Which front panels? The aprons on each side? They do help support the structure but the frame rails are the main support. Think of it like the exterior sheathing on a stick built home. The studs and beams are the bones but the exterior sheathing adds shear strength to make the structure more rigid. You need the panels unless you provide other bracing.I've never undertook what you are doing, but I assume that all the structure support is in the frame rails and that cutting both panels out will have no adverse affect on the front end moving around?
Joe
I'm leaning away from spraying since I am not pulling the engine. That paint can be rolled on which allows me to get in more areas. And it's really cheap at $10/qtThought about getting custom matched to factory color spray paint cans?
Automotive Spray Paint custom matched | Aerosol Touch Up | AutomotiveTouchup
ive done this, and only comment i have about it is DONT use the duplicolor clear, it yellows with any kind of age. i would bet it was more noticeable for me than it would be for you (white car), but it was one of the biggest deciding factors when i re-did it again this winter. ended up going to a local paint shop, and had a quart of color put in cans, and used the good lacquer-based two-part canned clear. cost was up there though, about $150 for 4 cans of color and two or three cans of clear.I used the duplicolor perfect match on my bay. For about $30, I was happy with the results.
Joe
ive done this, and only comment i have about it is DONT use the duplicolor clear, it yellows with any kind of age. i would bet it was more noticeable for me than it would be for you (white car), but it was one of the biggest deciding factors when i re-did it again this winter. ended up going to a local paint shop, and had a quart of color put in cans, and used the good lacquer-based two-part canned clear. cost was up there though, about $150 for 4 cans of color and two or three cans of clear.
on the flip side, you could be one of those "old-skool" guys who paints their bay flat black, but imo that just would look too hillbilly.
I don't have a whole lot to say about the painted bumpers, other than I'm beyond disappointed. I've been hanging out and working in this particular restoration shop for the past 15 years and have seen some truly remarkable cars come out. How this was given back to me, I don't have words for. What's worse is I'm out $250 in materials and was asked to pay labor rates on top of that. Having never actually done 2 stage paint before, I honestly believe I could have done a much better job in my garage. This is proof that paint is all in the prep work and here you can see there was none.
Stop! I can't reply fast enough. The next time I check, you've posted more pictures.
Cmon! how are they justifying painting over the top of the obvious flaws like that? Is this one of those deals where "you'll get them ready, and all they have to do is spray them?" or were they supposed to do everything?
Mike, where I usually have a witty retort for you, I am simply dumbfounded. As noted in my thread many times over the past few months, I've been sanding these damn bumpers down. I initially started with the rear bumper at his shop. He said use 120 grit, so that's what I've been doing. In some places, you can see I went a little overboard, but honestly, it was a b itch taking off 2 layers of paint on a plastic bumper. Either way, the damage was correctable with the priming/blocking process.
Fast forward to this past Sunday. I load up the front cover and take it to the shop. I spent 3-4 hours finishing sanding the rear that has been over there and we leave for the day. Both bumpers are sanded, but he was ready to leave, so I say, "ok, see you next weekend."
Monday afternoon, I get a text that says, "You owe me $350."
WTF are you talking about?
He went ahead and painted everything without me and then expected to be paid for it.
ARE YOU F******* SERIOUS MAN?!?!?
Oh, and btw, the paint job is a little messed up.
Mike, where I usually have a witty retort for you, I am simply dumbfounded. As noted in my thread many times over the past few months, I've been sanding these damn bumpers down. I initially started with the rear bumper at his shop. He said use 120 grit, so that's what I've been doing. In some places, you can see I went a little overboard, but honestly, it was a b itch taking off 2 layers of paint on a plastic bumper. Either way, the damage was correctable with the priming/blocking process.
Fast forward to this past Sunday. I load up the front cover and take it to the shop. I spent 3-4 hours finishing sanding the rear that has been over there and we leave for the day. Both bumpers are sanded, but he was ready to leave, so I say, "ok, see you next weekend."
Monday afternoon, I get a text that says, "You owe me $350."
WTF are you talking about?
He went ahead and painted everything without me and then expected to be paid for it.
ARE YOU F******* SERIOUS MAN?!?!?
Oh, and btw, the paint job is a little messed up.