I'm about to paint my grill, headlights, and emblem.
 

Hey everyone,

I have a white G37 and I'm thinking about painting my grill, headlights, and emblem... almost like Choy Boy's old black and white theme. I don't want to sound like a copy cat, but I just want it exactly like it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/DSC_0265.jpg
(it's what made me want to get white in the first place.)
And the black emblem.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...G_1374copy.jpg


I've looked over some DIYs and i found this site:
Fast and luxurious: DIY red and black headlights, grille,badges, and spoiler 20" sportmax staggered rimsTinted windows MTX SUBS and AMP - van nuys, California

This is the first time i'm ever painting anything. But from the looks of it, it doesn't seem to hard.

What I want to know is the following.

For the emblem on the back and front grill , after I sand it and paint it do I need a clear coat? And how many coats? Someone told me to paint one coat, wait about 10 minutes, paint another coat, then wait another 10 minutes, then do a clear coat. So is the clear coat necessary? (I need as much details as possible).

As for the headlights, after I bake them, how long should i wait to start painting it? And how long does it take to dry so I can put it back in my car? and when can i start driving?

I want to get started on Saturday morning and hopefully take a ride with it on Saturday night!

Well. Thanks to everyone in advance! I WILL post pictures once I start!

PS. Do you guys have recommendations on paint? to get similar results to choy boy?

THANKS!

[edit] Here's some pictures of mine as of now.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6891811_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5384224_n.jpg

You might wanna edit your post and not make it say "exactly like choyboy" I almost choked when I read that bc his color combo now includes purle/pink and its no joke!

As fas as the headlights, pm ucla_bruin he has a very good record with the lights not leaking after sealing them unlike others. Good luck

PS-> Also do I need to sand the silver off the headlights before painting?

I would ask someone to do it, but I live in HAWAII.. TT

Im not saying for him to do it, pm him and he will give you the best advice since he does the mods for others:biggthumpup:

gotcha. thanks!

I haven't painted my headlights [yet :D] but from my experience with painting in general and everything else on the G and from reading the DIY's, etc. if anything has any kind of coating on it (like the chrome in the lights) the only way to get GOOD adhesion is to sand it and then put on 2-3 coats of primer, then a handful of gloss coats, then a handful of clear coat layers.

The headlights may be a little different, like I said, I haven't specifically worked on any. I'd do exactly what Solismo said and PM ULCA Bruin, he knows his stuff.

you should take the internals of the headlight to a professional paint shop. a spray can clear coat will never give you that kind of glossyness.

What ever you do dont sand the chrome.

so sand the chrome or dont sand the chrome? also on what? the emblem, headlights, or grill? i'm confused. -_-

you havnt pm'd ucla bruin yet?

The headlights , emblems and grill you do not sand the chrome. You scuff it so the paint will stick ..

^Whats the difference in scuffing and using a really coarse sand paper? Or is there one?

Yes. Do not sand. Just scuff, otherwise you will have a nightmare trying to get a smooth finish from the paint.

Use fine grade sand paper to scuff it to create some very small scuffings on the chrome so the primer/paint will bind to it a little easier. If you want to sand down the chrome, you will have to sand it down again then paint it....repeat until surface is smooth, takes a lot of time and money.

Adhesion promoter helps too before spraying on the paint.
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Don't even waste your time painting, especially if you never did anything like that before. Take the headlights apart and take it to a bodyshop and have it done professionally, otherwise it's going to look cheap and you wont be satisfied.