Another DIY Paintjob and engine bay.

[JDMEF7]

Here's my 1st real paint attempt, I've touched up cars before but never done the full deal, pretty stoked with the results.

Outside the car it's all PPG Dulon laquer which I found to be an absalute breeze to spray.
The black is a Honda pearl black called Granada black and it's quite similar to the black used on Type R integras. It's got yellow and blue pearls in it but in the sun it actually looks green and red. Weird i know.

The car was rough as guts when I got it, half of it was matt black, it had exposed filler on a rear quarter and there were plenty of super market dings.

I re-painted the car and got it back together, then screwed my engine and while building the new motor i thought I'd better clean up the engine bay and re-spray it ready for the new motor.
I used a different paint system though and have now decided at the end of the year I'll re-do the outside of the car again. Anyway heres the pics...

The sanding process begins, At this point I removed the factory sunroof and patched the hole and filled and faired the roof....
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/IMGP1060.jpg
Honda city tubo vents found their way onto the bonnet, they actually work and exhaust the heat off the headers nicely.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/IMGP1075.jpg
After all the dents had been filled and the car was as falt as i could get it on the old paint, i applied this Cellulose High build primer which is also laquer based and allows a nice surface to fair back dead flat.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/DSC00044.jpg
Before the top coat goes on, i put a few layers of 2D surfacing primer over the high build and prepped to 800grit with wet and dry.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/DSC00051.jpg
Then the top coat, Grenada black...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/DSC00081.jpg
it looks dull and orange pealy when first done which i was a bit nervous about but a few good coats of clear laquer over the top gives a layer which i had to hand flatten back again with more 1200 wet and dry paper.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/DSC00077.jpg
After the final sanding i buffed the shit out of it with brasso metal polish and it came up mint as and sealed it off with old skool Simonz wax.
I'm pretty stoked with the result and no-one believes me that I sprayed it on my parents driveway! (lucky they live in the country)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/IMGP1115.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/IMGP1128.jpg

All up cost: ($NZ halve for US)
$180 worth of black and clear
$60 worth of cellulose primer
$80 worth of surfacing primer
About $50 worth of sand paper

Total: About $400 and a few months of weekends on a sanding block.

[JDMEF7]

Anyway I drove it like this for about 8 months and then the motor shit it's self so while up on blocks it was time to sort out the engine bay which I never did last time.

With the motor out I scraped off all the glue joins and welded over all the little random holes all through the engine bay
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/braizedup3.jpg
After grinding back and expoxy rust-kill etching I smoothed over all the imperfections and joins with bog to create a smooth consistant surface.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/smoothanddeloom4.jpg
Once the bog was faired up smooth i applied a layer of Duratec polyester high build surfacer. Unlike the cellulose I used last time, this shit is a catalytic curing product, there is no shrink and it is much more durable.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/smoothanddeloom2.jpg
Over the top of that, once faired up and finished to about 400 grit dry I put the 2D surfacing primer i had used outside the engine bay.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/27-06-06_1401.jpg
I decided against using black pearl and went with a straight ppg Midnight black this time, again in laquer.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/27-06-06_1520.jpg
Because this is an engine bay and there is going to be some hard out heat circulating at times i needed a paint that would hold up to the conditions. Instead of using a laquer like before which is quite fragile, this time i used another Duratec product, this ones a two pot polyester clear coat in super high gloss, it's the same product as used to give carbon fibre it's durable lustre over the polished resin.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/27-06-06_1527.jpg

The quality of the surface finish is not as flat as the laquer outside the car because it was not sanded and buffed for it's final finishing, the engine bay paint has it's final finish straight off the spray gun so it's a lot more difficult to get a perfect finish. Not that it matters in an engine bay when there's stuff everywhere.
Pretty stoked with the result and I'm thinking I'll be painting the car again this christmas (NZ summer) as the bumper has stone chips and I've finally found mugan side skirts to match the bumpers.

