Is it hard to paint the rings around H-4 headlights?

jschauer · 05-02-2007, 10:12 AM

Just purchased a beautiful 1987 3.2 Carrera. 84,000 miles, all records and the prior owner has kept it in great shape. Thanks Mike!

The one thing I must do ASAP is get the color matching rings on the headlights painted white and put on. The PO upgraded the headlights from Pelican, I think, to H-4's and only has the chrome ring surrounds on the headlights. I don't like that older look and want to set it right. I have the primered rings ready but either need to paint them myself or pay a body shop.

Anyone have comments on DIY on these rings vs. paying someone else to do it?

Thanks.
Jason

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Paintscratch.com

Cheaper and easier than taking them to most paint shops. Just FYI, I recently used up some Guards Red and Clear I bought from them about 4 years ago on a small project. It came out very, very nicely.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan in Pasadena
Paintscratch.com

Cheaper and easier than taking them to most paint shops. Just FYI, I recently used up some Guards Red and Clear I bought from them about 4 years ago on a small project. It came out very, very nicely.

+1 I just did exactly this with diamond blue I did the h4 rings and the rear valance - looks GREAT!

Rot 911 · 05-02-2007, 11:25 AM

I was too cheap to even buy the trim rings. I just bought the H4's with the black anodized rings on them, scuffed them up and painted them. Paint is still on 5 years later.

Johnb911 · 05-02-2007, 11:29 AM

I'll trade you rings.

I want chrome!!!!

Greek55 · 05-02-2007, 11:32 AM

I scuffed up and painted chrome rings the body color. So far so good for about a year.

nesslar · 05-02-2007, 11:34 AM

"Just purchased a beautiful 1987 3.2 Carrera. 84,000 miles, all records and the prior owner has kept it in great shape. Thanks Mike!"
I can't quite make out your pictures.....

nameisbauer · nameisbauer's Garage

Hijack :

I have H1's and the painted ring covers. If I upgrade to H4's will the same ring covers fit?

jschauer · 05-02-2007, 12:16 PM

John -- I undrestand that you need to bolt the rings over the chrome ones. Is that not accurate? Anyone? Bueller?

I will post pics as soon as I get my new compter set up (old one crashed).

nesslar · 05-02-2007, 12:23 PM

Yep! They screw on, with one screw that goes inside the lower "hollow" one.

rcooled · 05-02-2007, 01:03 PM

I took my H-4 trim rings to a bicycle shop that also builds & sells custom bikes. Got them painted much cheaper than at a body shop.

rusnak · 05-02-2007, 01:45 PM

If you do get the trim rings professionally painted, see if you can get some extra paint mixed, like another quart or so. This will come in handy if you get into a fender bender in the next year or so.

mca · 05-02-2007, 02:21 PM

I was wondering the same thing myself about how to paint the rings.

I am very unfamiliar with any sort of painting besides the kind I do around the house ... with a roller and brush ... and I have TONS of experience in this regard.

SO ....

1) I assume I would have to spray the paint on the rings. Those of you who have experience with Paintscratch, what volume of paint should be ordered? And what sprayer should I use?

2) Even though I know my paint codes, won't the match be a shade darker than the actual color of my car due to fading over time?

Thanks!

chris57 · 05-02-2007, 06:28 PM

We have a paint supply shop here that will put ppg auto motive paint into spray cans. if your paint is not faded too bad it will look fine. they also sell a catalyzed clear coat in a spray can that has held up in the sun for me for four years now. You can give them your paint code and they will mix it for you. I think you can also order what you need from www.paintscratch.com. Local body shop wants about $150 dollars to paint rings.

fly4val · 05-02-2007, 06:34 PM

ERA Collision on Evergreen in Everett did mine, perfect match for $75-

snbush67 · snbush67's Garage

You could trade the chrome ones.....or sell them as they are not available chromed separate from buying the whole lights. Personally I prefer the chrome trim rings unless your car is completely blacked out.

rusnak · 05-02-2007, 07:46 PM

mca, I think a lot depends on what color your car is, and the type of paint process used. I know this sounds like automotive BS, but I have seen single stage paint matched really well with a rattle can paint job. And other times, you just have to go with a professional. If it's a metallic or one with a lot of silver, then the difficulty factor has jumped many times.

aigel · aigel's Garage

I had done mine with paintscratch materials. It was metallic, so it had to be a base coat and then a clear coat. Sand with 600 grit, clean with water and let dry. In a dust free area base it, let dry for about 20 minutes, then clear it. It's as simple as that. And the best thing is, if you mess up, you can sand it down and start over. There isn't much risk, it's not like you paint a whole car and you'd have to sand it down and put down another $500 in paint !

The recommendation to go to a local shop and have them mix you paint into spray cans is good, but that's exactly what paintscratch does. It's not that they have spraycans magically on the shelf with your paint in it. They custom mix it at a paint store. If I am not mistaken, there may be more than one center from which they drop ship. Possibly they don't even ever touch paint themselves and just outsource it to paint shops. My paint scratch package came from the east bay, where I live.

And to clarify, you will need to put the primered rings over the chrome rings. The chrome rings are part of the lamp assembly and are held on with metal clips ....

Ok, this may have been more info than you need?

George

mca · 05-03-2007, 06:02 AM

thanks for the info ... so the paint arrives in cans correct?

how did the newly painted rings compare to the rest of the paint on the car? any variation?

aigel · aigel's Garage

Yes the paint comes in spray cans, if you order it that way. It will say so explicitly in the order page. They sell the base and the clear in spray cans seperate.

The new rings were a very good color match. Upon close inspection you could see that the metallic flake was a bit different than the rest of the car. But that's a non issue on guards red and chiffron white etc.

What helps with the color match is that the rings are a separate surface and they are heavily angled, so even if there is a slight mismatch in color or flake, the eye does not pick it up easily. If you would paint a flat panel next to a stock flat panel (say an entire door), a slight mismatch would be much more obvious. That's why even pro shops rarely paint such panels individually.

George