[1mz-fe]

ok, i know this is a common problem with the 1st gen cars. i also know it's a fixable problem. i'm trying to find out a few things...

1, how do you take the panels off the car?
2, what kind of paint do you use to spray the things?
3, is it easier to duct-tape off the surrounding area and spray them without removing?

thanks - any feedback from someone that's fixed their pillars would be very appreciated.

 

[NCBrit]

Rub down the plastic with some very fine wet or dry paper. 1200 grit or higher. You could alternatively use a scotch brite pad with some panel wipe.

Mask off the surrounding area using brown paper and masking tape. I wouldnt use duct tape if I were you.

Spray with a gloss black car paint from Walmart or Autozone or somewhere like that.

Peel off the masking tape before the paint drys (sp).

[ August 24, 2001: Message edited by: NCBrit ]

 

[Wutang15m]

Well they are easy ass hell to remove. There is like 4 screws on the side of them when you ope the rear door once you remove them. Slide it out and it comes out easy. As for paint i tried to sand and paint these bitches but no good luck. so i went and bought me new ones from the factory. i think 40 bucks each.

But the there is one thing to watch out for. make sure if you get them from the factory make sure the holes on the screws fit evenly with youre car. because i think the guy gave the the ones for the 97, and it took a 3 hour damn hassle of a custom installation

 

[ATFCharger]

I think there's more than screws holding them on. Those screws are only on the front of the trim pieces. I think there's some sorta 3M tape underneath it.

For a '94, I'm surprised mine haven't worn away. They're still perfect yet.

 

[rarewolf]

Don't use black gloss... use semi gloss... I had the 'ghetto' effect on my '93 Intrepid, and I taped them off and sanded them (first coarse, then fine grit)... two layers of primer gray, a little more fine grit sanding, and then semi gloss black. they looked great after that.

-wolf out

 

[silver97trep]

Mine have 3m tape on them for sure...I tried to pry them off but I was sure I would break them.

Has anyone else had a problem with them cracking at the top where the back window touches the pillar??

 

[1mz-fe]

a piece of mine on one side actually broke off. the very top where the cover meets the roof and comes together in that small triangle, the end snapped off. i never noticed it until a few days ago. surely it happened when my mom was in possession of the car. this makes me want to get two new panels, just because they are also fading unevenly. the broken side is almost perfect and the bad side is not misshaped.

 

[Dooley_96 Intrepid ES]

My panels were stuck on also. I believe it's some part of the window sealant. Best to tape them off with Blue tape and paper. Sand them for sure and use an automotive paint. I was thinking of using the same color as my car or maybe silver to match my graffix and window stickers. What does everyone think. I imagine that if I paint them to match the body than it will make my trep appear newer from a distance...to the layman. hehe. .but I'm not sure ...Probably black is best. I managed to do a decent job repainting the door bumpers to match the body. I got the paint made directly to a spray can for 15.00 bucks at finishmaster. So I had this half a can ya know...thought I might use it up.

 

[Aggressor]

Ohh, those pillars..

There are are few screws on the side of the door jam. It has been awhile since I popped them off, but I am almost sure there are the same clips they use on the "A" piller for the interior.

As for painting. You have two choice. (1) Keep them on the car. (2) Remove them. After that choice is made, do the following.

Sand them with "320 wet or dry" sandpaper, using plenty of water, a drop of dishwashing soap helps. Only a drop.

Get some good primer, and spray them, practice your painting with the primer.

Sand them again with the 320, until they are as smooth as possible. If you sand down to the plastic, just add a little more primer.

Then get the black, or someone mentioned before about getting the original color at a store in a spray can.

Paint.

Let dry.

Sand with 1000 grit wet or dry paper, using alot of water.

Spray a compatible clear coat over it.

Let dry.

Remove tape, or install on car.

 

[Dooley_96 Intrepid ES]

Cool you know your stuff Aggressor. I was wondering then, since i did not follow the last few steps could i still do it?. Meaning, since the paint on my door bumpers/trim is over 2 months old...can i still go ahead and sand it with 1000 and clear coat it? I wasn't going to cause it didn't look to bad ..but now ..they look a little dull and i noticed a fleck coming off near the very rear. Should i protect them with clear coat and what type would you use?
thanks a bunch,

Hey where's bridgewater?

 

[Aggressor]

Yeah, you should be able to sand them out, and then clear coat them. Just use the same type of paint you used when you painted them. If you did it with spray can enamel, then use that in clear.

Bridgewater is in Central NJ.