MY350Z.COM - Nissan 350Z and 370Z Forum Discussion

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-   Exterior & Interior (https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-and-interior-51/)
-   -   Monterey Blue 350Z (https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-and-interior/554647-monterey-blue-350z.html)

Zach1123 05-01-2012 08:08 PM

Monterey Blue 350Z
 
Hello everyone!
I've been a member on here for around a year now, and a Z owner for a little over two years. Usually I tend to shy away from posting and typically just read and observe what others post. But I figured it was time to post up my car and contribute a little. lol

I bought my car with the knowledge that there were some previous "issues" with the car. But knowing this helped me get an extra $1500 off the cost of the car. The previous owner had several touch ups done over the life of the car. The car itself was a total of three different colors at the time I purchased it.

I've been trying to find the time to paint the car ever since I bought it two years ago. It seemed like there was always an issue of time, money, or some random event that kept it from happening. Finally last month during my spring break I was able to get everything taken care of. I've always loved the new Monterey blue that's available on the 370Z. So that's the color I decided to go with. The following pictures show the basics steps I went through during the painting process, and the final product. So far I've gotten everything from Love it, to hate it... my grandma being one of the "hate it" people. lol

This is what I started out with.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...421/Before.jpg

Paint!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/18.jpg

Taking odds and ends off to keep everything clean.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/1.jpg

Remember kids... keep it wrapped up! lol
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/2.jpg

I couldn't resist getting a peek at the botched bodywork that was under the paint.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/3.jpg

Chip repair!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/4.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/5.jpg

Figured I should get rid of the wiper while I was at it.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/6.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/7.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/8.jpg

Sanded and ready for some spot primer.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...Zach0421/9.jpg

Masked and ready to go!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/10.jpg

We use colored sealers and primers around the shop. It allows for better coverage for topcoats.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/11.jpg

Time to start cutting in the hatch and doors.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/12.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/13.jpg

Sealer!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/14.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/15.jpg

Base!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/19.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/20.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/21.jpg

Clear
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/22.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/23.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/24.jpg

Hatch... Sealer, Base, and Clear
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/28.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/34.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/36.jpg

Time for the car itself.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/29.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/30.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/31.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/32.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/33.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/35.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/37.jpg

Underside of the hood.... Just the finished product. I was running out of time and didn't take progress pictures.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/38.jpg

Finished product!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/39.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/41.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ach0421/40.jpg

I'm looking at a drop and new wheel in the future. But after putting in roughly 100 hours in 7 days I'm taking a break from working on the car for a while. All of the work was done by myself and the only help I had was my friend who helped me lift everything in and out of the booth. I hope this gives a little insight into the painting process and gives you an idea why paint jobs can run upwards of 5K. I was in a major rush towards the end and didn't take pictures of the bumpers, skirts, or the other small pieces I painted. In total you're probably looking at 1/10 of the work that went into painting the car.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my post... questions and comments welcome! :)

asnf00 05-01-2012 08:48 PM

Did you ever think about going for an aftermarket kit with the paint since it's not a stock color it would look really unique. Great work :thumbup:

IsDatIt 05-01-2012 08:56 PM

Looks beautiful!!!

GREAT WORK!!

Congrats :clap:

Contra 05-01-2012 08:57 PM

Props man... I'm helping a friend prep his evo for a near full color change, and its rough. I couldnt imagine doing the entire process alone.

It turned out really good!

angelo350z 05-01-2012 08:59 PM

Great work OP, looks good! Post more pics :thumbup:

PikesPeakZ 05-01-2012 09:03 PM

Looks fuggin good.

Bmurray350z 05-01-2012 09:04 PM

good work. looks great! definitely get some wheels, lower, and i'd get a kit if i were you!

Waiz 05-01-2012 09:15 PM

Great color OP!

Nice post

Dallasmavs92 05-01-2012 09:16 PM

Ehh. Not feeling it now. Maybe with different wheels, blacked out lights, drop, and what not it would look better.

Waiz 05-01-2012 09:23 PM


Originally Posted by Dallasmavs92 (Post 9720875)
Ehh. Not feeling it now. Maybe with different wheels, blacked out lights, drop, and what not it would look better.

Not feeling your username :icon8:


:icon17:

Josh|Swag 05-01-2012 09:44 PM

That looks great!
It looks much better than it previously did, I'd say the work paid off.

EmpireDude 05-01-2012 10:11 PM

awesome!!

lillong1991 05-01-2012 10:11 PM


Originally Posted by Waizzz (Post 9720883)
Not feeling your username :icon8:


:icon17:

:werd:

And let me be one of the people that loves it, needs new wheels though...

ImWeeZzel 05-01-2012 10:41 PM

looks good br0, you gunna add wheels later on?

KingBaby 05-01-2012 10:47 PM

Amazing work

pss350z 05-01-2012 10:51 PM

Gold rims should look good.

JCITY 05-02-2012 03:13 AM

Man,you put in alot of hard work.The results show a job well done!
We all have our tastes in what looks "good" on a car.If that was'nt so,all cars
could be one color.The aftermarket guys would go out of business.For me,I'm
not a blue color guy(unless its dark-San Marino blue is fantastic).Also,trendy
colors will get old fast in my book.Again,the Z has such great lines,it needs no help with a "hot" color.
But thats just me.
Your car with that color screams out for a body kit to complete the custom look.
If you go the body kit route,I'd be careful on your plans to lower the car BEFORE you install the kit.Just do some good preplanning to see what the net height will be.
Black accents on your blue car just don't work for me.Especially the wheels.
A hot blue limits your choices on what will go with it.Since you have picked a new
shade of blue,I'd select an accent color for your wheels that looks cutting edge.
Gun metal wheels would look great.A wheel color such as gold would seem to match the blue.However,IMO...it will cheapen the look of your car and old fast.Again,if you go body kit,select a style that
compliments the look of the kit.You spent all that time&money on that paint job,
the OEM black painted rims just don't go with what you have done.

Props on your hard work!

abarclay 05-02-2012 03:20 AM

Looks good dude.

Zach1123 05-02-2012 05:10 AM

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! :)

As stated in the original post... Wheels and a drop are on the way! But that's probably a few months down the road. The rims were actually chrome when I purchased the car, but they were starting to peel very badly! So I painted them with a carbon black color that GM uses on the Hummer.

I made sure to mix enough basecoat to paint a kit later on if I decided to do so. I agree with a few others that I need to add something to set it off. I've been thinking about going with a Veilside V1 front lip, nismo sides, and a Veilside V1 rear lip. I do a lot of custom painting and sometimes it's hard to find the time to work on my own car.

Keep the comments coming!

BoomerZ33 05-02-2012 05:37 AM

nice job. came out great.


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