My own paint job???

[Loofee95SE]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> wat suo fellas?? well i just finish installing a Nismo front bumbper to my S14 ..and i was just wondering ..how hard is it to paint it my self?? &nbsp;well if anybody had ever done it some tip will be nice..or if somebody just wanna boo me and sent me to the body shop it will be fine too... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[Anubis]

Its pretty easy if you take it slowly and do several coats. One big fat coat of paint would most likely cause orange peel later on, plus drips and stuff. I think body shops charge an arm and a leg in general to do only parts of a car, but you should look into local shops around where you live. BTW, im buying the nismo front bumper as well...is yours the official? or is it a replica?

[Grant]

i think you need several layers of paint, hardner, and clearcoat. Honestly it is easier to just bring it to a shop and get it painted... Just dont bring it to shady places like Earl Schieb or Maaco (one or the other may have painted the front end of my car.. not sure, but both do really half ass and shitty jobs). But get it done right. reputable shops should also back their work up with a good warranty..

[TQ180sx/sil80]

my friend and i painted my entire cefiro ourselves and it didn't turn out too bad, expecially for our first time ever doing that. the 2 things that came out pretty much perfect were both bumpers, if i showed u a picture, u would think it's stock. as for the rest of the car, there's some overspray every now and then but not too shabby. if it's just the front bumper i don't think u'll have too much of a hard time, u'll need the paint, paint thinner, hardener and some clear coat if u want it to shine, maybe sand and primer the bumper before painting it....

[Loofee95SE]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> thank guys..well mine bumper is a NIsmo replica..( I wish i have the money to buy the real one tho) but anyway..it's look really bad ass and it's not to flashy..almost like a stock with some work out WAh hahaha..anyhow..
i guess i have to look to it some more about painting my own bumper i'll post pic about it as soon as i get my camera working again.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[ca18guy]

I just relized your one of those people that installs body parts without painting them &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

[TQ180sx/sil80]

gotta love that picture under Ca18guy.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[junia]

My friend painted his 180sx yellow with can spray paint. &nbsp;He used 16 cans of spray paint and about 10 cans of clearcoat. &nbsp;Anyway, &nbsp;when my cousin painted my bumper for me (with real tools not cans) He said he got a better finish when he laid down some clear coat before spraying it with the actual color. &nbsp;I take his word for it because he works for a body shop. &nbsp;He did his Nissan Safari and it looks nice.

[v8killer]

Guy- you've GOTTA install body panels before you paint them! If you don't, you've gotta half screw up the paint when you actually install them! LOL! Not to mention that if you get some aftermarket fiberglass and you don't let it get exposed to the elements (outdoors in sun with no paint yet) the resins in the glass won't completely harden, and paint will look like crap, and you'll be more prone to cracking, chipping, etc...

Give the kid a break, man!! LOL! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (v8killer @ Mar. 24 2002,03:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Guy- you've GOTTA install body panels before you paint them! If you don't, you've gotta half screw up the paint when you actually install them! LOL! Not to mention that if you get some aftermarket fiberglass and you don't let it get exposed to the elements (outdoors in sun with no paint yet) the resins in the glass won't completely harden, and paint will look like crap, and you'll be more prone to cracking, chipping, etc...

Give the kid a break, man!! LOL! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
No, he has no plan of getting it painted instead he will drive around with unpainted body panels that look like ass. Why get the body part if you can't afford to paint it? If it needs exposed to the elements throw the thing in your back yard.

EDIT: I understand installing it and then painting it, not installing it leave for a few monthes then painting it.

[v8killer]

LOL!!!! That's the funniest thing I've EVER HEARD!!!! Throw the thing in your backyard....HAHAHAHA!!!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[Anubis]

yea man...it looks sick as hell with the front bumper primed and not painted body color. It gives the car that "Under construction" look. As for the bumper....did you have any fitment problems? or did it fit great? Because i decided to buy the replica because the official nismo bumper is waaayyy to expensive.

[diabolic hippo]

if your planning to paint the whole car, it's not for the novice, though the bumper would be a good pratice, i would take it to the shop, might be cheaper than buying a spray gun, paint, reducer, clear coat and a compressor or the renting of a paint booth. if you do decide to do it water sand the bumper with 600 grit sand paper, wipe on and off wax and grease remover the it's good to go, mix paint to proper porportions, hvlp guns spray 35-40lbs pressure, spray about 12-14 inches away from the bumper doing a 50% overlapping pattern, let each coat flash 15 minutes before applying the next coat, same with the clear coat, let one day to dry before installing bumper. also good idea to remove your gas door to color match the color, so you can determine how many coats of color to apply. hope this helps.

