Side Skirts: Paint on or off the car???

[MarkDixon]

I just received my Motorsports Side Skits. Which by the way aren't even close to fiting my 240Z. I plan to cut, re-fiberglass and fix them.

My question is:

My car is done with prep and primer and ready to go to the painter.

Do I fix and fit the side skirts for my car, and have the car and the side skirts painted seperatly?

Or should I attach the skirts and have them painted on the car?

It would make more sense to have them painted on the car, but the car is currently only painted with primer.

I don't want to have un-protected (primer only) areas underneath the skirts.

So do I spray rattle can auto paint on the area where the skirts will go, mount the skirts, and sand and primer any "rattle can" paint that gets on the car above where the skirts mount?

Thanks,

Mark

[EScanlon]

Are the skirts going to be permanently mounted? That is, you will be using some form of adhesive or welding or ...? If so, then definitely mount and then have the car painted. Be sure to tell your painter that you shot some rattle-can paint over the primer (don't forget to scuff or sand the primer so the paint will stick), and most importantly the BRAND and TYPE. Certain paints will react with others and you'll marr your final paint.

However, if the skirts can be mounted such that you can remove them, then do your modifications, adjustments and get them fitted properly THEN tell the painter so he can remove them, if he so chooses to do so.

In my experience, if you are shooting a metallic paint, then you would want them shot in the same general alignment as they will be on the car and not separated. However, with the difficulty in shooting down low on the rocker panel...the car would have to be up on jack-stands. That's not so unusual, and it may be what the painter would be doing anyhow. (That's my technique.)

FWIW

E

[MarkDixon]

I do plan to mount them peranently with E6000 adhesive. That is why I wanted to know if it would be best to just suff the primer on the rocker, shoot rattle can auto paint and mount the skirts before I take it to the paint shop.

I will be sure to sand down any "rattle can" paint that is over-sprayed beyond where the skirts will be covering.

I am sanding they whole care with 360 grit just before it goes to paint.

thanks for your advise.

mark

[bartman]

I purchased the Kaminari side skirts and they fit really well out of the box. They cost more, but taking into consideration all the work required on getting the standard skirts to fit they are well worth it. I found this was the case with the Kaminari front air dam as well

If you permanently mount them they will be very difficult to replace and if you mould them on to your vehicle they will probably crack over time; although some people have been known to go for long periods of time without any noticeable cracking whatsoever (fiberglass and metal expand and contract different rates). I'm going to keep mine mounted with screws and paint them separately, but that may be more difficult to do without good fitment.

[MarkDixon]

Bartman,

excuse me if I am wrong, but those are not the Kaminari side skirts shown in your photos.

That is the same skirt that I have. These are the classic style side skirts.

Are you telling me you have no glue attaching the skirts to your body?

Just screws on the ends at the wheel wells and at the door jam????

Thanks,

Mark

[bartman]

Bartman,

excuse me if I am wrong, but those are not the Kaminari side skirts shown in your photos.

That is the same skirt that I have. These are the classic style side skirts.

Are you telling me you have no glue attaching the skirts to your body?

Just screws on the ends at the wheel wells and at the door jam????

Thanks,

Mark

Mark, they indeed are the Kaminari side skirts in my photos. They don't look much different, but the quality definitely is. There is no glue attaching them to my body and I believe I'm only using four screws on each side, one on each end in the wheel well and two in the door jamb.

[MarkDixon]

Thanks Bartman.

I guess I should have spent the extra money.

I didn't see that they would be that much better at the time.

I guess I was wrong.

Mark