All up cost: ($NZ halve for US)
$275 worth of paint products
About $20 worth of sand paper

Total: About $300 and about 4-5 days work

[vtecduck]

damn, very nice work :TU:

[NEP-tuningalltheway]

ya looks good

[VTi_b0i]

nice man! well done! if i were in the states id get ya to paint my ED :) lol

[JDMEF7]

nice man! well done! if i were in the states id get ya to paint my ED :) lol
Ha ha I'm upside down too, I'm in Auckland NZ.

[ryan89crx]

that looks badass! amazing how it turned out so good when it was painted outside...

[Urban Racer]

Good job :TU:

[torturedsol]

hawt! I'm redoing my paint, tryin to figure out the proper adjustment on my HVLP

[Import Al]

Damn, you did an awesome job. :TU: I want new paint too.. :neutral:

[VTi_b0i]

Ha ha I'm upside down too, I'm in Auckland NZ.

haha ohh i shoulda noticed that :p
well if ur ever in syd, feel free 2 call in and paint my ride :) haha

[flatfourfan]

Hawt........................:tu:

[cory jordan]

fawk yeah!< and :tu: on the hood, i likes =)

[jimmyb34]

looks pretty good man!

[turboedpickup]

looks awesome! ah to play with paint and filler... one day.

[cryz2]

good job !!!!!!!!!
done it my self and know what fun it is lololol rep for you

[cryz2]

oops 2 posts

[low-eg]

That looks amazing, I may have to give painting a try
nice work!

[Clutchmaster]

very good work sir

[modsHXcivi]

Basecoat / Clearcoat FTW!!!11

[Fooshitinkinjssomethingorother]

And now, children, we see the virtue of laying down a primer coat.

Looks damn good :TU: I wish I had the space to do something like that.

[MiloReaper87]

UHH a REX i love the Paint job man AWWW shiny that a mutha... Put it away im goin BLIND!!!! bahahaha!!!!

[Noeladams]

Looks greattttt!!!!!

[4drturboD]

that thing looks amazing. awesome work man.

[JoelAllenClear]

VERY IMPRESSIVE! Gives guys in the DIY world like me hope!

[vtecencrx]

Dang, Looks Sweeeeeeeeet, And Awesome

[harryshonda]

that looks sweet, rep for you!!

[FBS]

That looks awesome. The vents actually don't look ricey at all, which is suprising.

[all_rice]

Dam came out nice. I was wondering if it were in a booth or something until I read on. Great job.

[kruel.t]

you should come to austin texas and od my car! haha. really nice work man!

[necro]

Looks good.

[*CiViCcOuPe*]

The Rex looks sexy, great diy, i am going to try this soon... :TU: rep 4 u:lol:

[gloryhog]

simply amazin'

[96sohc]

that gun isnt a binks 2001 is it?

[JDMEF7]

Thanks for all the comments guys makes me feel more like the days on the sanding block were worth it!
The shit thing is though it's been a year since i took those pics and now I need to do it all over again, it's had mugen side skirts fitted since which need painting and the front bumper got smashed on the trailer and needs repair, not to mention all the stone chips.
Ah well what's the use of a car that you cant use, might as well enjoy it on the road.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/08-07-06_1343.jpg

that gun isnt a binks 2001 is it?
Dont think so...It's my Dad's old one, I think it's a CIG, it must be at least 20 years old, I have used newer guns since but I just like using this old one.

[4drmadness]

Man that paint job came out very nice...You can tell you put your time and effort into a good finished product.

Definitely a sweet job for driveway DIY... much props. thanks for sharing and good luck w/ the painting of the new pieces..

[myHonda1]

Damn! i dont know what else to say, but Damn!

Looks amazing for a DIY job!:TU:
good luck to ya!

[kyle h.]

you make it sound so easy

[97civic123]

did you have any bugs sticking on the paint, painting it outdoors?

[surfer459]

engine bay looks really good, do you have any pics of the bay with the engine re intstalled?

