What paint/brand to spray on 71 Cuda Louvers?

[Topcat]

Originally the louvers on a 71 Cuda had a very light smooth silver paint.

I'm trying to re-duplicate the original look again. I've seen the reproduction louvers and the tint and thickness is way off. Rattle cans cake on too much material.

Any suggestions?

['Cuda Hunter]

I don't have a set yet, but I was thinking of powder coating them.

[Topcat]

I don't have a set yet, but I was thinking of powder coating them.

That'll be too thick.

Originally the paint is so light with a fine grain, the chrome almost shines thru it.
Giving a reflective effect in the sun. I would estimate the paint was orginally on a few mils thick.

I know this because mine were bought NOS back in the 80's.

[Topcat]

Decided to go to a professional hobby shop near me.
Details to be given on what they say,

[Topcat]

Went to the hobby shop today and showed him the louvers.

I attempted a silver from a rattle can earlier. Cast Iron new look paint for alternators.
Way to flat and too thick compared to OEM look.

The hobby guy said it appeared the factory might've used a laquer and air brushed them in.
 
He said..."I really need to get it correctly matched but that it might be difficult or near impossible to duplicate the original "chromatic look" the factory did"

Nearest place that can legally sell Laquer paints is 50 miles away.
If you ever saw NOS louvers then you know how the color is.

[Topcat]

Scott at Harms confirmed my suspicion...

Sorry Mike, I don't know of a formula other than mixing to match, The factory used laquer which doesn't make it any easier.

[Super Blue 72]

That'll be too thick.

Originally the paint is so light with a fine grain, the chrome almost shines thru it.
Giving a reflective effect in the sun. I would estimate the paint was orginally on a few mils thick.

I know this because mine were bought NOS back in the 80's.

Are these the fender gills? 

I don't know what the louvers  look like but from what you describe I agree with an air brush.  The deal is that if it is so fine, almost like misting, you would need to have the paint to air ratio such that there is more air than paint and hold the air brush higher away from the the object painted to get the misting effect.  May have to do this very slowly or else the paint will cake on.  You do have to be careful on spattering but if you have a good air brush it should be ok. 

You MIGHT be able to do the same thine with a rattle can but need to hold it above the louvers much higher, light 2 feet away, to get a misting effect.  You have to move a little quickly, from one side to the other passing over the object you are painting, starting to the left or right of the object.

I do not have an air brush (actually I do, a cheapo one but never used it) but have read a little on air brushing.

[bentpshrods]

  At one point in the early history of my car I thought it would look good to remove the paint from my gills and go with an all chrome insert. After getting two or three partially striped I changed my mind. Bad idea!!!!  When I was restoring my grill I got the dark argent paint from Totally Auto for the outside,  and their Grille Silver paint for the light silver that goes on the inside by the 6 plastic inserts.  Used this to redo my gills and it came out really nice. Also used it to redo the inside of my door handles.  As far as thickness goes I'm not sure, but it was pretty close to the original look.

[Topcat]

My recollection is that the door handle paint looked a little darker than the gill paint. door handles also appeared to be laquer paint.

On the way home I thought about using a preval sprayer.

Are these the fender gills? 

I don't know what the louvers  look like but from what you describe I agree with an air brush.  The deal is that if it is so fine, almost like misting, you would need to have the paint to air ratio such that there is more air than paint and hold the air brush higher away from the the object painted to get the misting effect.  May have to do this very slowly or else the paint will cake on.  You do have to be careful on spattering but if you have a good air brush it should be ok. 

 You have to move a little quickly, from one side to the other passing over the object you are painting, starting to the left or right of the object.

Exactly!   

['Cuda Hunter]

I thought we were talking about the rear window louvers. 

Now I have to look at my gills and see how they are painted.

I agree with the technique that Super Blue discussed. Only with a larger, hvlp gun.
Although i was thinking on the rear window louvers. 

[dutch]

I`d try my luck at a motorcycle paint shop.  Many bikes are painted with multiple layers of ink-like paint.  They might be able to come up with a solution.

[torredcuda]

You can still get laquer but not sure about matching the color.
http://www.duplicolor.com/products/psFinishSystem//
http://www.paintforcars.com/acrylic_lacquer_paint.html

[Topcat]

I ended up going to my local auto paint store.

Matched it up and it came out pretty darn close to the OEM colur/hue.
Right down to the metallic flake size in the paint.

I used my mini SATA jet gun. Reduced it a hair over and opened up the air pattern more.
Very light strokes across them did the trick.

['Cuda Hunter]

That looks really good!

[dutch]

no clue what they looked like from factory, but they look great