Painting a spoiler myself? Tips and help please...

[astronut1885]

Hey guys. I just bought a Steeda rear wing/ spoiler for my 04, and I'd like to install it asap. It's being sent to me finished in Mineral Grey from the previous owner, but I have a Dark Shadow Grey car. I bought a nice Craftsman HVLP paint gun last year in anticipation of spraying some motorcycle parts for my dad. I have a big (I think 300 gal) compressor too. What I'm wondering is, how hard would it be for me to refinish the spoiler either in flat black (thinking about a Boss/Mach look), or in my DSG body color? I've never painted anything before, but I'd rather not pay a shop 150+ to do it when I have the tools available. Plus, I eventually want an 01 Cobra nose, so if I can manage to pull this off, I can go ahead and paint that too in the future. So, any info, tips, pointers, and anything else you can offer me would be great, if you think I should attempt it at all. Note too, that I am a perfectionist with my car and take it to shows, so I want it to come out nice. I'm a fast learner, I went from knowing nothing to building desktop PCs, and the same with doing HCIs on older 5.0 motors, so I'm not afraid to learn...

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

150 is cheap for the amount of work it will be. The paints and primer w/ the activator + sanding and suit costs will equal more than that. Plus the labor to sand it and in the end still have it match your not newly painted car

 

[t3t4_4g63]

you have to be pretty good to be able to paint something and make it match paint thats 3 years old.

 

[astronut1885]

suit? I'm a little lost on that one. Also, if I have it painted, I was going to just drop the spoiler off and then pick it up and install. My paint is in good shape and regularly washed/waxed. Could it end up being that far off? I'm leaning more toward a satin black anyway, as I plan on getting a cowl hood and having the center blacked out as well, a-la the 1969 Boss 302s...That, along with some nice Ford Racing side stripes, a CDC rear panel blackout, side exhaust from Steeda, and some other retro parts and I think it would look sweet. I already have a chin spoiler, and I love the old school look of the Mach, but I can't afford one. I figured a Boss inspired car would be unique, nice looking, and appeal to my love of nostalgic looking modern cars...

 

[Casey4s]

If you are not an expierienced auto painter, I would think twice about painting this yourself. I painted my spoiler two years ago to match my car and it looked pretty good but was a pain in the Arse to do. After a few dings and bad driveways it was chpped and looked nasty. I just painted mine over again in a non gloss black scuff / stone resistant paint in a can. It is sooooooo much easier and it is really easy to touch-up boo boo's.

That's my 2 cents... your mileage may vary...

My new spoiler paint job....

View attachment 360769

 

[astronut1885]

This is a rear wing spoiler, not a chin spoiler. My chin spoiler is staying OEM black plastic lol... Nice job on yours though, that is pretty nice looking if you ask me

 

[DCjuggalo]

try this site its how i learned i took community college classes too
http://www.autobody101.com/forums

 

[Casey4s]

This is a rear wing spoiler, not a chin spoiler. My chin spoiler is staying OEM black plastic lol... Nice job on yours though, that is pretty nice looking if you ask me

OOps!! yes after I re read your post, it does say rear wing spoiler. My Bad....

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

suit? I'm a little lost on that one. Also, if I have it painted, I was going to just drop the spoiler off and then pick it up and install. My paint is in good shape and regularly washed/waxed. Could it end up being that far off? I'm leaning more toward a satin black anyway, as I plan on getting a cowl hood and having the center blacked out as well, a-la the 1969 Boss 302s...That, along with some nice Ford Racing side stripes, a CDC rear panel blackout, side exhaust from Steeda, and some other retro parts and I think it would look sweet. I already have a chin spoiler, and I love the old school look of the Mach, but I can't afford one. I figured a Boss inspired car would be unique, nice looking, and appeal to my love of nostalgic looking modern cars...

Full body white suits, preferably one's that don't drop surface lint. The paint match w// proly be okay since it wont be a flat panel butted up against another. And as always i recommend fabbing your own side exhaust for performance and cost reasons.

 

[astronut1885]

Ah. I'll probably just have it done, finished like the spoiler on the 04 Mach. Mine has the billet winglet plates too, so it should look sweet.