Fiberglass Engine Shroud - Best way to refurbish?

[Tidybuoy]

My engine shroud is in fairly good shape but has a few chips and scratched. I'm in the process of installing PMO's so the shroud will be much more visible than with CIS. There is also a fair amount of little pimples in the shroud which looks like the gel coat may have bubbled a little from cleaning with gasoline?

Is it possible to paint with good success or should I be re-gel coating. I have no experience with gel coat so that scares me a little. I also want this to be a 1(ish) day project and not weeks.

It would be nice to hear from anyone who has had good results.

Also, can anyone tell me the color red that is used on my shroud. It's definitely red, not orange. See pics below:

[porschetub]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

My engine shroud is in fairly good shape but has a few chips and scratched. I'm in the process of installing PMO's so the shroud will be much more visible than with CIS. There is also a fair amount of little pimples in the shroud which looks like the gel coat may have bubbled a little from cleaning with gasoline?

Is it possible to paint with good success or should I be re-gel coating. I have no experience with gel coat so that scares me a little. I also want this to be a 1(ish) day project and not weeks.

It would be nice to hear from anyone who has had good results.

Also, can anyone tell me the color red that is used on my shroud. It's definitely red, not orange. See pics below:

You could get a spraycan colour matched to the shroud you have,I would go for an enamel based paint as it is usual a bit tougher.
The gelcoat can't be easily reapplied because it is done in a female mould when the part is made,you can respray it but this requires an expensive gelcoat thinner and the finish is usually poor and would require a lot off wetsanding and polishing,not really practical on a part this shape.
Any small area's of damage can be filled with finishing bondo (bog as we call it) but you must sand down these areas well for it to stick...same goes for your topcoat.
You need to remove the shine off the old gelcoat and no more,avoid sanding thru it if possible otherwise you expose the glass fibres and will have a poor surface to recoat,180,then 220grit dry lube sandpaper would be ok.
I quess the best finish would be 2 stage urethane but this depends on your budjet/skills.
Sorry no idea of the colour but a good paintshop could match it,good luck.

[911SauCy]

How about...I send you mine to refurb and I'll take that ugly thing pictured off your hands

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by porschetub

You could get a spraycan colour matched to the shroud you have,I would go for an enamel based paint as it is usual a bit tougher.
The gelcoat can't be easily reapplied because it is done in a female mould when the part is made,you can respray it but this requires an expensive gelcoat thinner and the finish is usually poor and would require a lot off wetsanding and polishing,not really practical on a part this shape.
Any small area's of damage can be filled with finishing bondo (bog as we call it) but you must sand down these areas well for it to stick...same goes for your topcoat.
You need to remove the shine off the old gelcoat and no more,avoid sanding thru it if possible otherwise you expose the glass fibres and will have a poor surface to recoat,180,then 220grit dry lube sandpaper would be ok.
I quess the best finish would be 2 stage urethane but this depends on your budjet/skills.
Sorry no idea of the colour but a good paintshop could match it,good luck.

Thanks for the info! Sounds like enough to get started. If and when I get this done, I'll post some photos of my handywork.

[Amstaff]

I bought Dupli-Color engine paint and primer from my local parts store. Gave it a quick sanding just to give the paint a good bond then hit it with the engine primer followed by the red paint. This is the second time I have done it and the paint bonds well and holds up great.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by Amstaff

I bought Dupli-Color engine paint and primer from my local parts store. Gave it a quick sanding just to give the paint a good bond then hit it with the engine primer followed by the red paint. This is the second time I have done it and the paint bonds well and holds up great.

Now that looks perfect - Thanks!

[Ken911]

I think yours used to be black. I've painted mine a couple times. looked great but not for very long. This time i just gave in and got a carbon fiber one.

[porschetub]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Thanks for the info! Sounds like enough to get started. If and when I get this done, I'll post some photos of my handywork.

No probs ,remember you from the 944 forum ,happy to help,worked in the sticky muck called fiberglass for a long time..not my best job,many may have solutions like carbon fibre etc and thats fine but @ the end of the day you can DIY this moulding,others on here done the same and had good results.