My painted air dam came...unpainted!

[surferfletch]

Help me get a couple of cans of factory colored paint. I know there is a site out there, and I'm searching, but I thought I'd throw it up here right away for suggestions. I'm looking for the site that takes your VIN and offers touch up or spray cans of the factory paint. Other suggestions and experiences are welcome. I'm leaning away from a body shop for this item. I think I can do an acceptable job with a couple of spray cans and a couple of coats of spray on clear. St. Charles tells me that they no longer paint them.

[Gizmo42]

http://www.expresspaint.com/

I got there from the color-rite.com page which does the same for motorcycles. I've never used the auto paint site but have used the color-rite paint for motorcycles and it matches really well.

After entering the info and picking the color the last step is picking the size. You can have them put it in 11 oz spray cans which are $11 each. You would probably need the color coat and clear coat as well, I'm not sure.

[surferfletch]

Thank you!

[surferfletch]

I still have to figure out what color I have on the bottom...

[surferfletch]

My paint code is 743 according to the sticker inside the engine bay near the raintray. On paintscratch.com, this code is recognized as a twotone code, but it says the colors are trooper blue(should be spruce green mica)/light silver metallic. Light silver metallic (714) sounds right, but mine looks a little golder, or champagne color. The search continues...

[surferfletch]

Here's another look at my colors. The top is spruce green mica.

[surferfletch]

http://www.tcpglobal.com/aclchip.asp...isuzu-pg02.jpg
Here is another sight that says my two tone paint code 743 translates to spruce green mica and light silver metallic. I guess I'll find out how well 714 matches my rear bumper...

[Gizmo42]

Everything I have found (which isnt much) says the 743 is..

833/G711 Spruce Green Mica
714/N417 Light Silver Metallic (SIA) <-- whatever that means

I guess thats the right one then.

[Sigma6]

I had same problem. I left mine unpainted. Looks pretty good. BUt I have the LS with the black guard on the front.

[surferfletch]

Thanks. Just going to hope 714 matches.

[Gizmo42]

Just remember your existing paint will be somewhat faded and discolored from age so it probably wont be an exact match at first. At least its not right next to another part the same color so probably wont be noticable.

[surferfletch]

Black is growing on me...

I don't think I'm going to bother painting the trim piece. It was very easy to replace. I also lightly sanded any rusted areas on the frame up front and painted them. It's easy to see how these frames rust through in areas where winter and salt attack them.

[660Ryder]

When I replaced the lower valance I also left it unpainted. Was it just me, or are those clips (holding the valance onto the bumper) impossible to install. I want to take the bumper off to paint it and am dreading those darn clips...

[surferfletch]

I had a super easy time with the install. I actually thought the clips were very easy. I had to wiggle each one to back them out because they seem to collect dirt, but they came out pretty quickly. Only one had any corrosion, and that one gave me a little trouble when starting the bolt because the clip was bent. I can see how it would be a pain if every one of them needed to be bent back to proper alignment before you could get the bolt started. When I put the clips back on, I had the bumper and valence upright resting on the ground, so they slid on horizontally. I liked the simplicity of the design. Sure beat working on the front end of my Jetta.

[660Ryder]

Surfer - I guess it wasn't the hardest thing to do; having sausage links for fingers and an uncanny ability to strip/snap every bolt in sight seems to vex every project I do...

After my front end accident, the "sheet metal framing" that holds the radiator and latch for the hood was pushed in about 6 inches. Luckily all damage was cosmetic. After throwing on a new hood (which I have left primered since the accident 4 years ago... ) I found that there was no way to get the hood to latch shut.
Not to be defeated, I looped a tow strap around the framing, mounted it to the rear bumper of my Bombardier ATV, put it in low range and proceeded to straighten it out... I understand if people politely refuse a ride in my rodeo