trims and things

so i have a 91 vr-4 it is all stock. i dont know what they are called. its the side plastic siding, right behind the driver and passenger side window. its black and it says "twin turbo" on it.

i was wanting to repaint that black again, as well as the trim that goes behind/beneath the rear window. it has started to fade and makes the car look quite tacky.

do i have to sand it down before i paint it so paint will stick? do i have to use special paint to paint it so it will not chip and crack?

also the rims are stock and dirty. regular soap and water will not take the dirt off, so i sanded an inconspicous spot with, 80, 100, 160, 400, and them 600. i did it pretty quick but i looks pretty good. is this a good idea to do the rest of the rims?

i will try to post pics tomorrow of what i am talking about. thanks

the things you are referring to are called the sail panels. yea, you should definitely go over them with some fine sandpaper before painting. You'll want to use automotive paint. i believe theres a section in the FAQ about restoring them.

for the wheels...do you have chromies? if so, your lucky ther are not peeling! lol. cleaning is just a matter of getting some wheel cleaner and polish, and spending some time.

they are not chrome rims, im guessing they are aluminum or something. some kind of alloy metal. ill post pics. so what kind of wheel cleaner will do the trick? any specific ones.

Simple Green is a good one that doesn't have acid in it like most wheel cleaners. Otherwise I tend to like Meguiars or Mothers products.