When to paint

[Ram427]

As your car is in primer I would finish it off before IVA to minimise any take up of moisture, which is a sure risk for the final finish to micro blister.

If you hadn't put on the primer I would say hold off until you've tested the car and run it for a suitable period, not for post IVA changes, only you can measure your confidence of passing first time, but to allow the fibreglass to settle and weather in to its final shape before body work begins. The bodies need a period of the heat cycles from the sun and being driven to fully cure and settle to the shape that being fixed to the chassis is dictating.

[Tommy-boy]

Also why would you fail IVA??

You have built the car following the IVA rules and criteria so it cant fail surly?

The IVA is a very enjoyable day where you will get to show your tester that you also understand why you have built your car to the set standard. And he is just confirming your building skills. Any failure will normally be down to complete ignorance of the IVA manual or not understanding fully the set criteria points.... Hence the test and the inspector to check. If this then raised fail points these are then normal easily solved with a good conversation with your tester on the day and a bit of bum kissing to ask what "he/she/whatever they identify as"  find acceptable for a pass.

.... Book your retest, make the changes, drive the car, shine in the glory that your a builder not a buyer!! Hehe 

[Tommy-boy]

I also had my final paint done prior to IVA (back in 2014) Again like whats been said i was conscious of presenting a "final product" however there is no stipulation requiring this at all, and many people run in gelcoat for years before a paint finish. Its just personal preference.

Also many people don't understand that primer absorbs water so if your in primer now then it sounds like your committed and would be daft to do a u turn. Also if any touch ups are required how hard will it be? You will/should have enough base and lacquer to make any repairs later on if needed (or 2k depending on choice) and so long as your haven't chosen a 3stage  xirallic paint that can be a nightmare to blend then your laughing really.

If you want any help with paint codes or formulas then let me know after the bank holiday, i'm off work until then and i work for a paint/panels company and we mix off many different schemes like Mipa,Kapci,General etc.. i can advise of paint formulas that are relatively easy for future repairs but still give your your desired final colour finish.

[KevinW]

Who ever told you that the car has to be painted for IVA was talking complete tosh*.

There are qualitative arguments that it might look more 'finished', and perhaps that might sway the examiner on some dodgy parts of your build, but there are very good reasons not to put a painted car through IVA.

But .... you are already in primer, so unless your paint man wants to seal it up with something like epoxy and then you re-assemble it for IVA... and then strip it again....and then put another coat of filler on to deal with the dings that have occurred since it was first stripped....my advice would be.... carry on with the paint.

...but that's just my biased opinion.






*did you notice no profanity or anatomical references there...see...I read the new forum rules  

[James Fishwick]

On both my builds I've presented to IVA fully finished. Why bother to build it up in primer then strip it again for paint, only to have to build it back up again? Lot of work for no purpose if you ask me.

I agree but the guys point was that if you fail IVA and need to make modifications then best to do this before paint.  I can't see what would fail that required body modifications to pass.

[JON1D]

Many cars are presented in Gel coat finish and some people run them in GEL before painting them some time after. If the car then changes colour following IVA and V5C issued you will need to update DVLA of the change and a new V5C is issued. 

No requirement for painting but a another strip down will be required so more work.
What it does allow you to do is to fill any holes for light changes or indicators then painting it.

[Tony]

On both my builds I've presented to IVA fully finished. Why bother to build it up in primer then strip it again for paint, only to have to build it back up again? Lot of work for no purpose if you ask me.

[James Fishwick]

Hi All,

I have pretty much fully built my Pilgrim, with the exception of the dash, carpets and seats.  I have now stripped the car back down and it is currently in paint.  I spoke to the bodyshop recently and my car is now in primer.  The body shop informed me that a friend of theirs who is into kit cars had dropped by and offered some advice.  This was to hold off from final paint until after IVA.  Whilst this makes sense to me I had understood from the previous forum that this was not an acceptable approach.  This is due to to the fact that you are expected to present a finished car to IVA and a non painted car would not be classed as finished.  This would give the IVA inspector the impression that post IVA modifications ( non IVA compliant) would be made before final paint.  What have others done?
Thanks James