My friend was telling me that I should go to autozone and buy a can of dupli-color primer spray can, a can of the color I want, and some clear coat spray to paint the engine bay pieces. What would be wrong about using this? I realize it wouldnt look as good as ZPresence's $380 professional method but would this work? Would the paint chip off or not adhere at all?

 

If you were to do it that way, the way to do it would be:

Sand
Clean thoroughly
Spray paint on
sand
spray paint on
sand
spray paint on
sand
repeat until a nice coat is on
then clear, sand, repeat etc...

Post pics

 

jeesh, with all that sanding and spraying i may not. I was thinking of the primer dupli-color lists as being for plastic surfaces. I thought i wouldnt then have to sand the surface...

I think Ill try on the underside of the covers.

Any other ideas...

 

Well, that is just what I would do. I would probably use 2000 grit sandpaper so I wouldn't take too much of the plastic off. You certainly don't HAVE to sand that much, but the more you do the smoother it will turn out.

 

The main issue is the adhesion of the primer to the plastic- this is not trivial. A good adhesion means the plastic has reacted with the paint. The fine sandpaper suggested is pretty good from a mechanical point of view (2000 grit water paper can be had at any auto paint supply house for about a dollar a sheet or so), but the paint may still come off after a while.
Suggestion is clean, clean, clean, clean, dry for at least a day (most plastics including Teflon do have a very small amount of surface water retention that takes a while to completely evaporate). Then lightly sand as noted in one of the other messages. Clean and dry again. Then, find an adhesion promoter spray (auto paint place again). Spray on a coat, let it dry. Spray another coat, let it dry. Then, spray a primer coat- thin. Let it dry. Check for roughness. If the texture is rough, sand with 2000 grit, wash and let it dry. Repeat with the primer until the surface is pretty smooth with no scratches. Then, go to the real color coats- thin, dry, heavier coat, dry. Then if necessary, a light sanding, wash and dry, then a final coat- flow this one a bit heavier to set a nice smooth finish. By the way- do this in a clean area or dust will settle on the finish. Also, put on enough paint to ensure that the edges are coated.
Good luck

 

This doesnt have to do anything with painting... But some people have been calling me asking for these so...

OEM Battery, Brake and Engine Covers...

http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=380
http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=381
http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=272

 

Jason has a good point. You can buy a battery cover or brake fluid cover very reasonably, then practice on it to see if you get the results you want. The price was extremely low, very affordable.

 

I may just try it. $7 isnt that big a loss if I screw up, which with me is almost guaranteed.

 

MR Twisted does have the nicest painted engine coveres I have seen on a Z yet...

I have to do a plug... but we offer CF Style Painted batter / brake covers... From Suite E Grafix

 

Could your body shop offer the battery/brake covers painted?
Any pics/pricing on the CF Style you're referring to?

 

http://www.elegantwooddesign.com/350zphoto.htm