[blkcrx]

wow

[Agent 99]

I love it! COme to the states and do mine!!

[grafficrx]

since you used laquer paint for the outside you might want to stay clear from letting any solvents touch your paint....you will be alright with the engine bay since you used a system with a catalyst,but laquer paint will wipe off if Any solvents get on there..

[JDMEF7]

Thanks again for all your comments guys.
Graffixrx, your right about the laquer being dissolvavble but I've found once it's cured the only thing you really have to avoid is thinners, acetone etc. Petrol doesn't seem to harm it and it's got a silicone wax over it anyway which helps alot.
Next time I paint it I'll put a two pot clear over the top because I want a bit more durability next time round, it's not a show car i want to drive it often.

engine bay looks really good, do you have any pics of the bay with the engine re intstalled?

Nothing very recent, it's nearly there now, just need to fab up an exhaust dump and I've decided to add an external wastegate cos i dont think the internals going to hold back the pressure properly.
These pics were taken a few days after the motor went back in.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/01-07-06_2035.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/01-07-06_2037.jpg

[civic97]

damn really nice work man:TU:

[gerry mulligan]

looks amazing man :thehump: one thing i like the frist hood better then the evo style one thats on the car on the trailer, but ether way :TU:

[Chrisfrom1986]

Looking pretty damn nice bro!

[hoamic11]

a++++, bravo, looks amazing for diy!!!

[Gabe1103]

now im really thinking of doing my paint job too! damn!

[Zach_L]

damn you did a good job, way to go

[RENR]

wow thats a pimp job. so when are you coming to socal ehhh ehh?

[iwantahb]

Looks good

[Genuine Rolla]

looks amazing man...very nice job!! well done.

[94SooperCooper]

props to you looks really good!!

[20civic00]

do my crx

[flatfourfan]

Any new pics/ info on this project?????

[92sickw/it]

looks REAL good nice write up

[JDMEF7]

Any new pics/ info on this project?????

Not really just a few more shitty quality ones I took with my phone.
The custom built Koni suspension is finally installed so it's sitting on it's wheels finally.
I've just been too busy, it's nearly there though, just need to build an exhaust system and get it tuned and road certified. Oh and fit the front bumper over the intercooler.

It'll need a new paint job this summer as the old paint took a beating while it was being worked on and it's pretty stone chipped now.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/07-10-06_1456.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/07-10-06_1455.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/07-10-06_1458.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/08-10-06_1329.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/06-10-06_1138.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/06-10-06_1313.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/doo0T/06-10-06_1318.jpg

[flatfourfan]

Awesome build.....................:TU:

Thanks for the pics and update........

[s.wilson]

That looks sweet. I am hoping to do my engine bay soon as well, and I'll be happy if it turns out half as good as that! :D

[honda_civic11]

Great Job! :TU:

[robb600]

damn i wish i lived somewhere where i could try that. awesome job:bravo:

[4gExpress]

Maybe someday we could get a nice big sticky, step by step, how to guide on this subject. I think we'd all give this a try if we had a little more direction.

I would definitely get into car painting if I knew in detail about guns, gravity fed vs. vaccuum, types of primer, types of paint, and perhaps a bondo tutorial. I know i've got nothing to lose.... my paint looks like shit. lol.

[black94sol]

wow just wow...that is so nice. my sol is also getting repainted granada black pearl. which is stock on my sol.

btw, what rims are on your rex? they look killer!!

rep for you

[JDMEF7]

wow just wow...that is so nice. my sol is also getting repainted granada black pearl. which is stock on my sol.

btw, what rims are on your rex? they look killer!!

rep for you

Cheers,
They are WORK RSB E-WING's they were produced in the early 90's and came in 15" or 16" 6.5" wide or 7" These ones are 15 x 7 with a 45mm offset and they are as big as you can get on an EF with a 45 offset, there is less than a fingernail thickness between the inner rim and the rear upper arm mount.
I'd been looking for them for years and finally found some.