[XylathaneGTR]

You'd have to know what your doing, and maybe practice on some other stuff, like ur stock bumber...cause if you somehow screw up on painting, its gonna be expensive to repaint it...so...if u know what ur doing, go for it...If not...i suggest just having a shop do it.

[AJ]

why would it be expensive to repaint?.. if you strip and prep it yourself again... same price right?

also, where did you get the knockoff bumper from and how much did you pay?.. thats that may be the route i want to go considering i'm not loaded when it comes to cash. &nbsp;thanks!

[Loofee95SE]

nonononononooo!! i'm not one of those Ricers..that drives around with non paint body parts..
it's sitting in the garage right now..cos i'm having my rims podercoating..( stock 16") but it will look good when finish..
by the way ..now i'm driving my other car ..01 Focus( i know i know .. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'> )
yes i'm planing on reapinting the whole car..but also 'd like to learn how to do things by my self..Lexas metalic blue..
do it my self ..or body shop..still desiding ..
: the BUmper cost me 175 INstalled.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> hehehehehee
it's cheap as hell cos my friend have a 97 240SX but he boughta wrong body kit..he fit the side skirt and rear ..the front!! &nbsp;it's on my baby right now.muahahahahah

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Loofee95SE @ Mar. 24 2002,10:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">nonononononooo!! i'm not one of those Ricers..that drives around with non paint body parts..
it's sitting in the garage right now..cos i'm having my rims podercoating..( stock 16") but it will look good when finish..
by the way ..now i'm driving my other car ..01 Focus( i know i know .. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'> )
yes i'm planing on reapinting the whole car..but also 'd like to learn how to do things by my self..Lexas metalic blue..
do it my self ..or body shop..still desiding ..
: the BUmper cost me 175 INstalled.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> hehehehehee
it's cheap as hell cos my friend have a 97 240SX but he boughta wrong body kit..he fit the side skirt and rear ..the front!! it's on my baby right now.muahahahahah</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
*breath's a sigh of relief*

[TQ180sx/sil80]

some of those guys are Ricers that don't paint their shyt and leave it primered, yet some of the other people that drive around with 5 different colors are DRIFTERS!!!!!! it kinda gets to be a pain in the butt to work with the details on your car when u keep messing it up. just had to say that to clear the way for whenever i drive around with different color panels and doors &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[bennieboy]

honestly i would get it paited by a pro...
it is hard to match the color and even when you do sometimes that color has faded so you are mis- matched

I TOTALY agree with what "diabolic hippo" has to say though HE TOTALY KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT!

[96SEChick]

Here's 2 little tips I'm surprised nobody has mentioned yet, if you do decide to try to paint the bumper yourself:

1. &nbsp;Make sure your painting environment is 100% DUST FREE!!!! &nbsp;Or else you will get dust and trash in your paint that is only cured by completely re-sanding down to the plastic again, which is a major pain in the ass.

2. &nbsp;When priming, painting, & clear-coating a plastic surface like a bumper--USE FLEX-COAT ADDITIVE!! &nbsp;Normal body painting products don't have the elasticity to flex with the plastic when it expands and contracts in different climate conditions, or even in a very light bump into the surface. &nbsp;Normal body painting products w/o flex-coat will crack and chip when the plastic surface expands or contracts, which results in a complete re-sanding and re-painting process, which is a major pain in the ass.

[Jeff240sx]

Ahh. &nbsp;Flex coating stuff. &nbsp;It's expensive.
I repainted my Corvette a Competition Yellow color, in a friend's garage.
More tips.
Get an inline water filter for the compressor hose. &nbsp;A drop of water in paint will cause a huge run.
Do it in the daytime, so no bugs (moths, ect) get onto the paint. &nbsp;I had about 4 get on, and when you remove them, you make a gash or a fingerprint in the wet paint. &nbsp;Then you gotta sand and redo that coat.
Don't do it in sunlight. &nbsp;I have heard from many people this is horrible.
Also, dont paint right now if your area is having a drastic change in daily temprature. &nbsp;The temprature you paint in has an effect on the color the paint sets to. &nbsp;Try to make the temprature as close as possible on painting days. &nbsp;Humidity also has this effect.
And between coats, wet-sand with 2000 grit paper lightly to remove any uneven places (i.e. door panel seams, body seams.) &nbsp;When you are finished painting and clearcoating, don't wax or wash for about 2 weeks. &nbsp;
-Jeff

[Loofee95SE]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> thank you 96SECHick...now some body is talking about what i ask...but no offence to anybody with unpaint body parts...i know how does it feels when u driff and it got out of hand..been there done that..why do u think i have a new bumper!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> &nbsp;muahahahahahaha..

