[ChrisJuliano]

Hello, I am going to be repainting my hardtop since when I bought it, it was the OEM color and faded completely. I want to rattle can it very close to the color of my car (my car was repainted by a previous owner and I am 98% sure its not stock miata color since its much more brighter red than all of the other miatas I have seen with OEM paint.

This pic shows my paint pretty well, I am a huge fan of duplicolor products so was wondering if anyone has any experience with a red that MIGHT be close to my car from the perfect match series of paints they sell.

Oh and on a side note I am not going for perfection, if its close I am happy.

Do you think that autozone or a place would let me test spray a few bottles onto spoons and compare with my paint? :roll:

 

[cny]

All the other Miatas you have seen have OEM paint which is now a faded red....thus yours is brighter.

 

[dliverance]

How bad is the paint? Is it beyond a good buff/polish/clay bar / wax?

 

[mysteryskittle]

I have tested several spray paints outside AutoZone. They should be fine with it as long as it's not an old grump behind the counter.

Curious as to why you choose spoons though...haha

 

[ChrisJuliano]

I know a few people that work at autozone so that might help me out I am going to have to ask when they work and if they would do that Plastic spoons seem to be what tons of people do, and they are cheap and I can write the color on the handle so I can remember which is which.

All of the OEM faded classic red miatas I have seen look alot more "dark cherry" when might are alot more lighter red so wasnt sure if it was same original color.

 

[ChrisJuliano]

Painted it, looked so close on the test I did at autozone but after spraying it and putting it on in the bright sun its to orangish, but in the shade it looks to be close.

 

[mysteryskittle]

Painted it, looked so close on the test I did at autozone but after spraying it and putting it on in the bright sun its to orangish, but in the shade it looks to be close.

Well you can't say that and not show us the finished product!

 

[ChrisJuliano]

Ohhhh blargh Hold up!

 

[ChrisJuliano]

Heres the problem area, the crack appeared to go whole way up.

Sanded it down and realized it was only on bottom and top (not sure how middle didnt crack kinda random. Put this putty stuff I researched in it and sanded it down. Quick Steel plastic white epoxy.

Closer up of the expoy drying.

After lots of sanding down and what appeared to be a very smooth well done job (first time doing "body work") I started primering.

first layer of color

after 3rd layer and clear

finished product, you cant tell it looks to orange but it does in person

 

[mysteryskittle]

Maybe if you have it professionally cleared, it would look fine. You seem to have done a great job from the pictures. It's not a terrible match, and a real clear coat wont be much if you tape it up for them.

 

[ChrisJuliano]

In the future when I get some extra cash I know tons of people who paint cars and will do it for the price of paint, so I will have a more professional job done, for now this works

 

[mighty mouse]

You can also order OEM color matched paint (they even have a version with an integrated clear coat) in spray cans from these guys: http://www.apstowerpaint.com/

I bought 2 cans to do touch-ups on my front lip and the color was dead on. Cost about 18 a can.

 

[ChrisJuliano]

A local place quoted me $26 a can or something like that for a OEM classic red I just turned it down because I was being cheap and my "test spray" at autozone with color I used was VERY close so I had faith in it

 

[Mr. Shine]

Looks like you did a good job of it, but still looks like it could do with a high-grit wetsanding or a decent polish to bring out the shine?

 

[ChrisJuliano]

Yeah for sure, I dont know anything about wet sanding could you explain what I should do step by step?

 

[brontosaurus]

https://www.google.com/search?q=wet...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[ChrisJuliano]

I already clear'd the paint though, from what I read you have to clear it after. Or does it mean to re-clear it?

 

[Al from Jerz]

F that, I dont think you'll ever get a perfect match unless it goes in a booth. You did a nice job, but I say go satin black until you can get it painted professionally.

 

[ChrisJuliano]

Eh If I was that worried I would have spent $100 more and had a friend do it professionally.

 

[Dwei727]

doesnt look bad at all. good job