bumper trim paint

Topic: bumper trim paint (Read 3025 times) previous topic - next topic

bumper trim paint

June 07, 2009, 05:38:58 PM

while paying close attention to this thread........
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=14548

i wanted to pass along what works for me on the black bumper trim.

I picked up this 20th a couple years ago and painted some trim with Rustolium "MATT BLACK". I painted the metal part along the lower windshield a couple years ago and below is what it looks like today.

The third pic is of my rear bumper trim painted yesterday. As you can see, this is a perfect oem look and match as most of our trim was flat black looking even new on the lot.

bumper trim paint

Reply #1 – June 07, 2009, 05:45:42 PM

The next pics are front bumper prep. I used dry wall sandpaper (wire screen) to slowly but forcefully grind down the knicks and cuts into the plastic. Not all of them came out due to depth, i guess i could have filled them in but didnt.

first pic is a before with the sand paper up on the bumper.

the next few show the end result although the paint was not done drying. This stuff dries very quickly and goes a very very long way. It has the consistency of twice what stain would be.

tools:
foam paint brush
painters edger
1 piece of drywall sandpaper
1 pt of rustoleum "matt black"

I will keep an eye on the length of time it lasts. The work done to the cal panel cover along the lower windshield lasted for nearly two years like it is.

bumper trim paint

Reply #2 – June 07, 2009, 05:50:55 PM

Now i have to figure out how to pry out all that gold trim and put in new. Last time i recall, the gold trim on the bumpers front and rear are installed in a different way that what we find along the sides of the car trim pieces. IIRC, the center trim is molded into the bumpers but i can figure this out later.

at best, I would install some 1/2'' gold 3m electrical tape along the trim then smoosh it into the cracks along the way.

OH<, on a side note,
This paint is very very forgiving. you paint it on and see your brush strokes but it eventually levels out with the rest of your brush strokes. there are no obvious indications this was put on with a foam brush nor where there any traces of my artist brush i used in tight areas.

bumper trim paint

Reply #3 – June 07, 2009, 08:53:35 PM

I've painted several 87-88 LS and 87 XR-7 bumpers with the black bumper spray paint and the windshield trim with the black trim spray paint at Advance and Auto Zone. Easy to apply, looks great, looks OEM, etc, etc. I used the thin blue painter's tape at Home Depot. It fits pretty well over the impact strip. Those bumpers were much easier to find paint for than the dark grey 85 ones. I would think spraying these parts would produce a far better result than brushing paint on. But, I've never tried a brush technique on car parts - never really considered it.

bumper trim paint

Reply #4 – June 08, 2009, 07:21:26 AM

Looks great! It's on my todo list, too.
Did you grind off all of the black, original paint until the entire trim was yellow?

bumper trim paint

Reply #5 – June 08, 2009, 08:47:54 AM

Quote from: thebruins;276403

Looks great! It's on my todo list, too.
Did you grind off all of the black, original paint until the entire trim was yellow?

no, i just grinded down the rough areas as stated before then slapped the bumper with a rag to rid itself of the plactic particles.

the front bumper pic is where i ended the drywall sand paper work and started to paint.

Again, this paint if very very forgiving on brush strokes. you can not tell a brush was used. This is typical of most thin stains / paints anyway.

bumper trim paint

Reply #6 – June 17, 2009, 01:05:51 AM

did a little more tonight ....

bumper trim paint

Reply #7 – June 18, 2009, 11:35:04 PM

some rear trim before and after.

now i have to research if the rear trim center was not suppose to be painted. My white coug leaves the middle portion of the rear window trim as silver.

Again,, my paint was a little wet but i think its a good thing to see the wet to dry tansition.

bumper trim paint

Reply #8 – June 19, 2009, 12:26:05 PM

I like the idea but personally I like a bit more of a satin finish. By hey, it looks good.

I do like your shop better though. Very organized looking. Lots of good toys for car repairs.

bumper trim paint

Reply #9 – June 19, 2009, 09:57:34 PM

Scott, is that black or gray? it seems a little light in color. or is it the camera flash that's doing it?

bumper trim paint

Reply #10 – June 20, 2009, 10:25:45 AM

its black, not a perfect match to the side molding as i dont think was perfect even new.

bumper trim paint

Reply #11 – June 21, 2009, 07:55:39 PM

Quote from: jcassity;278855

its black, not a perfect match to the side molding as i dont think was perfect even new.

The black bumper spray paint and the black trim spray paint at the auto parts stores is pretty darn close, if not a perfect match. Can't remember the brand, either MarHyde or Duplicolor.

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/bumper.html
http://www.duplicolor.com/products/trim.html

bumper trim paint

Reply #12 – June 21, 2009, 08:36:44 PM

duplicolor is what I used to use, I never liked the sheen of the paint, but the color was real close in the early 90s. not really sure about now

bumper trim paint

Reply #13 – June 22, 2009, 09:24:43 PM

Quote from: daminc;279095

duplicolor is what I used to use, I never liked the sheen of the paint, but the color was real close in the early 90s. not really sure about now

It's pretty darn close. I'm a bit picky about making things look right and if it didn't look right, I would have kept looking for another brand or method.

I took my 87 XR-7 to Aamco for a trans rebuild and they wanted me to come back a few weeks later so they could check and make sure everything was still in order after their rebuild. Well, during those couple weeks, I repainted the bumpers and when I returned, they asked if I bought new bumpers or paid to have them repainted professionally. Obviously, they remembered the unsightly yellow coloring on both ends of my car when they were rebuilding the transmission. They were quite surprised when I told them I rattle-canned it.

bumper trim paint

Reply #14 – June 23, 2009, 12:23:55 AM

can you put up a pic or two.?????????

IIRC,, the bumpers did not exactly match from the factory. They were always a little off and did not match the side molding as the side molding was more brilliant on the 87/88's. there are a few different breeds of molding along the side but for this case study, i am talking about the wide side molding and its color as compared to the bumpers.

eric may be able to comment if i am correct or not.

what i am trying to do is match original, not match what the sides to front do.