MG Midget Makeover

We recently laid down some gorgeous Forest Moss Green Metallic paint on my Mom’s 1976 MG Midget but, as always with paint jobs, it didn’t go perfectly smooth right out of the gate. We had some texture in that single-stage paint, but don’t worry – now we’ve got it handled with some wet sanding and buffing so it’s looking smooth and shiny! Let’s dive into how we turned this paint job from “meh” to “marvelous.”

The Paint: What Happened?

So, here’s what went down. Aaron sprayed the car, and while the color came out amazing, we ended up with a little more texture than expected. We’re used to base coat and clear coat, but this was a single-stage paint, so it acted differently. I think we had the paint a bit too thick which caused some of that texture. But, hey, no biggie! Wet sanding and buffing to the rescue!

The challenge: Some texture in the single-stage paint, likely from it being too thick.

The solution: Wet sanding with 1,000 grit, stepping up to 1,500, and finally 2,000 grit before polishing.

Wet Sanding: Smoothing It Out

Aaron tackled the deck lid first, and wow – it made a HUGE difference! He started with 1,000 grit on a DA sander, followed by some block sanding with 1,500 grit, and it really leveled everything out. By the time he hit it with 2,000 grit, it was looking smooth and ready for buffing.

Pro tip: Sanding to 2,000 grit makes polishing much easier and faster.

Results so far: A smooth surface with just a few spots where the gun spit, but nothing major.

Buffing: The Shine Is Real

After all that sanding, it was time to bring back the shine! Using a buffing pad and some rubbing compound, we started to see the magic happen. Aaron tested a spot without going to 2,000 grit, just to see if we could get away with it, and even that looked pretty darn good. But we didn’t stop there. We went all the way to mirror finish status with multiple stages of buffing.

Buffing process: We used a DA sander with a foam pad and compound to polish the surface until it gleamed.

The verdict: The finish is so shiny, you can see your reflection. Mom is ecstatic!

Lessons Learned

Along the way, we picked up a few great tips from our buddy over at Summit Racing. He told us that the Summit Racing paint we used sprays better if you thin it about 10% and bump up the air pressure to around 30-40 psi. That’s something we’ll definitely keep in mind for the next time we tackle a project like this.

Pro advice: Thin the paint for a smoother application, and don’t be afraid to use a bigger tip on your spray gun for better results.

Happy camper: Mom loves her MG’s new look, and we’re thrilled with how it turned out!

Final Touches: A Family Affair

Of course, no Flying Sparks project is complete without some family bonding. Mom jumped in and helped with the wet sanding, buffing, and putting on the final touches like the center caps and chrome trim. It’s been awesome working together on her beloved MG Midget and seeing how happy she is with the result.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – our MG Midget makeover is almost complete! We’ve still got a few small details to finish up, but this little car is looking shiny and fresh, just in time for some spring cruising. Thanks for hanging out with us in the shop.