DIY Body Skirt Painting (1st year update)

[rocketlegacy]

DIY for painting body skirts.

I bought a new grill and it is black so I wanted to paint my body skirts to match. I did some research and found it was fairly simple to do. I had some left over paint from painting the lug nut covers on my 96 legacy L so I gave it a try.

New RFRB Grill
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/26913_381651386267_634806267_437192-1.jpg
Skirts Before:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0247-1.jpg
Skirts After:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0259-1.jpg

Things you need:

Krylon paint for plastic.
1” Masking tape
3” masking tape
Newspaper
Bucket of warm water with dish soap.
Two towels.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0266-1.jpg

The paint that I used does not need have primer first or sanding. So you can spend a lot more time masking off the your car.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0268-1.jpg

The first you need to do is clean the skirts very well even if you just washed your car. One towel to clean the other to dry. Easy
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0217-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0218-1.jpg

After getting every inch on the skirts clean start masking off the skirts with your 1” tape. I found the 1” to be more flexible where the geometry was more complex. Take your time with this. If you are painting a different color other then your car you do not want over spray.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0226-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0225-1.jpg https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0250-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0251-1.jpg

After you have taken your time masking your skirts. You can start using your newspaper to protect your car from over spray. I used the 3” masking tape to tape the paper down.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0228-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0231-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0256-1.jpg

Its time to spray. Even coating is essential. I did three coats to be sure I got every inch of the skirt. I waited about 15 min between coats
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0236-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0237-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0238-1.jpg

After the last coat I waited about 45 min to let the paint fully dry. So decided to work on another hobby while I waited.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0240-1.jpg

When the paint is fully dried you can start peeling the tape and newspaper off.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0257-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0258-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0242-1.jpg

Stand back and admire your handy work.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0244-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0246-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0265-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0263-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/DSCN0262-1.jpg

[iampetro]

good job

[subie/legacy]

looks good

[LegacyGT97]

Awesome write up! Where did you get the paint? Walmart?

[GTDrifter]

nice work...if you want to paint match to the car you can go to autozone and get sandpaper, primer, and paint thats a little lighter than your color because multiple layers will darken it

also you could take off the side and rear skirts to get underneath and also above the exhaust

[hallowpoint]

Looks good. mos def doing this once the weather gets better im tired of using Armor All on my plastic trim

[rocketlegacy]

Awesome write up! Where did you get the paint? Walmart?

i got it at home depot. but walmart has it too

http://www.krylon.com/locator/index.jsp

[pheonix991]

Where can I get that grille?

Great write up btw.

^ run fast, run beautiful grille, rfrb

look on ebay, if it isnt there, google legacy rfrb, some of the sites like japanparts.com or jdmplace.com may have em

[chuckthefuk]

factory fresh.

[TGX4776]

So how is it holding up? I'd love to give this a shot

[rocketlegacy]

So how is it holding up? I'd love to give this a shot

its been on for about a month and it is still dark black. the paint has held up well though the car washes and normal road use.

[TGX4776]

Nice, it's the perfect price too. Maybe if I have any money over break I will do it.

[rocketlegacy]

2 full months its been on. no change in color since i first sprayed it.

[SOREN]

That looks pretty slick! I think I'm going to go with a body match paint on mine once I get 'er running again.. :(

[Navi271]

Yeah looks great, its basically what I did with mine when they were off the car tho! Black primer also works great too.

[jantzen8895]

Came out way nice. It matches your grille perfect. You should've done some sort of clear coat

[Drakien]

I am going to do this! Thanks for the write up! I have been needing to do this!

[rocketlegacy]

About 4 months since I first sprayed the skirts they still have not faded. I did neglect one piece of trim during the first the paint when I did it in April. Just did it yesterday.

Same process as before. Wipe it down and mask it off

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0433-1.jpg

Use newspaper to protect paint and interior.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0434-1.jpg

Spray even coats

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0435-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0440-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0437-1.jpg

Let it dry. Looks different from the rear skirt piece in the photo. Because Paint was not fully dry.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0441-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/07/DSCN0443-1.jpg

Took no more then 30 min. I should have done it back in April.

[Airgne]

good stuff.

[richysteele]

looks brand spankin new! actually looks newer than the rfrb grill.....

[rocketlegacy]

its been one year and one day since i completed this. the black is still black. except where there has been kick up from dust and rocks from normal road/winter use. the nicks have gone threw the paint to the ugly gray that was once there. other then those small areas i am very impressed as to how well the paint has held up.

[Huffer]

Thanks for the update! :)

[mycargoesvroom]

Looks great man! If I didn't already have paint matches skirts/lip I'd definitely dive into this one.

Side note: Gimme yo grill :D

[13fido13]

Try to find Plastidip in a spray can. It's a rubberized paint. Shouldn't chip with stones.