Paint noob questions

[Aceman85turbo]

I have tought myself to do light bodywork pretty good, almost to the point I want to paint my wife's "toy" car. Its an 86 300zx slicktop and the factory color is "Medium Blue Metallic". Once upon a time it looked like this


Being a solid roof car and having been neglected by the previous owner the paint is horribly oxidized. After I get the dings all pulled/filled/sanded I am left looking for options on what to do next.

She wants to paint it the original color again so I just need to find someone that can mix it(should be in a database?) The paint code is Nissan 553.

If I buy a decent paint gun and water seperator/filters (I have a large compressor) and decide to paint it myself, should I do urethane basecoat/clearcoat, single stage urethane, or acrylic enamel? Which is easiest to shoot? which is easiest to maintain on the car?

I know that prep is the key to any paintjob and I have access to a downdraft booth at school to paint/prep in. What else is there to consider?

Thanks for reading my wall of text!

[Z06killinsbf]

BC/CC hands down best. A little more up front cost but better in the long run. I'm not sure you can even do metallic in a single stage. Cool car

[projectPONY]

If you're planning on keeping it then base/clear all the way. Pay special attention when plumbing your air, main thing is you have to get and keep the air dry.

[Aceman85turbo]

Where would I find an exact match on this paint code?

[Z06killinsbf]

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=active&sclient=psy-ab&q=1986+nissan+paint+codes&oq=1986+nissan+paint+codes&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=hp.3...7580l15591l0l15918l23l18l0l5l5l0l173l1427l16j2l23l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=d70c8e76b178f69e&biw=1280&bih=920

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/choosecolor/choosecolor.aspx?year=1986&make=Nissan&model=All%20Models

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=active&sclient=psy-ab&q=automotive+paint+supply+dallas&oq=automotive+paint+supply+dallas&aq=f&aqi=g-v1&aql=&gs_l=hp.3..0i15.30058l30863l5l31366l6l2l0l4l4l0l63l119l2l6l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=d70c8e76b178f69e&biw=1280&bih=920

[Aceman85turbo]

Wow that autotouchup place has good prices.

My last question is about sanding. I should use 180 grit on my 6 inch orbital to take off the old oxidized clearcoat, then go over it with 320, then medium fill primer?

What grit to i sand the primer with?

[Z06killinsbf]

400-600 and if you really want to, a wet 600 final.

[Fast.0]

400-600 and if you really want to, a wet 600 final.

x2 anything else you will still see the scratches

[sdun]

With any light metallic color you have to get the surface near perfect. Any little imperfection will show. The metallics will lay in bigger scratches in a uniform way which allows you to see the scratch even though the clear leveled out. So yes with your color final sand it w/ 600.