Ok...so i finally took time out to post this. When i posted this topic earlier...i was not surprised but disappointed to see some really immature and disrespectful comments in response.
It is sad to see that so many people do not have any desire to learn and develop their knowledge but im sure there are some who really care and show concern. I wanna say thanks to Hash and Storm in particular for their support so far.
Ok..now lets get on with this little project.
Background:
This DIY will tell you how to prep, paint and install a front lip spoiler on a 99-00 Honda Civic. The prep and paint part is true for all plastic trim pieces like lips, side skirts, front and rear spoiler, side mouldings, rear wing spoiler etc.
Having said that...the best option is still to use a spray gun which works under 1 psi or something but we dont own a shop here or do we...lol.
Second..the install was done on my car this weekend. This step may not be the same for all cars but we will discuss that later on.
Your Tools
To do the job like a professional, you need the following items before u start. Here is a list and a pic.
- 400 grit fine sand paper or 'raigmall'
- 1 ltr can spray of paint that matches ur car
- Non metal primer
- Clear Coat spray
- Old sponge or cleaning cloth or paper towels
Your Space
Make sure that you do this in an area which is ventilated..cuz u dont wanna inhale all the fumes. place an old blanket or newspapers or old cardboard on the ground to protect the floor. I did on my kitchen floor when my wife was not home..lol
Step-1 : Start Sanding
Clean the lip/skirt/spoiler with a damp sponge and then place it on an even level and start sanding its surface. this is done to level and clean any imperfection in the surface of the plastic. sanding will make it all smooth, clean and will eliminate any irregular edges and little dings in it. sand it with medium speed so u dont get tired. make sure u cover all area...the top, sides and the edges. the edges need to be smooth cuz it will touch the metal parts on ur car...we dont want any paint to scraping off there. here is a pic....
Once you are done with this step...u will notice that the plastic surface has alot of fine long scratches...thats alright...dont worry. Next...just wet the sponge and wipe it all clean. you will notice how much black dust the sponge will catch....just wipe it clean all over. Here is what it should look like all sanded and cleaned.
Step:2 - Applying the Primer
The second step is to prime the surface of the lip / plastic before it is actually painted. the primer will play the role of an adhesive for the paint and will form a base for the paint to stick for a long time without cracking and chipping off.
Primer can be of any color...mine was a clear one / transparent...its easy that way. Place the lip / plastic trim on a level surface and just spray all over its surface. cover the sides and edges also. u dont have to the rear side cuz that will be hidden anyway (true of any other part ur working on.)
LESS IS MORE: When spraying the primer or paint...keep the nozzle astleast 8" away from the object and spray even and consistent. Dont spend too much time in one area otherwise..the paint will start to drip...dont spray too much....light pressure will work best...the key is to be consistent and once again...less is more. Here is the lip after the primer.
notice how smooth the surface looks now. apply atleast two coats of primer...do the second coat after 10-15 minutes of the first. During this time...go and take a cigarette brake...lol
Step:3 - Applying the Paint
Painting is similar to priming....keep a standard distance from the object and spray even and consistent. once again....less is more....paint over the whole surface...and on the sides.
You need to do four coats here for best results. spray paint for auto parts is fast drying...so wait for about 10 minutes after each coat. here is the lip after the second coat.
Step:4 - Applying the Clear Coat
Once you are done painting and the paint is all dry...its now time to apply the clear coat. the clear coat is to the top surface finish that will bring about the shine out of the paint and will also protect the lip or the plastic from the weather...rain etc. You just need to do two coats...same procedure as before.
Once this step is over...leave the lip to dry completely for a few hours. dont touch or handle it at this stage. here is a pic after the clear coat.
Step:5 - Installation
Now u can install the lip on your car. The best way to do this is to take your bumper off. For most honda civics, you have two screws on the side of the bumper (going up into the fender) plus two screws and two 10mm bolts holding the bumper from the bottom or underneath. get under ur car to take them off....once the bumper is off...unhook those plastic tapping screws with the help of a flat head screwdriver (for 92-95 civics)
Im not posting steps of how to install the lip in detail. lets do that project another day...lol
Here are the pics....first the car without the lip and then the lip on. Enjoy.
REMEMBER: In Pakistan, you can have this done cheaply i suppose but the objective here is not to save money...its to have some fun and have the feeling of doing something on your own and then appreciating it later on. The end quality may not match a professional spray gun which works off a pressurized air cylinder..but its damn close..lol
Let me know if you have any questions...thank you
Salman