[XylathaneGTR]

When i get my body conversions installed (s15 front, R34 Rear, Roof Scoop, maybe some sidevents, and bodykit) imma paint it GTR34 Yellow...yah know? that sexy colour...the 400r comes in? that kinda colour...w00t w00t

[96SEChick]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Loofee95SE @ Mar. 25 2002,2:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> thank you 96SECHick...now some body is talking about what i ask...but no offence to anybody with unpaint body parts...i know how does it feels when u driff and it got out of hand..been there done that..why do u think i have a new bumper!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> muahahahahahaha..</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
You're very welcome. I actually have a bit of home-painting experience of my own--helped my bf paint his former-car-- 1992 Plymouth Laser AWD Turbo--black is such a hard color to paint unprofessionally. I've also removed both my side mirrors and my front lower lip, completely sanded them down, repainted & re-clear-coated them myself. Now I need to re-do my lower lip again after hitting a dip in the road that was a LOT worse than it looked <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

Jeff240sx had excellent tips also, with the water filter (to keep moisture out of the paint in the sprayer), and the climate control while painting. &nbsp;

Also, make sure there is NO oil on the surface before painting--laquer thinner takes the oil off nicely, but don't pour it on there--saturate a cloth with it and wipe the surface lightly. &nbsp;Oil on the surface causes "fish-eyes" in the paint--looks horrible. &nbsp;Also, tack cloths will become your best friend, too--wipe down the dry area to remove all debris from the surface, or else you will have trash in the paint.

Painting body parts yourself is not fun, nor is it easy. It is very time-consuming, detail-oriented, and takes a LOT of patience.

[TQ180sx/sil80]

i find this very wierd. i think at least 3 people that have said they painted their cars or someone they know painted their car, actually painted it yellow.....that's wierd cuz i painted mine lemon yellow....

[Grant]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Loofee95SE @ Mar. 23 2002,2:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">nonononononooo!! i'm not one of those Ricers..that drives around with non paint body parts..
it's sitting in the garage right now..cos i'm having my rims podercoating..( stock 16") but it will look good when finish..
by the way ..now i'm driving my other car ..01 Focus( i know i know .. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'> )
yes i'm planing on reapinting the whole car..but also 'd like to learn how to do things by my self..Lexas metalic blue..
do it my self ..or body shop..still desiding ..
: the BUmper cost me 175 INstalled.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> hehehehehee
it's cheap as hell cos my friend have a 97 240SX but he boughta wrong body kit..he fit the side skirt and rear ..the front!! it's on my baby right now.muahahahahah</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Smart Thinking. IF you do have the right equipment, then do it yourself, otherwise, like I said, just save a bit more money and have it done professionally. Putting the just the bumper on and not painting it whatsoever (i the underconstruction look), that is sick as hell, very SICKENING (i can tell because the fenders on my friend's tacoma are still unpainted, but he doesnt drive it now, luckily..) its disgusting to see cars with half ass paint jobs, and non painted body kits. Anyways how much did it cost to have your rims powdercoated?

[Loofee95SE]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Grant @ Mar. 24 2002,6:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Loofee95SE @ Mar. 23 2002,2:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">nonononononooo!! i'm not one of those Ricers..that drives around with non paint body parts..
it's sitting in the garage right now..cos i'm having my rims podercoating..( stock 16") but it will look good when finish..
by the way ..now i'm driving my other car ..01 Focus( i know i know .. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'> )
yes i'm planing on reapinting the whole car..but also 'd like to learn how to do things by my self..Lexas metalic blue..
do it my self ..or body shop..still desiding ..
: the BUmper cost me 175 INstalled.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> hehehehehee
it's cheap as hell cos my friend have a 97 240SX but he boughta wrong body kit..he fit the side skirt and rear ..the front!! it's on my baby right now.muahahahahah</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Smart Thinking. IF you do have the right equipment, then do it yourself, otherwise, like I said, just save a bit more money and have it done professionally. Putting the just the bumper on and not painting it whatsoever (i the underconstruction look), that is sick as hell, very SICKENING (i can tell because the fenders on my friend's tacoma are still unpainted, but he doesnt drive it now, luckily..) its disgusting to see cars with half ass paint jobs, and non painted body kits. Anyways how much did it cost to have your rims powdercoated?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
It cost me 100 to podercoat all 4 rims...but it will take me a week or so...but 150 more to do a set up ..and i can have it in a day..i prefer to save me some cash..and wait a week..
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> anyhow...what is the best CAI..u think will be on a S14 ?? i saw ur car ..and it look like a killer..