| Alright. First things first. I don't | | | | will look like crap if you don't take the |
| guarantee any work you get done to your car | | | | time and follow the instructions. |
| or any work you do yourself. If you should | | | | |
| mess up your car, well that's your fault and | | | | Before you begin painting, I highly recommend |
| don't blame me! | | | | doing a sort of dry install. Find out where |
| | | | the pieces going, take all of the pieces that |
| Okay, let me start out by saying that I | | | | need to be removed off your car, and find all |
| highly recommend getting a body kit installed | | | | of the places you're going to have to bolt |
| by an auto body technician or someone who has | | | | down in order to get a proper fit. |
| done body work and feels comfortable | | | | |
| completing the necessary work. | | | | Don't remove any sticky things yet and if |
| | | | needed find the places you need to drill and |
| If you insist on installing the kit yourself, | | | | drill them. Clean up and get your shop ready |
| there are some things to consider. | | | | to paint. It will be much easier to get your |
| | | | pieces on if your car has been prepared |
| What color are you going to paint your body | | | | before hand. |
| kit? | | | | |
| | | | Depending on what type of paint you're |
| Where are you going to paint? | | | | planning on using can depend on which steps |
| | | | you're going to have to take, but generally |
| How are you going to paint your body kit? | | | | there are only 3. Primer, color, clear coat. |
| | | | |
| Do you have the right tools to install the | | | | Primer is the foundation of a great paint |
| kit yourself? | | | | job. Many body kits come pre-primered, but |
| | | | depending on the paint you're using you may |
| And are you going to paint your entire car or | | | | need to redo the primer. Such as any candy or |
| just the body kit?(Should you decide to get | | | | pearlescent colors. |
| your car painted professionally, but not get | | | | |
| the kit installed, skip the below steps.) | | | | Color! Yes, its pretty and can be a headache. |
| | | | Color paint is the only reason for a paint |
| I personally recommend painting the kit the | | | | job. If we didn't have color, we'd all be |
| same color as your car, but that's personal | | | | driving around in hideous primer grey |
| opinion. Body kits can look really sharp if | | | | vehicles. You will spend a good deal of time |
| they are combined with vinyl graphics or even | | | | on color. If you are doing a candy, you'll |
| other custom paint work to tie the entire car | | | | spend even more time on color. There can be |
| together. I recommend finding your vehicles | | | | many variations on this step. Flash times and |
| specific paint codes. Most of them can be | | | | layer thickness make or break a paint job at |
| found through the DuPont registry or through | | | | this point. So remember "PATIENCE!" |
| your local dealer. | | | | |
| | | | Clear coat is another great step that can |
| Okay. So finding a place to paint is next. | | | | make or break your look. A good clear coat |
| Many professional paints are very temperature | | | | will make waxing and just looking at your car |
| specific. Should you decide to use one of | | | | a dream. A bad one will look like someone |
| these, you'll need some big equipment and | | | | tried to paint your car with nail polish. |
| some serious painting skills. Also, for the | | | | |
| integrity of your paint, find a dry | | | | My best advice is follow the instructions on |
| environment that it virtually dust and dirt | | | | your paint and always spray at a 90 degree |
| free. You will get a better smoother paint | | | | angle. Most paints work well with a spray |
| job in a clean environment. Whether you | | | | pattern about 6 to 7 inches away from a |
| decide to use an aerosol or paint gun and air | | | | vehicle. Always spray side to side in an over |
| compressor, a clean environment is a must. | | | | lapping pattern and never stop on one spot. |
| You should also consider investing in a throw | | | | Should you stop, you'll get high spots that |
| away or "keeper" set of paint coveralls. A | | | | will not dry correctly and you'll have a |
| great deal of dirt can be brought in on | | | | "orange peel" paint job. Should you have an |
| street clothes. | | | | odd piece to paint, take time to mentally |
| | | | pre-paint the spot. Walk your painting route |
| Painting is a delicate process that takes | | | | and try to follow your contours correctly. |
| time and PATIENCE! Patience is a must and | | | | This is all part of that patience step. If |
| there is no substitute for patience when it | | | | you're going do it, do it with care and |
| comes to painting. The best paint you can buy | | | | patience for the right steps. |