . Then if required bare minimum filler only if required. Other than that a lovely job . Another option is Carbon Fibre Filler 😅

[@TacoJoe]

sounds like you've done a few of these Robert :) thanks for the comment!

[@Robert-mn8gc]

@@TacoJoe I re did a Brabham race car body ( 4 cylinder ) 4 my Dads best mates ( 2 Brother's that my Dad grew up with in his early 7's 8's yr olds ) Have fixed heaps of Fibre Glass Truck Bodies 🚚 & Built racing speed boats on & off since l was 16 or 17 yrs old . Was also on the Australian Slalom Canoe Team & built probably 1/2 the Canoe's l raced 🏁. Chop Strand Mat & 8 harness satin weave S-glass & then graduated 2 Carbon Kevlar in Vinyl Ester . Then about 18 yrs old l started importing by Canoe's from Germany 🇩🇪 USA 🇺🇸 & the UK 🇬🇧 Designed alot of Racing Speed Boat Laminations 4 Strength 💪 & Light Semi Light Weight . Not CrAzY Light. 500 lbs . Taught myself how 2 block back thru the Truck Bodies & the Race Car Body 🏎 🏁 Also blocked moulds back of race boats as well . So just a little bit of experience over the years . Enjoyable when u do a good job .

[@gregmcmahan8637]

Great Job Joe! If you had painted the body off the frame, won't the body flex when you try to remount it, maybe cracking the paint? I see there is a clear coat available for the Acrylic Lacquer, wouldn't it last longer with that? Or would that make it harder to touch up?

[@scottdrillinginc397]

Go Vikings. Love the car also. Thanks for the informative vids

[@TacoJoe]

Purple Pride - and the !#$%*& Eagles just knocked us out the wildcard Sunday. Brings all the pain of 2017/2018 back! / thanks for the comment Scott

[@benjaminrodriguez9968]

Hi Joe do you have videos doing the bodywork I would love to see how you did it getting my roadster soon thanks man.

[@campaspe810]

Where u been

[@timgtoman99]

Looks great! I definitely plan on painting my 33 hot rod. I wasn’t aware lacquer paint was even still available. Maybe not in Canada.

[@TacoJoe]

do some google searches - I don't think lacquer is the issue, rather you evaporate loads of lacquer thinner when doing a paint job (which might attack ozone or environment/etc) / thanks for the comment!

[@reddog955i6]

use to paint my motorcycles with liqueur, and it was cheep not any more, you worry to much about fumes, last paint job was my 1955 first series Chevy p u red base coat clear coat , used hot rod flat clear , i did the same bought white tarps and made a paint booth in my shop, truck has been done for about 6 years , might be time to do a cpbra , have been watching yours, nice job, are you mn ? I am in St cloud

[@TacoJoe]

Nice - can't go wrong with a red Chevy pickup / A Cobra kit car is a great project too / thanks for the comment!

[@williamharp1196]

Hey I was looking for some advice on wiring, I am completely re wiring my 58 apache and I am just curious on if I need to and how to make a low voltage circuit to run your switches that control your relays that then power your actuators with high voltage, this is as to not burn out your switches, but I do not know where the low voltage comes from to run the switches, should I just use the same power used to power the relay to go through the switch and activate the relay? Any help is greatly appreciated, I am just getting turned around, I know how electricity works and how to wire things, just my first time wiring a whole car.

[@benjaminrodriguez9968]

Hi Joe what size compressor lbs did you use?

[@COBRATV427]

😍 👍

[@NanMcMahan]

Great Job Joe, One question: Did you spray a Lacquer clear coat , or just the color coat?

[@TacoJoe]

just the color coat and then I polished it, but lots of guys add a layer of clear coat too for some extra shine/protection - thanks for the comment!

[@dougnesbit6858]

Thanks for the great videos. Question: at 16:50 it shows the body up on a wooden platform above your build. Did you do the build under that? Reason I'm asking is that i have limited space and was wondering if that is an option. What are the dimensions of the MkIV car body?

[@TacoJoe]

Hi Doug / yes I built the wood structure / its called a "body buck" - goal is to support the fiberglass body/shell from deformation while you build the chassis - the dimensions are out there / google it (Shell Valley / ERA forums likely have them listed for a Shelby Cobra replica) -good luck!

[@m12345678963]

Thanks for the build info. You look like a tall person so I have a question. I'm 6'4", would I fit in the factory 5 cobra?

[@kevinronken3513]

I noticed from your license plate that you are also in Minnesota. I am wanting to start a MK soon and it would be nice to be able to talk with you and get more pointers.

[@TacoJoe]

why don't you send me a message @ [e-mail] and we can connect-

[@daytonfl6859]

how is the corvette coming along?

[@TimeToBeKind]

Happy New Year everyone

[@AcpEngineering]

Paint looks great! I am getting close to paint on my mk1v and was wondering how many gallons did you end up going through to lay down all those coats?

[@TacoJoe]

I only used 1 gallon for the whole car - I thinned the lacquer 50/50 with lacquer thinner so the coats go on very thin. If I could go back in time though, I would have sprayed 2 gallons - because - I ended up sanding through on the front fender in one spot. It was completely my fault though because I was trying to eliminate 100% of the defects and if I stopped at 90% it would have never happened. Thanks for the comment and good luck!

[@AcpEngineering]

​@@TacoJoe are you still happy with your choice of using the laquer, durability wise? I'm worried it will chip easy and get messed up. Anything like that happen to you yet.

[@davidcampbell8340]

hello Tacojoe i have a question and im hopin you know a answer. im building a 85 chevy squarebody 4x4. and i plan to put and 5.3 LS in it with a holley terminator max ECU. what im looking for in a wiring harness that has all the horn, turn singles, lights radio, a/c & heat. power doors and locks, with extra power ports for light bar, wench. the only thing i need for the engine is the starter, and key power on. do you know where or how to make this. i can build engines all day long, but wiring is a little out of my league, if its not plug and play

[@TacoJoe]

I don't know a ton about LS harnesses, other than for whatever reason, they are expensive! Thats one I think you are likely best purchasing though given the unique pinout with the ECU/etc - however - when it comes to lights/doors/accessories, I'd definitely just wire that yourself on an 85. You can get bulk wire from wire barn and do some basic circuits with relays for all the accessories / thanks for the comment!

[@allanmcelroy9840]

A LOT of work, but mirror finish

[@kevinwells768]

Just another question - so you used acrylic paint - wondering why not cellulose? Illegal in your state or ...???

[@TacoJoe]

you can paint w/nitrocellulose lacquers too - no specific reason I chose acrylic - was shopping summit / legs / TCP Global for the paint and most was acrylic / thanks for the comment!

[@fredcolvell9216]

Very nice, enjoy...

[@TacoJoe]

Thank you sir :)

[@gerhardpet1]

Was this your first paint job ever or did you have experience painting before?

[@TacoJoe]

first paint job / don't feel overwhelmed if you try yourself - just take your time (its not too hard) - thanks for the comment!

[@gerhardpet1]

@@TacoJoe I bought a truck, and the tailgate needs replacing. I bought one, and that will be my first try at painting. Thanks for the inspiration to try it myself

[@LanceisLawson]

30 coats of lacquer will surly crack! 6 coats is the maximum.