BrickBoard Archives
The files contained in this listing have been automatically archived from the active forums. Because the vast majority of posts are now in one place, this archive is considered legacy. You should use the SEARCH feature OR choose your topic and select date tabs within the forum you choose.
Repainting front spoiler[700/1989] posted by Michael Casey on
Thursday, 23 September 1999, at 7:18 p.m.
My (white) '89 740 still has excellent paint but the front spoiler could use fixing. Has many nicks and scratches and would look a lot better if repainted.
Has anyone painted this piece with any luck? I'm assuming it's some type of plastic and requires a special type of paint.
Any suggestions for matching color and having it stick?
Thanks.
--1989 740GL 169K
Re: Repainting front spoiler[700/1989] posted by Nathaniel on
Thursday, 23 September 1999, at 10:48 p.m.
The front spoiler is a breeze to paint. But before I continue with the process let's talk about the paint itself.
The paint is nothing special . . . use the same paint that is used for the car. A good recommendation is to use PPG. What your going to need to be armed with is the color code # for your car. You'll find this code # on a little plate inside your engine compartment (I'm going to avoid telling you where it's located because it varies from year-to-year). Just look around at the various plates containing important information about your car and you'll find it. Mine is located above the passenger side headlight cluster. It's cleary notated "color code". Use this # to ensure that the paint color matches the rest of the car. If worst comes to worst contact your local Volvo parts dealer and they will be able to tell you the color code. It's on your car though and will be a 3 digit #.
Once you have this # look in your yellow pages for any shops that specialize in auto body paints and supplies. These places are not AutoZone, NAPA, etc. The most that your going to get from those places is a spray can of white that resembles the car color and, in the end, will look like s*$t. Because the spoiler is such a big part of the front end of the 740 your probably going to want it to look just as nice as the rest of the car. Given that, get yourself a pint of base coat white and the necessary mixtures that will make up your clear coat. This may sound daunting but it's not hard. Once you talk to the boys at PPG you'll understand what I'm saying; they'll give you everything you need and will be able to answer your questions.
No need for a fancy sprayer either. You should be able to purchase, at the paint store, a sprayer that has a glass bottle with measuring marks on it that also contains a canister of propellent. Once together, this spray painter works just like a spray can. The only difference is that you measure and mix the contents according to PPG's standards and blow on the paint. Once done painting, clean out the bottle and use the same glass bottle to mix the clear coat. BTW, buy a couple canisters of propellent.
As far as prepping the spoiler . . . no need to pull it off the bumper. Just mask off the the spoiler from the rest of the bumper and car, clean the surfaces to be painted. Once clean sand to rough the surface, clean again, sand with a finer grit paper to smooth out any major imperfections, and clean again. Prime with a light colored primer, atleast 2 coats, and allow to dry.
Blow on 2-3 coats of base paint then follow up with 2-3 coats of clear coat. Allow to cure, about 24 hours, before washing. Once the paint job is dry you will be able to drive the car. Total cost? Should run you no more than $60. Time involved? No more than 5 hours. Incidentally, you will not use all the paint you buy. Be sure to save what is left over for future touch-ups on the spoiler, the paint is not cheap.
Best of luck, it's not a tough job. Done correctly it'll add new life to the front end of your 740. But remember, the spoiler is plastic and is therefore flexible. The next curb you come against is likely to stress the paint job thereby creating cracks which will lead to future touch-ups. So watch out!!
--
Nathaniel
Re: Repainting front spoiler[700/1989] posted by Brian Oliver on
Friday, 24 September 1999, at 1:36 p.m.
Here in Ottawa I can get spray cans custom mixed to match the colour code of the car. Very good paint and very easy to use, and no, it's not a big automotive department store that does this, it's a car paint store. Try "automobile body shop - equipment and supplies" in your yellow pages and choose one with hours that suggest they welcome the retail do-it-yourself customer.
Ask at the store, but I think there are primers that are meant for these ABS and similar plastics. Most new cars have a lot of it. Also, for the spoiler and maybe for your white colour anywhere on your car, the clearcoat step may not be needed.
I did some body work on our older 740 using quality materials and advice from this specialty store, and it stayed fixed! in Ottawa! take that, major Canadian automobile department store chain!
--Brian
Soooooo wrong.[700/1989] posted by JohnB on
Monday, 27 September 1999, at 8:35 a.m.
Ok, everything is right, but you DO need to add a flexible additive to both the primer and the color/clear coat paints. Also, get your viscosity right, fisheye additive in high humidity, etc., etc.
The reason the old stuff cracked off is cuz it wasn't flexible enough to take the movement in the spoiler.
Any automotive paint supply shop should be able to sell you a can of the additive. Some also have demo pieces that SHOW you the primer/color/clear coat really works and will take quite a bit of flexing without breaking off.