Advice on painting hood insert

[VXD959]

Great job! Did you paint the cladding too?
Did you put the adhesive first and then paint?

[VehiGAZ]

Oooh... I like this idea! A DIY hood insert refinishing!

Mine looks like crapola. I want to repaint the hood & fenders this year - they are heavily pock-marked from road debris.

What is adhesion spray? What's the difference between that and primer? Which is best to use on plastic?

[WormGod]

Wow, I was lying in bed last night with insomnia thinking this exact thing over. I have the C/F scooped insert and never cared for the C/F ricer look so I always considered painting it a dark charcoal. But, I dont want it to have a gloss finish.

Needless to say, I must have fallen asleep before I concluded my inner thoughts, so I will now have to think this over in my more conscious state now.

[VehiGAZ]

Ahahahha!!! A buddy in college used to use the phrase "conclude my inner thoughts" to mean something else!!

[TEN36VX]

I painted my hood insert with the same stuff/process as Mark Miller's bumper paint. Still looks awsome. Clean and flat.

[IndianaVX]

wondering, after painting, are you just using wax to maintain? or just using the natural finish of the paint. flat paint wouldnt take wax, im thinking......hmmm is there FLAT clearcoat available..???? i dont want shiney either, got a small crack on my insert to fix at somepoint, so im watching this......

[Ldub]

Oooh...What is adhesion spray? What's the difference between that and primer? Which is best to use on plastic?

Bulldog adhesion promoter is used in place of regular primer on surfaces like plastic & fiberglass (think cladding & insert) to make the paint stick & stay.

It's available in the automotive section of your local Wal-Mart.

[VehiGAZ]

Thank you for the info Ldub!

Is the insert removable and replaceable? I don't want to spray it while it's on the hood.

And yes, they make different finishes of clear-coat.. glossy, matte, etc.

[Ldub]

Is the insert removable and replaceable? I don't want to spray it while it's on the hood.

Yes, carefully remove the insulation blanket from the underside of the hood. It's held on by barbed "christmas tree" fasteners...a removal tool helps (harbor frieght), but any prying type thing with a rag or something to protect the paint will work.

You'll be able to see the nuts that hold the insert from underneath...I believe there are twelve. Be careful not to over tighten when re-installing...I replaced the stock nuts with stainless washers & nylock nuts so I only have to make em' snug & not think about them getting loose.