I'm sorry Kane, I'm not sure I fully understand what you mean by the weather strip? I get that the plastic cover doesn't trap the heat, it just impedes airflow - that makes perfect sense. I'd like to be able to lower my temperatures in the summer. Thanks.

 

Look at my hood picture - up by where the windshield is - see the little white squares?

I took the weatherstrip off and put those in their place.

 

Sooo does the OP have an updated pic now that he has inversed his paint job???

 

Yeah, I see where you mean now - I looked at the OP pictures too and I see where that weather stripping would seal the rear of the hood and keep heat in. I don't have any overheating problems or anything, but I figure there's no reason not to reduce heat if it's easy to do. Of course in the winter, I'd actually like to bottle the heat in more so my car heats up more quickly too.

 

This thread cracks me up!! Bikini tops and painted engine covers....you can't make that stuff up.

 

just my two sense...

You need to put many coats on it and sand that thing down till it's smoooooth and then buff the hell out of it. We did this to our Maxima, got pics at www.cardomain.com/id/grsiepka if you want to see them. BUT, I wouldn't put them back on for at least a couple of months, we put them back on right after the paint completely dried and if water gets on it (ours did from a car wash underbody spray) and the water will etch into the paint if it's not cured completely. We had to rewax and buff it all out..... never looked as good as the day we put it back on.

 

oh and one other thing... those plastic pieces, if you are not careful, will get hairline cracks in them if you handle them too roughly. Since they're plastic and bendable, there's no way they won't crack if they are bent.

 

The only way to get a solid paint job that won't crack or leave spots from water is to use true automotive paint with a clear coat. Spray painting and waxing it is kinda half assing it.

 

quoted because it deserved to be on the second page.

 

Well unless you're made of money...

It can be done well and look nice... just have some patience...

 

I repainted the cover to make it look less like a bra. Since I painted it, I haven't even put it back on. I just think the engine bay it way too hot with it on...but that is just me...



oh yeah...and I know the paint lines are crooked, so no need to point it out...

thanks.

 

Yea, doing just that part is kind of hard to get the lines straight. I did the same thing and I got it pretty darn good except for the tip of the curve is a tad flat. I used TONS of painters tape though to tape it off as straight as I could.

 

I would have left it like it was and just painted some nipples.

 

finally took a pic of mine

https://www.rx8club.com/picture.php?...pictureid=9845

 

That is beautiful, guide pls!

 

what type of paint did you guys use on the plastic...i'm thinking of painting my cover but wanted to make sure i went about it the right way.

 

I just used Duplicolor caliper paint. It has held up perfectly so far. I also painted the strut bar.

 

heres mine

 

Is that just blue CF vinyl wrap? I am thinking about trying some vinyl wrapping this winter and wondered how hard it was or where you got your's.

 

Ferg: that looks pretty good.
details...

 

It reminds me of this: Blue Carbon Fiber. Is that what it is, and if so how hard is it to work with?

 

wow impressed I want that so bad.

 

its called water transfer printing, no sticker at all, i can get anything done on any part, it will last for like 50 years,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5VQ-...eature=related

 

wow that takes skill to do

 

whats it cost to do that water transfer?? i would like to get the same in red to match my red and black interior