• 1986 Chevy paint is classified by number and code. The number and the code tell the Chevy paint specialist the year, the exterior and trim color of the vehicle. They also indicate what manufacturing plant the vehicle was assembled in. A two-part code indicates a top and bottom color. Additional identifying numbers indicate the paint manufacturer.
  
  

The Four Coats

• Painting a 1986 Chevy was typically a four-paint layer process. The electro coat provided corrosion protection. The primer coat protecting the electro coat was stone chip-resistant and provided adhesion between the base coat and electro coat. The base coat provided the color, and the clear coat provided sunlight protection, scratch resistance and gloss and appearance properties. The total paint layer thickness for the primer, base coat and clear coat was 4 to 9 mil. The thickness for each individual layer was achieved in multiple coats. Each 1986 Chevy model had a predetermined layer thickness.
  
  

Electro Coat

• Electro coating is the process of submerging the bare metal frame into a water and paint bath. Electric charges are introduced into the bath to deposit the paint onto the metal surface. The mixture is 77- to 84-percent water, 15- to 22-percent paint solids and less than 1-percent solvent. After the application, a paint film containing 75- to 90-percent solids remains on the surface. The 1986 Chevy body goes through a series of rinses and then is dried for 20 minutes in a curing oven.
  
  

Primer Coat

• The 1986 Chevy primer coat fills in any imperfections due to the molding process. It also acts to provide a conductive layer to allow the electrostatic application of additional coating layers. The application is achieved through a spraying system, with each coat being a minimum of 0.3 mil and a minimum of two coats and maximum of five coats applied. Each layer is sprayed then air-dried.
  
  

Base Coat

• The 1986 Chevy base coat is the layer that contains the major portion of the color. It is the top layer of the color. The base coat will cover any imperfections caused by the primer or the electro coat. This layer of paint is applied by an automatic sprayer, and each layer of the base coat will be 0.5 mil. A minimum of four coats and a maximum of six coats will be applied.
  
  

Clear Coat

• The 1986 Chevy clear coat is a clear material that is applied over the base coat for the purpose of protecting the color paint from degradation due to sun and other elements. The clear coat will have a minimum of six coats and a maximum of eight coats of paint, each layer being 0.5 mil.