Just finished my Paint job

[Morel]

Did it ourselves, with a spray gun and the usual stuff.

Prep was a pain, but we got it down to metal, put a fresh coat of primer on, sanded that down, put like 7 coats of paint on, and 4 coats of clear..

Still have to buff it out, since well, some dust and (eek) bugs landed on the paint.

But hey, still not bad for 300 bucks in supplies and a weekend. And still better then maaco!


PS, Don't make fun of my wheels, they're next on the list! Along with tint, turbo, exaust and all the normal stuff Paychecks only come every 2 weeks.

 

[gibby]

looks good to me. Better than i would have done. And the statement about paychecks only coming every two weeks is such an understatement.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Looks good. did you paint it right there on the street?

 

[Morel]

In the driveway.. heheh.


It was lookin perfect until the bugs came out.. You'd think they'd take one wiff of the clearcoat and fly away hehe..

It does have quite a bit of little bumps in it, but nothing a good day of wetsanding / buffing out won't cure. All in all im very happy with it

 

[HighPsi92GST]

i just looked at your gallery, is that what used to be your maroonish colored talon? If so, I would have traded you a red fender for your pass. side fender, even install it for you, so that I could have a fender that matches my car, and you would have a fender to paint over anyways.

looks good though. nice driveway paint job

 

[wret]

Good job. I thought I might attempt it but I talked myself out of it.

 

[scirio]

nice tails

 

[Morel]

Oh ya, that!

I shaved off the emblems on both sides, and the rear, and then sanded them down, chromed them, CC'd them and then just put the Eagle part on.

I'm too anal retentive about the location/spacing to attempt to put the others on (though the sides will likely stay shaved. Much cleaner look.

I also sanded down the middle rear plastic peice and then put a nice primer on it. Looks much nicer/cleaner IMHO.. Which is basically what im going for. Nice, low key, simple, and clean. White side marker lights, and some nice 5 spoke silver wheels.

Now, if I could only find some nice Eclipse Door skirts I'd be happy hehe.

 

[n0c7]

Hot stuff dude. Once you westand and polish it its gonna look mint. I took my front kit off last year and left it in the garage in the winter. I pulled in with my explorer and snagged it through the garage I repaired it and didnt have a compressor so I had spray bombs mixed to match and wetsanded and polished. No one can tell.

 

[n0c7]

Oh and one more thing, adleast you werent like Trailer Park Boys using a roller in the driveway !

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Oh and one more thing, adleast you werent like Trailer Park Boys using a roller in the driveway !

Theres something funny about that comment...but just can't put my finger on it.

 

[Morel]

Ohh, I donno..

Maybe since the homes in the background are mobile homes?

 

[n0c7]

Ohh, I donno..

Maybe since the homes in the background are mobile homes?

I thought they were, wasnt trying to make fun, just remembered that one episode Once again, car looks tight man, post some pics when ur done wetsanding/polishing!

 

[92Fwd4Me]

Not that my comment is worth much I know....that said

Anything you took the time and effort to do yourself.....is an automatic win. I think it looks good....and more importantly you think it looks good. In the end.....its you who has to be happy about it. And I bet anytime someone mentions how well it looks.....you will get MUCH more satisfaction with the fact you can tell them "I did it myself"

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Ohh, I donno..

Maybe since the homes in the background are mobile homes?

ahhh thats it.

 

[rowlex]

I was considering doing this to my ESI as well

what kind of paint gun/equip did you use??

if you have the time you outta do a how-to

 

[Enki]

Looks like you did a very nice job

The wing on the stealth in the background makes me sad though

 

[Morel]

oh yea, that...

Don't get me started about it hehe


As for equipment, just used Automotive paint from a paint shop, some noname Clear coat (western?) and a top feeding spray gun with a big big air tank

 

[marcmsj]

oh yea, that...

Don't get me started about it hehe


As for equipment, just used Automotive paint from a paint shop, some noname Clear coat (western?) and a top feeding spray gun with a big big air tank

i'm gonna be painting my hood and hatch in the very near future... thanks for showing me that it can be done

what grit sandpaper did you use to strip it down?

 

[Defiant]

But hey, still not bad for 300 bucks in supplies and a weekend. And still better then maaco!

I did a car, once. My time's not that cheap anymore.
It looks pretty good from your pics.

Paychecks only come every 2 weeks.

Try living on one a month.

 

[Grimis]

Did it ourselves, with a spray gun and the usual stuff.

Prep was a pain, but we got it down to metal, put a fresh coat of primer on, sanded that down, put like 7 coats of paint on, and 4 coats of clear..

Still have to buff it out, since well, some dust and (eek) bugs landed on the paint.

But hey, still not bad for 300 bucks in supplies and a weekend. And still better then maaco!


PS, Don't make fun of my wheels, they're next on the list! Along with tint, turbo, exaust and all the normal stuff Paychecks only come every 2 weeks.

looking good no biggy about the wheels, there is alot worse out there.... Next question, when can you come and do mine

 

[Morel]

i'm gonna be painting my hood and hatch in the very near future... thanks for showing me that it can be done

what grit sandpaper did you use to strip it down?

- Stripped off all Lettering/badges odds and ends
- Well, used 800 to get it down to almost bear metal (I did NOT have that much patience to get it all the way down)

- Then Primed it, sand it down with 1500 to get it smooth.
- Wash
- Dry (Also using Air compressor to make sure waters not trapped in nooks and crannys
- Used Greese/Wax remover on the entire car
- Paint, applying coats ever 15 minutes
- Let dry
- Wash/wax remover again
- Apply clear coats

Just gotta do the last buffing.. You have to wait at LEAST a week for the Clear to harden enough. Clear can take a month to fully 100% harden (or so I Was told.. Better safe the sorry).

I also played with the idea of spraybombing a 1/2 dozen coats of paint before puting on the last few coats with the spray gun, but bleh..

I honestly coulda took more time to prep it. But I gave into my "I gotta make it look PRETTY!" brain bugging me..

I also fixed a crack in the front bumber skirt (very bottom of it, @#$#@ gutters!!) It lasted a week, before I let my dad drive it, and he left my driveway to fast hit the SAME gutter and the rip is there again.. I'm takin a sledge hammer ot that friggin thing.

I was gonna buff it this weekend, but my apendix had to be taken out.. So I'll post pics as soon as thats done!

 

[dave99gst]

looks good from the pix --
ya got more ballz den me.

 

[97 spyder]

It is better to cut and polish the clear coat the next day after it was painted the harder the clear coat gets the tougher to sand it out. I dont know how you are doing yours but I did mine buy hand so the sooner the better I have done a few where the guys were not sure if they wanted it done at first after a few weeks they decided they wanted it sanded and buffed it was a lot more work. But nothing looks better than a glass like paint job. Your car looks good not alot of home jobs turn out that way.

 

[Morel]

Hrmmm. Really?


Well I do have cut here, Along with the sandpaper..

Should I just use a polisher/buffer with a med cut to buff it out? Or should I go for the wetsanding too?