1996 GTS Blue Paint

[SuperSaiks]

Hi Guys

I want to get my sills repainted and was talking to my painter. Should I go with PPG or Seikins paint. My painter uses PPG and can play with the variance but not on the Seikins.

Let me know thanks

 

[Mopar Steve]

I use PPG and have for a long time. My '04 silver SRT-10 Ram has about 7 different variances. Important to get it right. Bad idea getting a painter to experiment with something new on your car. PPG is good paint let him paint with what he is comfortable with.

As a side note, the base isn't as important as the clear. Make sure he uses a good clear.

 

[SuperSaiks]

I read a lot of posts stating that PPG isn't a good match??

 

[Mopar Steve]

The car was originally painted with a catalized paint that is out for bodyshops in most if not all areas today. The new paint is waterbased and without getting technical, the shape of the metalic is different and will lay down differently causing a different color match at different angles. it is important you work with a good painter that is comfortable with matching for you. have him spary out come cards before he paints the car just to be sure.

 

[SuperSaiks]

This guy came highly recommended by many and he is well known for mixing paints etc. I think I might just get a small sample of Sikkens from the local supplier and have him spray a card and go from there.

 

[Ron]

On 1996 GTS blue it's pretty simple - Sikkens. It'll be a do over otherwise.

 

[slitherv10]

On 1996 GTS blue it's pretty simple - Sikkens. It'll be a do over otherwise.

I tend to differ on that. I called Sikkens and they only have one variance for the 96 GTS Blue. How could they only have one? My two 96's side by side , original factory paint, and both were completely different in color. One was more blue and the other more violet. Now how can one can of paint from Sikkens match two different colored cars?. I think its still a hit and miss.

I am currently touching up a few areas on my car ( front fascia, side sills, front part of the hood, and the wing.

My painter ordered the standard color for the 96 blue and added a smidge of Violet from PPG and got it almost dead on. Sikkens color swatches didn't even come close to my car.

Therefore , its all in the luck of the draw. If you have one of the standard blues, then your in luck, if you got a violet blue one, your in for a long haul. Or your painter is anyway.

 

[Ron]

I don't doubt what you are observing but have you owned both cars since new and know for 100% fact that neither was repainted? I've seen a lot of 1996 GTS's and I've never seen a different color factory blue on any of them.

Regardless, what's most important is matching to what you have not what it should be and it sounds like you got there so it's all good.

 

[ViperJohn]

I swear I remember Tator posting the two different shades of blue between the various 96/97 models.

But as Ron said, differences in how the cars were cared for, UV light exposure, etc can affect the color variation over time. I have heard that PPG has a pretty good color match system.

 

[slitherv10]

I don't doubt what you are observing but have you owned both cars since new and know for 100% fact that neither was repainted? I've seen a lot of 1996 GTS's and I've never seen a different color factory blue on any of them.

Regardless, what's most important is matching to what you have not what it should be and it sounds like you got there so it's all good.

Both cars are bone stock. Know that as a fact. There were different color variances back in 96. Cars were not all the same color.

I swear I remember Tator posting the two different shades of blue between the various 96/97 models.

But as Ron said, differences in how the cars were cared for, UV light exposure, etc can affect the color variation over time. I have heard that PPG has a pretty good color match system.

PPG is actually the one company that cannot match. BASF Diamont and SIKKENS are the only 2 that I have so far been able to confirm matches.

You got to remember, your dealing with pearl and flake patterns. Very hard to get the flip and flop to be exactly the same.

Anyway, as I stated earlier. I did match mine finally and won't have to go through this again as the formula and paint brand are confirmed for mine. We are also mixing extra paint just in case and for future purposes.

thanks for the input though guys.

 

[SuperSaiks]

Hi slitherv10

You responded earlier in the year to one of my thread about matching 96 GTS blue paint. You mentioned your painter was able to match your GTS. Can you message me the formula he used?

I went to the Sikkens dealer and got a test sample and it didn't match my GTS and they only have one variance. My painter uses PPG and did a pretty good job marching it for my side sills. But I want to get the front fascia done and want to see if I can match it better especially the flakes.

Let me know
Thanks

 

[Dom426h]

Call the Wizard and get his advice. He has a paint guy that has experience with Viper Blue and has determined that there is THREE diff blues throughout the our 2-year run of GTS's. Not sure what type of paint he uses but sounded like he knew what he was doing.

I used PPG colormatch (where they set the device on your actual paint to take a picture/scan it) when I repainted my front fascia.
By my standards it looks bad. The metallic is much finer than factory and it looks a darker blue/violet than the hood at certain angles. To the average person it looks just fine though...

 

[Paul Hawker]

I was just at a high end body shop yesterday, and they talked about this. They carry 3 different brands, and use that flexibility to do the best matches possible. Biggest problem is when an OEM was painted with solvent paint, and now only water based is available.

Through years of experience they have developed a system that works out well for them. They paint a piece of metal or plastic with the code provided. That piece has a large round hole in it. They hold up the painted piece, and look at it against the car, under different lights and angles. They often need to tweak the color or metallic to get the best possible match or blend. They said that often times the clear coat has as much to do with the match as the base paint. Even different primers will give different results. The temperature or humidity, of the paint booth with also effect the match. nThe paint sprayer used, the thinning of the viscosity, the air pressure. Sounded like a Rubics cube of variables.

The human element also comes into play. One owner will be happy with the match, while another will find it totally unacceptable.

If you are fussy, it pays to hunt around for the best painter you can find, and let him work his magic.