Last year, the RX was in bad need of a paint job but I didn't have the cash to have it done. So I figured it would be a good chance to learn how to do it. Here is the result. Not too bad for a guy who never held a paint gun (snap suspenders and grin for effect).

I was surprised to find out the color on the car was actually not the original. It had been painted at some point and they didn't bother matching the color. The original metallic color looks great compared to the faded orange.

While I was there, I added the front air dam I salvaged off a wreck I bought and the rear spoiler (modified Nissan something). I also added the Euro style antenna since I had to move the other one beacuse of the spoiler.

Anyway, pretty happy with the results. Moral of the story is, dare to D.I.Y.

 

Nice job. That gives me more hope in painting mine myself. Fill us in on the info, like your setup (in your garage or what).

 

Looks like you did a job job. How many coats did you do and all that??

 

Thats real nice. Do you have before picture to compare too?

 

So what year, model(s,gs, or gsl) is it? How many mles are on it?

 

Nice car man. Love the spoiler.

 

nice car, color and paint job. Love the spoiler, how did you attach it?

 

Thats hot!

 

Thanks guys! I'll post some before pics soon.

The paint is Nason 3 component Urathane. I put a red primer coat and two coats of paint. Because it is a urathane, the clear is built in. You do one thin coat and a second thick coat while the first coat is still tacky (about 15 - 30 minutes apart). I didn't have a lot of room in the garage so I had to wait for a calm day and spray outside. Thankfully I only got one bug in the paint and it was way at the bottom in the gravel gaurd. I sprayed the hood, doors, all the little parts in the garage after.

The spoiler was tricky. It wasn't the right angle for the back end. What I did is use the original mounting holes with longer bolts. I put a peice of wax paper on the car and plastic straws on the bolts so I could pull them out. Once I had that in place, I shimmed the spoiler to the right angle with little blocks and then used a mix of bondy and fiberglass to extend the spoiler supports down to meet the car. I just started in the center near the wood blocks and filled outward, packing it in between the wax paper and the original spoiler. Once the form was close, I pulled the whole thing off and did the finishing on the bench. The wax paper allowed me to match the curve of the back end perfectly.

I think I may have a few pictured of that and other things. I'll try to post them tomorrow...

 

OH, I forgot. It's an '84 GSL with 128,000 KM. Total cost for the paint and primer was about $200 and I had paint left over.

 

200 BUCKS?!?!?!? WOW!! Hmmm .....yes (evil grin).....I must do this!!! So where did you get the paint from?

 

You can get the paint from the places that supply body shops. Don't know about your area. Guess you will have to pull out the yellow pages or ask your local body shop guys where they get their supplies.

 

Yes, the DIY on this forum keeps getting better and better. Especially the spoiler. Looks great, I couldn't tell the difference, and your pretty gutsy spraying outside.

 

You got a bug in it, atleast you'll never be alone now. For 200 bucks that's insane in the membrain. Where did you get the paint? You sure this was your first time?

 

Hawt... totally digging that color! Is that the color the car originally was? Or did you pick it cuz it's sexy?

 

Thats is super nice! I cant believe that is an outside spray. When I helped on my pinto spray outside, people always seemed to come over and kick up dirt or put thier thump on it to get a spec of dirt!!!!!

Did you use panels to practice on before you laid the final?

 

If somebody did that to me^^, i would try to kill them.

 

That color is the original Mazda R7 color code. I don't remember ever seeing a REX that color, but it,s OEM.

Spraying outside was the only choice for me. I figured for $200 I could mess it up a few times and still come out cheaper. I picked a calm day, swept the driveway three times, paked my truck across the front so no one could even drive close to the garage.

The urethane is pretty easy to work with even for a rookie. I practiced on a small piece of masking paper just to test the volume on the sprayer. Then I did the small parts I could redo if I messed up, then the doors and hood, and then the car when I had gotten the hang of handling the gun. I got one run in a door and I just wipped it with solvent and resprayed right away.

 

Nice work, Im now doing the same procedure, with out the spoiler and air damn.

 

Trust me, I was mad!! I mean I could have gotten that out with some wet sanding no problem, but he made it alot worse and caused me more work which I wasnt happy about.

 

Oh ok, it seemed like you didn't even really care.^

 

Well I try not to sweat the small stuff, but I let him know what was up!

 

NICE job!

 

What he didn't mention is that now the garage door matches the RX, and so does part of the garbage can and part of the driveway. He scheduled the big painting project for when I was out of town- smart move. The rusted-out parts donor is still sitting in the driveway... BUT yes, the RX looks amazing and we're taking it on a nice road trip this weekend.
--the girlfriend

 

really looks great!! makes you feel good knowing that you accomplished the car! its now an extension of you!