Matching factory paint color + fade..

[Two Fowty]

I've searched a bit and haven't really gotten clear answers. Most things I find just say to have a shop do it, and they can make it match pretty much as good as it'll get. Thing is, I'm gonna do it myself, so I need any tips or tricks to make it match my car.

I'm just painting the headlight covers and front bumper on my s13, and its cherry red.

I got my paint and all that nonsense to get it painted with my spray gun, and my headlights are primered and my bumper is sanded down smooth so now its paint time.

So how do I tackle this and make it look as close to the rest of my car as I can.

Also, a couple random questions. I got cherry red paint, but I'm pretty sure factory red is cherry red pearl. Mine isn't pearl. Will it be way different? And, after I get a couple coats of paint on the parts, can I just get some cans of clear coat and go at it? If so, what should I use, and How many coats?

Thanks

[AZhitman]

Red is hard to match, as there's a million different shades.

You might get lucky, but I think you're gonna be disappointed.

Better off pulling your paint code and buying the RIGHT color (at a paint shop) OR taking a part off your car (already faded) and having it paint matched.

[spooled240]

It might be a little off but it shouldn't be way off and look bad. I'd just go for it and see how it looks (or just test it out), anything is better than primer

btw your sig SUCKS! O_o *ouch

[Two Fowty]

well i looked up the code for my color. the factory color or whatever is AH3, so thats what I asked for. I guess it'd be different faded though, huh? dammit.

[spooled240]

my color code is aj4 and the local paint shop matched it up for me but it came out a tad lighter than the rest of the car (i painted aero and bumpers) but it's hardly noticeable and it doesn't bother me one bit.

[Two Fowty]

thats a sick car. nice!

i didnt have a shop match my paint though, I just got the code online. hmm, the paint looks darker than my bumper color, and the guy said it'll be a bit darker. is that normal..

[xX RB Xx]

spoolster.. your sideskirt is hot pink.

[spooled240]

^ lmao, it's the sun/camera..my SS isn't hot pink unfortunately =/

check your metal info plate in your engine compartment, that will tell you what your factory color codes is.

[ZOMG.SR20]

It might be a little off but it shouldn't be way off and look bad. I'd just go for it and see how it looks (or just test it out), anything is better than primer

btw your sig SUCKS! O_o *ouch

no anything better than flat black it sux no one should ever paint a 240 that color

[24j0hn]

ive thought of this scenario before and have come up w/ a solution... home depot and lowes have that color matcher machine... so what you could do is, bring in your gas cover, get that color matched and either roll the paint on or thin it out and spray it

havent tried it yet but it seems like itll work

[n240sxfnatic]

why not paint the whole car? If you want it to really match you should really respray the bumper, hood, covers, then blend into the fenders and even then if you havent done it before it will never look the same.

[KeganDesolation]

Hey my 240's factory color is also cherry red pearl, and when I got it the rear bumper was horribly discolored so I repainted it. I just got cherry red from a local auto parts store and sprayed it and it didn't turn out bad. I may try to get a pic after I get off work.

[Two Fowty]

Hey my 240's factory color is also cherry red pearl, and when I got it the rear bumper was horribly discolored so I repainted it. I just got cherry red from a local auto parts store and sprayed it and it didn't turn out bad. I may try to get a pic after I get off work.

i'd appreciate that, cause you did exactly what I'm doing, I'd like to see how it turned out.

How many coats did you use, and how much clear?

[apex760]

ive thought of this scenario before and have come up w/ a solution... home depot and lowes have that color matcher machine... so what you could do is, bring in your gas cover, get that color matched and either roll the paint on or thin it out and spray it

havent tried it yet but it seems like itll work

home depot and lowes dont do automotive paint

[hbpignosePA]

another quality thought by 24j0hn..

i think he means

have them mix some house paint

and roll it on

[silpena]

i doubt u wil lever be able to match ur fatory paint. NO bodyshop can perfectly match it without going through so many test panels. Even then it wont match. Either repaint the whole car at once(most logical thing to do) or you can paint the bumper and re clear the rest of the car restore some of its depth if the sun hasnt started to eat the pigments in the base paint. So its up to you man. Id just paint it all once. Most of the paint will be on ur new parts and you will only need one coat of the rest of the car since the base paint lets you use less material to cover it. You can do it all for like 200 or so if you shop at the right body shop supply store.

this is the reason i tell ppl to stay with the stock color, its cheap to repaint.

[silpena]

oh if you need to ask how to blend in paint, believe me we cant tell u or explain it to u. It takes practice, practice, practice, technique and a good eye and hand. YOu can't spray the new panels and call it a day theres a whole blending process involving all the panels around it.

[Two Fowty]

im just going to go for it, it doesnt need to be perfect, its a 240 lol.. a legit paint job will be in the future when i can get good money

[silpena]

yes, you dont need to match it lol just dont be like alot of ppl running multi colored panels. U can allways repaint it later on to match as one.