Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online!
Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! 
-
Latest | 0 Rplys
Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Honda > Exterior | bodykits | Lighting
Exterior | bodykits | Lighting When your ready to showoff that 'H' ride, here's your forum!
Reply Show Printable Version Show Printable Version | Email this Page Email this Page | Subscription Subscribe to this Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 11-23-2003, 11:06 AM   #1
ExpressElement
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Painting Plastic Body Panels

I own a Honda Element and I think it has a lot of potential. Too bad the gray plastic body panels are fugly! I want to paint them to match the rest of the car. How would I go about doing this to insure it doesn't peel or crack since the plastic is so flexible? Can I just sand it and prime it? Also, how would I make it smooth so it doesn't show the texture of the plastic? Is fiberglassing it or gel coating it an option and what does that intail? Would it make the panels too large to fit back flush? Anyway, thanks for your input.
ExpressElement is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2003, 04:01 PM   #2
DarkEternal
AF Regular
 
DarkEternal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

Large panels like that, for best results, get a spray gun and air compressor. You're going to want to scuff the panels, then wet sand them smooth. After that, clean them with rubbing alcohol. Prime the panels, wet sand and clean again. You'll want to do 4-6 coats of paint (which any body shop can mix for you). Wet sand and clean. To help prevent the paint from cracking, you'll want to do about 3 coats of clear coat. Wet sand then wax. After all that, Element will have the look you want and be nice and smooth. You don't have to go through the hassle or expense of fiberglass or gel coat. Paint the panels right with body matching paint, and no one will know that it wasn't a factory option. Word of experience: DO NOT allow silicone based products, dirt, bugs, or little siblings anywhere near your project! Silicone based products include, but are not limited to: colonge, tire shine, vynl protectant, ect. These things WILL cause your fresh paint to fish eye and you'll have to repaint the whole piece again.

So you know, I haven't had hands-on experience with an Element, so I don't know how rough the plastic's texture is. If it's horribly coarse, you could either try body filler, or just sandblast the hell out of it. I'd probably try sandblasting, depending on how thick the plastic is, and how much you would have to sandblast off.
__________________

'93 Del Sol Si
D16z6
APC short ram intake
K&N Air Filter
APC strut bar
APC Performance muffler
generic breathers
ACT Stage 1 Racing Clutch

---~things to come~---

I'm not tellin'....
DarkEternal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2003, 09:40 AM   #3
T!mmy
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lufkin, Texas
Posts: 530
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to T!mmy Send a message via MSN to T!mmy
Re: Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkEternal
Word of experience: DO NOT allow silicone based products, dirt, bugs, or little siblings anywhere near your project!
hahaha I hear that...I know exactly how that is. You are working on something so hard and then bam...little kid fucks it up
__________________
The Dr. tells me too much masturbation is unhealthy...So when is "too much" masturbation "too much"???
Check out our car club site which I made http://www.almostperfectcc.com

Quote:
Originally Posted by 18c5sol94
we go from a stop he pulls a little on me (only cause i can't keep the wheels on the ground)
T!mmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2003, 11:00 AM   #4
DarkEternal
AF Regular
 
DarkEternal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

gotta love little brats, eh?
__________________

'93 Del Sol Si
D16z6
APC short ram intake
K&N Air Filter
APC strut bar
APC Performance muffler
generic breathers
ACT Stage 1 Racing Clutch

---~things to come~---

I'm not tellin'....
DarkEternal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 10:26 AM   #5
pheurton-skeurto
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: columbus, Ohio
Posts: 458
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

im gonna suggest this same thing to my mom, who just bought an element, and is complaining about this...also i just saw a guy up at easton (huge mall around columbus) with a slammed ellie with 20's on it. im not usually down with that but this ride looked AWESOME, no lie. they do have a lot of potential, just no one has unleashed it yet...go for it!!
pheurton-skeurto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2003, 05:56 PM   #6
DarkEternal
AF Regular
 
DarkEternal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

I'm glad I could help out. Especially when I can give an AF Enthusiast a good idea.
__________________

'93 Del Sol Si
D16z6
APC short ram intake
K&N Air Filter
APC strut bar
APC Performance muffler
generic breathers
ACT Stage 1 Racing Clutch

---~things to come~---

I'm not tellin'....
DarkEternal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2003, 11:13 PM   #7
eckoman_pdx
Honda God
 
eckoman_pdx's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Portland area
Posts: 3,780
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Send a message via AIM to eckoman_pdx Send a message via Yahoo to eckoman_pdx
I actually saw an Element a few weeks ago, painted a custom kandy orange color, with all the plastic body peices painted to match, it actually made a HUGE difference. It looked nice like that. I also saw a forest green Jeep Liberty (another SUV with tons of plastic) with all the plastic body components painted to match, again, it looked real nice and clean like that. Go for it, it makes a huge difference. Speaking of which, no one likes the look of that plastic crap, so why don't they just paint it from the factory, it would look 100 times better.
eckoman_pdx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2003, 09:39 AM   #8
pheurton-skeurto
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: columbus, Ohio
Posts: 458
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

i get dissapointed when honda does stuff like that. makes me begin to think that theyre competing with trucks like the avalanch...drop the plastic guys...
__________________
1997 Honda Prelude Base
18G Turbo - 8 Psi
GReddy EVO Catback
1995 Honda Civic LX
Bone Friggin' Stock
pheurton-skeurto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2003, 09:21 PM   #9
eckoman_pdx
Honda God
 
eckoman_pdx's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Portland area
Posts: 3,780
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Send a message via AIM to eckoman_pdx Send a message via Yahoo to eckoman_pdx
Re: Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

