In a few weeks, I am getting ready to work body/paint on my Hatch.

It's currently beatup looking in a primer grey that I bought from the owner.
I have my work cut out for me since they didn't know what they were doing
and didnt mask any of the seals/weatherstripping around all surrounding glass.

Anyway, There are no mouldings at all on the car.. my question is:

1. Should I flush the moulding holes
or
2. put the mouldings on and not paint them.
or
3. Paint the mouldings to the same color as the car.

Color at the time is still undecided, somewhere along the original black to a PPG pepper grey metallic.

I was going to go with #1 but am unsure or how it would look like since there is a body line that goes across the doors that might look tacky.

If anyone has a picture of #1 please feel free to post them for my referrence.


Any feeback is appreciated.

 

Put black moldings on after you paint it... It will look the best.

 

do you HAVE the moldings, or would you have to get them?

 

#2 black mouldings. buy new ones from honda ull be happy

 

Check your parts store for "bumper and trim" paint. It's like a flat black color, how your stock trim should look. Just paint those and put them on

 

most ppl on here prefer an oem look, so theyd say leave the molding on, and black.

painting the moldings to match the car doesnt look bad, heres mine:

 

Is there anything to do to prep the moldings besides cleaning them with alcohol? No primer, no anything. Clean up -> Paint?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ecovillain &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you HAVE the moldings, or would you have to get them?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd have to buy them.. or see if I can get a set. I know someone who's got some on their 90dx that I think they're going to have the junkyard take. If i had space and extra money, i'd take it. Fees are not to date, and the engine is not running. So i hope the mouldings are still in fair shape.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ecovillain &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">#2 black mouldings. buy new ones from honda ull be happy</TD></TR></TABLE>
Off the top of your head, do you know how much they run for a set from Honda?


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fast88 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Is there anything to do to prep the moldings besides cleaning them with alcohol? No primer, no anything. Clean up -&gt; Paint? </TD></TR></TABLE>
I dont understand what you are asking. Prep before paint? If that is the question, First you should wash them to get dirt/grime/grease off of them. That is paint's number 1 enemy. Alcohol, acetone, and cleaning solutions tend to evaporate too fast and leave residue behind. And you dont want to use too much of it, cuz it will damage the plastic.

Wash it with dishwashing liquid like palmolive or joy. Soak it in soap/water like it smells of *** to make sure it is completely clean.

Stay away from Car Wash soap has silicone substances that sometimes can lessen the adhesion. Especiall those with Wax and polish additives.

Plastic, that's one of the hardest and worst substrates to paint on because of it's gritty nature and the fact that it flexes.

That's why you see .. the first place that paint comes off of is a bumper.. sure because of road hazards sometimes.. but mostly because of flexibility and lack of prep.

I hope that's what you were asking, if not.. apologies for the long/wrong assessment.

Thanks for the feedback all.



Modified by nsone at 1:30 AM 4/28/2005