DIY: Paint windshield cowl
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 183
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From: North Kingstown, RI, US
DIY: Paint windshield cowl
This DIY procedure applies to 92-95 civics. Other models are probably similar but not exactly the same.
Materials: 10mm socket, 14mm socket, socket wrench, bug and tar remover (or a general degreaser), non-lint cloth, gloss black spray paint, Duplicolor bumper and trim spray paint, newspaper, masking tape, a buddy.
1. Remove Hood by taking off the two 10mm bolts attached at either hinge (4 in all). Have your buddy hold the hood upright while you remove the bolts. Disconnect rubber wiper fluid line.
2. Remove Wiper arms by taking off the 14mm nuts (1 per arm).
This is what you have: (hopefully your hood is in better shape
)
3. Take the newspaper and masking tape and begin to mask off the surrounding area as seen here:
4. Continue masking until you are sure no overspray will touch your car's paint. Remember that accidental overspray on glass can be scraped off with a razor blade when dry. Don't forget to mask the wiper arm bolts!
5. Wipe the entire cowl down with a degreaser or Bug and Tar remover and your lint free cloth. Goo Gone works too.
6. Shake the Duplicolor Bumper and Trim spray paint per the directions on the can. Spray the cowl, doing your best to keep the can upright (quite difficult).
Here is a closer shot:
7. While that dries, wipe down the wiper arms with the same degreaser, let it air dry, then coat with gloss spray paint. (I have found that flat black fades quickly in the sun)
Here is the finished cowl!! (Ignore the rusty hinges!!!
)
Materials: 10mm socket, 14mm socket, socket wrench, bug and tar remover (or a general degreaser), non-lint cloth, gloss black spray paint, Duplicolor bumper and trim spray paint, newspaper, masking tape, a buddy.
1. Remove Hood by taking off the two 10mm bolts attached at either hinge (4 in all). Have your buddy hold the hood upright while you remove the bolts. Disconnect rubber wiper fluid line.
2. Remove Wiper arms by taking off the 14mm nuts (1 per arm).
This is what you have: (hopefully your hood is in better shape
) 3. Take the newspaper and masking tape and begin to mask off the surrounding area as seen here:
4. Continue masking until you are sure no overspray will touch your car's paint. Remember that accidental overspray on glass can be scraped off with a razor blade when dry. Don't forget to mask the wiper arm bolts!
5. Wipe the entire cowl down with a degreaser or Bug and Tar remover and your lint free cloth. Goo Gone works too.
6. Shake the Duplicolor Bumper and Trim spray paint per the directions on the can. Spray the cowl, doing your best to keep the can upright (quite difficult).
Here is a closer shot:
7. While that dries, wipe down the wiper arms with the same degreaser, let it air dry, then coat with gloss spray paint. (I have found that flat black fades quickly in the sun)
Here is the finished cowl!! (Ignore the rusty hinges!!!
)
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,625
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From: Baltimore, MD, US
Re: DIY: Paint windshield cowl (chad)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a normal person would have taken this piece off and painted it!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: u looked at my location LOL.
Re: DIY: Paint windshield cowl (copperfox)
Thats what me and my brother have been thinking of doing to our hatch back but since the car is white and we paid over 2grand for paint job we do want to risk overspray. Does any one know how to take that piece off?
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 134
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From: Dallas, GA, USA
if the paint is more than like, a month or two old, you can lightly wipe little bits of fresh overspray off with lacquer thinner, as long as you dont scrub for more than a second or two in one spot, it wont harm the paint.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: V8KO, One down. One to Go.
Re: DIY: Paint windshield cowl (A-busive)
Normally you wouldnt want to paint your wiper blades gloss black. Flat black helps reduce reflection and glare from the sun. But hey youll look great in your sunglasses. 
Its a well done step by step diy but taking the cowl off is so much easier...personally I wouldnt paint one ever.
Its a well done step by step diy but taking the cowl off is so much easier...personally I wouldnt paint one ever.
B*a*n*n*e*d
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 697
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From: Sanger, California, United States
Re: DIY: Paint windshield cowl (RangerDan)
Wow it looks so much better!! I'm gonna have to do this when I drop in the new(er) motor. 
Will this stuff work for the side trim peices??? 
I'm gonna have to do this when I drop in the new(er) motor. Will this stuff work for the side trim peices???
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: DIY: Paint windshield cowl (Civic4less)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Civic4less »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Will this stuff work for the side trim peices??? </TD></TR></TABLE>
nope. duplicolor bumper and trim paint ONLY works on wiper cowls. its specifically designed for them.
</TD></TR></TABLE>nope. duplicolor bumper and trim paint ONLY works on wiper cowls. its specifically designed for them.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: Orlando, FL, USA
Re: DIY: Paint windshield cowl (eJone powereD)
great writeup, though you could've just taken the piece off, like everyone said. anyway, this is a great thread for reminding ppl about that piece, and how it needs to be painted just like the other exterior plastic pieces
