So I don't really know much about paint jobs and stuff

I wanted to get your opinions on whether or not I should be changing any body hardware while I'm getting the paint done

The car is getting the FEED front and rear wide fenders and side steps, RE-A diffuser

Thoughts of anything I should replace while the car is getting painted??

Thanks

 

My painter recommends gaskets (windshields and windows) be removed before paint and replaced with a new set when doing a full repaint. I'm sure some people just tape over gaskets to save time, but I doubt the quality will be there.

Your car is going to look amazing with the FEED kit and RE diffuser! Are the rear fenders getting molded in?

 

I bought new front and rear window trims and both door sills. Door trims, rear tail lights, mirrors, door handles, headlight covers and all marker lights are easily removed for a good sand job and repaint.

 

Call Ray at Malloy, all the front/rear window and door trim runs about $1200.

 

My car is stock, so I have no input related to the aftermarket body parts.

My approach to the repaint was to remove as many things as humanly possible. Bumpers came off, hood off, fenders came off, hatch off, gas door came off too. Doors stayed on but all trim and mirrors came off. Headlight covers come off and if they are cracked due to heat/aging, consider replacing them with new.

Do not attempt to pull the fender scoops until the fenders are off the car.

My windshield has aftermarket seals/molding, so we pulled that molding and replaced it.

If I had to do it again, I'd simply pull all of this myself and keep track of everything that didn't come off cleanly. You'll have a nice shopping list of trim parts, gaskets and fasteners to buy. Not much point in buying that stuff now.

David

 

the car is already at the body shop, but they sponsored the paint job for me as long as i bought all the parts

i'd like to replace the front and rear windshield gaskets, are aftermarket ones worthless? i don't really want to spend $1200 on gaskets as i have to finish the rest of the build

my doors already have new gaskets in them so i'm just going to carefully pull them off before paint

the whole car is in parts now, everything that could have been taken off the body has been taken off and the major pieces that needed to get painted were 2 turn bolted up to go with the car to the body shop

any aftermarket places that sell the front and rear window gaskets that are any good??

 

Go to tascaparts.com and price out OEM strips. I've been pricing weather stripping for a full respray, and it wasn't anywhere near $1200 IIRC. I'm thinking it was more like $500.

 

are their products good quality?

i don't mind getting aftermarket parts as long as they are good quality

 

They are OEM, just like ordering from onlinemazdaparts except their prices are even better. Ray at Malloy may be able to beat their prices still, but that will give you an idea of the price before calling him.

 

ok awesome

thanks a lot man

 

Glad I could help.

 

You're doing the exact same thing I am right now. Where you taking your car in Florida? I might take mine to the same place.

 

Dude there is only one place that's allowed to touch my car at all

Miami Autoworks, down south next to Tamiami Airport
They are the best, extreme attention to detail and they do the job the right way

Speak to Mike, he's a personal friend of mine and the owner of the shop
Here's his cell: 786-325-3976

Tell him you saw VJ's car on the rx7 forum and that I told you to call, he'll hook u up

 

Ssm?

 

yessir SSM

i want my vin number to match the color

and i think SSM is the best color on the FD

 

make sure they use quality paint. cheap paint tends to.. yanno.. not durable.

 

yup...i'm spending the extra to make sure its the highest quality paint they buy, i think its DuPont Chrom-ma- something or other

 

I'm picking up my car this Friday from the body shop. Same thing almost. FEED kit w/front and rear fenders. RE-A pro diffuser in kevlar, same as FEED sidesteps. Ken at Shine hooked me up and the parts quality is excellent.

When I was stripping the car down, if there was a gasket or piece of trim I could replace, I did.

Can't wait to see yours, I'll have pics of mine up over the weekend I hope!