Yo what up...i dont like any body kits...and i wanna keep my car really low...i had an idea to paint the stock side skirts the same color as the car. I wanna do it myself...ive heard it can be done. HOw much would this run me around? What tools do i need? Any info would help out a lot.
thanks!

 

i don't know anyone that has had this done on a prelude, but my roomate had this done to his Impreza so i'm sure its basically the same thing. he took his to a shop and had them paint it, i believe it cost him ~$100. although it took him quite a while to find a shop that would even do it. heres why
the stock skirts flex obviously so most paint will just chip off over time. in order to keep this from happening the paint has to be treated with some kind of epoxy that allows it to bend more than normal, sorry i can't remember what the stuff was called. but once the paint was treated with that and something to help it bond to plastic the side skirts were primed and then they put i believe four THICK layers down, plus a layer of crinkle paint(something like that) on top of the paint which helps keeps the paint from chipping...it sounds like a lot of work, but if you're a decent painter then you can probably handle it...although for $100 i'd just get it done, you'll probably spend $60 just in paint and supplies

 

if you do it yourself 100% right, you're going to need REAL equipment... SO: You're going to need a $50-$200 paint gun, a $200-$500 air compressor, some knowlegde on how to use it, set it up, adjust it etc, and about $50-$100 worth of materials. So that's anywhere from $300-$800 dollars. On top of that, you're going to need a paint booth, and some sanding material, and tape, and newspaper.

My advice is track down a shop that knows how to paint the skirt.

Now, if you wanted to go spray paint, then you're not going to be able to match the paint very well. Shermin Williams can try and match it for you then put it in a spray can for you for around $60-$70 bucks, but no promise that it's going to match 100% with the rest of the car. You need some primer, and some sand paper. Sand the hell out of it with a rough grit. 150-220 grit if you want. Then use some Primer and coat the first few layers thin, then a few normal layers. After this, coat on the matched paint. (letting the primer dry) Thin at first, use many light coats and let it set between coats. Use as much as you feel necessary to make it the same color. Now comes the clear. The fun part. Let the regular paint dry for an hour or two. Then take the clear, and coat it on in relativley thick layers. Too thin and it will look "hazy." Too thick, and it will run like hell. You have to have a very steady hand and pretty much have been practicing on it.

Good luck.