A few months ago, I got a used '89 IROC-Z. Although it has been repainted (by the previous owner--I don't know how long ago but it couldn't have been that recently), it looks relatively good, I think. One thing that is bugging me, though, is the hood. The IROC "vents", which I believe were originally black, were repainted red. Now, the "aftermarket" (if you can call paint that) paint-job is wearing off, and what was once black underneath has faded to a gray. Ideally, I'd like to have the stock black look again.

I'd like to try to tackle this by myself (because I know I'm not going to be able to afford whatever a professional would charge), but I am not a professional when it comes to painting. Would this be an easy enough job to do?

Also, some other concerns... It would appear to me that there actually two (or three, depending) surfaces to worry about here: the actual vents (which I think are plastic) and then the small part of the hood in front of the vents that should also be painted the same color. My guess is that they will need to be handled differently, correct? Also--really important--where I live (Texas), the heat and sunlight can be murder to paint (my '88 Camaro, which is yellow, has had its clear-coat almost completely cooked off). Is there anything that I could/should do to avoid/retard heat damage (i.e. paint bubbling up, color fading, cooking off, etc.)?

Never really done any paint work before on a car, and I don't want to screw up my hood, so please... any and all tips are appreciated!

Thanks

 

Took this after it was raining, so it might look a little different because it was wet...

 

If by 'painting' you mean rattle can type of painting, I believe it can be done really well as long as you take your time, prep correctly, and (generally speaking) a smaller area, such as those vents, turns out alot better then, say, and entire hood. I don't have a 'maro, but aren't those louvers removable...? If so (or not), take them out, sand them down, with varying degrees of sandpaper. Fill in any imperfections with putty/primer, sand, primer, sand....then paint. Sand again, more paint, sand, and one final coat of paint, etc...finally, once it looks good to you, hit it with a few coats of clear. There's a lot of good info available if you do a search on this board (I did my front nose clip and it looks great, though new paint should be on the way soon anyways...). Good luck!

 

By looking at those plastic louvres I'd say that the previous owner didn't use any kind of "adhesion promoter" which is essential for paint to adhere to plastic.I'm not sure whether you could get this in a rattle can as the stuff I use is for a spraygun setup,worth finding out though.Paintwork is a big subject,and as Azure says it's worth checking out the rest of the board, and visiting a professional auto paint supplier for advice.I'm in the process of painting the whole car,and up until a couple of years ago I had no gear and no idea where to start.Plenty of advice,practise and willingness to learn should see me through.Hope you get it sorted.

 

The grey you are seeing looks like some sort of primer, not the plastic fading. I agree with Azure and Eric, it can be done and done right. It will just take some time and practice. I would recommend finding something to practice on first before going after the louvers.

 

european bumper black, $3.99 at autozone.