My roommate and me were doing a rebuild on his stock d15. he got the car for $1500.00 the next week the head gasket let go so we rebuilt it and now its like new again. Nice buy if you ask me.
Well last weekend he decided to sleep in, I was bored so after putting on every sticker I could find on his car.


I decided to turn my attention to the gray side moldings. Every ef owner knows what I’m talking about. I’ve tried it all on mine, heat gun, peanut butter, armor all, everything. So the plan was just to paint them with bumper paint. I didn’t have any paint prep so I decided to just clean them with Acetone. I put some on a paper towel and started wiping and the gray started to disappear. The acetone just eats the oxidation right off.

keep in mind these were ash gray, this pic was after a few wipes. i should have taken before pics, but didn't. trust me this **** works.
before (kinda)


acetone from homedopot like $5.00 i think and more than you will need. keep in mind you don't want this on your paint.


after, with a bit of armor all. i could of done more but A.D.D. is a mother!


when you use this you don't rub too hard, just light wipes, let the acetone do the work turn the paper tolew often.

 

Nice work.

 

very nice! im gunna try and do that to mine tomorrow.

 

Won't acetone *eat* the trim?

 

if you soak it probably... this is probably melting the first few layer of plastic off so you can see an unweathered layer underneath

 

good ****

Gona try that ish on my moldings and bumper

 

If you do decide to paint them, the duplicolor trim paint from Kragen works really well. Just make sure you get the trim really clean before you paint.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JapJunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good ****

Gona try that ish on my moldings and bumper


</TD></TR></TABLE>
thats how these looked when we started. we didn't do the bumpers, let us know how it turns out.

 

Will do

 

Search for a product called Forever Black, way better than anything ive ever used, its a dye it works forever, my front lip came outa pullapart and it was a dark shade of white, not even grey, and its like uber brand new black now, great stuff

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr_CRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you do decide to paint them, the duplicolor trim paint from Kragen works really well. Just make sure you get the trim really clean before you paint.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I second this and its much safer for the people that might get some acetone on there paint

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SlobberGoat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Won't acetone *eat* the trim?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Acetone is a very strong solvent, it will soften/remove your paint so be carefull what you put it on. It can really screw up a finish!
HTH
chris

 

The solvent will work but unless you seal it afterward, its just going to slowly oxidize again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davens &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The solvent will work but unless you seal it afterward, its just going to slowly oxidize again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NCchris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Acetone is a very strong solvent, it will soften/remove your paint so be carefull what you put it on. It can really screw up a finish!
HTH
chris</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just forever black it, not worth the risks involved. Acetone melts plastic...and paint!