Quote:
Originally Posted by pheurton-skeurto
i get dissapointed when honda does stuff like that. makes me begin to think that theyre competing with trucks like the avalanch...drop the plastic guys...
Yea, all the plastic body panaling like that just serves to make a car look cheap and low-qaulity, low rent. I mean seriously, if they spent the little extra $$ and painted it fromt he factory, it would look a ton better, which I am sure would help with sales. I mean, if your not an auto enthusiast, then you might baulk at the tough of having to take it somewhere to have them painted after the fact. Besides, I have never met a person whop actually thought all the plastic panaling and trim looked good.
eckoman_pdx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2003, 05:33 AM   #10
Drift Gift
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney
Posts: 15
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
after seeing an element i think it kinda looks like a bit of a box on wheels and i dont like them much, well i havent seen one with other than grey pannels and they dont, or havent started selling them in australia so i havent seen one close up only pics online so when or if u do it can u post up some pics, thanks
Drift Gift is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2003, 02:13 PM   #11
pheurton-skeurto
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: columbus, Ohio
Posts: 458
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

if you want to get the general idea of them just check out hondas website. as for modded up elles i dont have any pics. check something like cardomain.com for that. theyre shoudl be a few.

the element is a really cool ride. i hated. i mean HATED these things at first and only now am i starting to come around. my mom loaned me hers to take to pittsburg (from columbus, OH) about 3.5 hours and it was th emost comfortable drive ive ever taken. form may not be the best but damn is the function there.
__________________
1997 Honda Prelude Base
18G Turbo - 8 Psi
GReddy EVO Catback
1995 Honda Civic LX
Bone Friggin' Stock
pheurton-skeurto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2003, 05:22 PM   #12
Drift Gift
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney
Posts: 15
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Not mine obviously thanks cause i found this painted one l actually like it, i never thought of that site, thanks
Drift Gift is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2003, 10:23 PM   #13
DarkEternal
AF Regular
 
DarkEternal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 58
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

Damn! that looks pretty cold! IF Honda sold them like that, I'd probably buy one....
__________________

'93 Del Sol Si
D16z6
APC short ram intake
K&N Air Filter
APC strut bar
APC Performance muffler
generic breathers
ACT Stage 1 Racing Clutch

---~things to come~---

I'm not tellin'....
DarkEternal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2003, 05:15 PM   #14
JakeDrummer
AF Regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Posts: 337
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to JakeDrummer Send a message via MSN to JakeDrummer
oh man... i know what i am going to be convincing my parents to buy. wow they look 500% better like that. Honda should have a "EX" version of the Element like they used to have with the accords. black plastic bumpers on the DX or nice painted to match ones like on the LX and EX ones.
__________________
94' Integra GSR - Built and Boosted.
95' GMC Sierra 1500 Z71- Business Vehicle.
89' GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 - NV4500 Donor, Mud truck.
94' S-10 - Winter Beater.
98' Jetta - Wife's Car.
81' Kawasaki LTD440

OLD/SOLD CARS: 93' Civic (Sold 124k) -- 91' Civic (Dead 300K) --
91' Civic (STOLEN) -- 92' Civic (Donor) -- 90' Caravan (Dead 227k) -- 89' Civic (Sold 289k) -- 90' Accord (Sold 265k) -- 96' Corrola (Dead 174k) -- 99' Beetle (Sold 134k)
JakeDrummer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2009, 11:49 PM   #15
ryancbennett
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Gulfport, Mississippi
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Painting Plastic Body Panels

I have a 2001 Nissan Xterra, what about the trim, rear bunper, front bumper and front grill?? They are severly faded and are in serious need of some painting. I'm not sure what kind of plastic it is but it looks the same as the kind on the element. Any help??
ryancbennett is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Help - Painting Clear Body Panels - Tamiya 300ZX Hood TheBenzon Car Modeling 3 10-15-2006 11:50 AM
I like cars not painted plastic body covers. blueboost Car Modeling 5 08-30-2005 05:20 AM
plastic body panels go bye-bye? SabreKhan SC/SL/SW 4 06-17-2004 12:20 PM
What's wrong with Saturn's plastic body panels? PatrickG20 General 10 07-23-2001 12:45 PM

Reply

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD

Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Honda > Exterior | bodykits | Lighting

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:47 AM.

Community Participation Guidelines | How to use your User Control Panel

Powered by: vBulletin | Copyright Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
 
 
no new posts