[Guest]

How easy is it to paint your own head/tail light covers, I'm sure all you have to do is sand it down then primer and then apply the paint lightly so you dont get runs. What does everyone else think? has anyone done their own and if so how hard was it and could I get a how-to? Thanks


N8

 

[caenus]

Not sure about other paints, but I know that my paint (Tourmaline Green) has more then 1 coat of paint. The first coat is actually Indigo Blue, then they spray like 5-6 other colors and clearcoat it. The guy at maaco showed me the slip he printed with the painting information.

You can probably do it yourself, but don't look for an exact factory match. Maybe with white, or colors without that metal flake.

 

[Crispy]

you own a Rio Red Cougar... its a tri-coat process.... you can order tri coats thru here but I don't know if the stuff would match properly or not.. with all the costs associated with buying all 3 coats you are better off getting it done professionally at a dealer..

click here for paint

 

[ND4SPD]

dude... just go to a really good paint shop, and get them to find the paint code and make you a can of it... thats what i did when i painted the headlights on my old rio-red cougar... check it out... its a pretty good color match if i do say so myself...

btw: rio-red ownz laser-red crispy :tongue: its worth ever moment if your willing to put up with the tri-coat

 

[NARD]

My Ford dealers treated them first with some plastic stuff that means the paint won't crack. Comes in handy when you have to remove them coz you put them on wrong.

 

[EricF]

caenus:
Just to let you know tourmaline green NE is a single shot metallic, Other than primer and clear, there are not
multiple coats. sounds like the Maaco guy did some nice calculating to get the $$ up. I've spent alot of time talking
to the paint manager at the plant where the cougar is/was built.

Eric

 

[caenus]

Perhaps it comes in two forms, because I doubt every paint company can keep every single variation of every car out there. I saw the slip that he printed up from the Maaco computers, it had all the proper information. Its not like he just told me and I said duhh ok paint it. There were about 5-7 different coats it seemed. The base was indigo blue. If I ever need to get something painted again I'll get the slip from him.

EDIT: Of course a plant that makes cougars will have a single shot paint. Their systems are designed for it and its probably not cost effective to have many different coats. But like I said before paint companies like Maaco can't keep drums of paint for every color for every car out there.

 

[Guest]

Just make sure you don't do what I did when I had mine done AT the dealer - I went to pick them up and tossed 'em in my trunk and drove home. Put 'em on that night in the garage (thus, in not-good light) and the next day - Wham! They don't match!!! Oh was I pissed. But...there's not much I can do about it because I ALSO neglected to read the fine print before I signed that said, "No guarantees on paintwork." Basically, I think that means I gave 'em 50 bucks for no reason. I'll definitely be having them re-done at a reputable custom shop...

 

[EricF]

Caenus, ok I see, Maaco was probably paint matching which they do, and do pretty well, or finding a way to overcharge you.. seriously not trying to shoot down your idea.
But, I had my rear bumper repainted at a shop, they just ordered the NE paint.(yes they mix in a flex agent for the bumpers)
no need to have drums of paint when you can order, pints/quarts

I also had headlight and tail light covers painted, make sure they put flex agent in that paint too, or it could crackle hehe