I own a tiger Cat E1 and the gelcoat is looking a bit scratched and chipped now as it is 6 years old. I have two options - Get it resprayed or fit a complete new body.

Is it difficult fitting a new body,how much work is involved, and how much would it cost? (I cannot see the prices on Tigers website)

Does modern day paint bond OK to gelcoat, or does it need special preperation?

As you can guess I did not build the car otherwise I would have known the answers

Easier and cheaper to get it sprayed with 2 pack and you could have the car any colour you want.

If you sand it down with 400 grade wet and dry, fill any damage then use an etch primer, sand the primer with 600 grade. Wipe it down with white spirit (to remove any last trace of wax) give it a day to dry then spray with anything you want it won't come off.

2-packs great stuff but nasty sh%t to breath unless suited up like a spaceman. This site offers paint that you can home spray (without ending up in a morgue) –

http://www.carpaint.co.uk/automotive_paint.htm


[Edited on 19/6/08 by Mr Whippy]

Having fitted Supercat bodywork i'd go for the respray option myself - allows you to repair all those little bits of damage that come free with every set of Tiger bodywork!! The bodywork takes a while to settle when new as well, and could be quite a challenge to get the rear tub to line up and redrill with all the existing holes there if you fit new

If this is what they sell



Then I believe you'll find it's readily available from your local Halfrauds...just go to the parts desk...think they do tins of paint and aerosols.

[Edited on 19/6/08 by stevebubs]

2 Pack (cyanide based) fortumately is being fazed out in favour of waterbased paints. and is not reccommended unless you have proper facilities, I use it at home but only when all members of the family are out for the day, good quality air powered respirator is required run off a seperate compressor in the fresh air, you should hear my neighbours cough
tony

im a paint sprayer/pannel beater! and have been for last 14 years nearly. to me it would be cheep and easy but to some one at home or not in the trade can be very expencive for a re-spray and to do a good job without a spraybooth yourself very difficult? i would say a good £800 to paint it at a resonable bodyshop i know i wouldnt do it for eany less.
as there will be chips cracks etc to fill all rub down a coat of etch then a high build primer rub that all down then your colour then laquer over that and then flat and polish for the best finish? alot involved