Gonna get a headlight panel from z center. Just wondering how they come. Apart from spraying what will I have to do to it? And if any of yu have sprayed yours yourself how did it go?

 

I'm gonna get this one:

 

http://www.zcentre.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21_22_33&products_id=128

 

Cheers,

 

Al

There,s alot of us with aftermarket panels , they usually fit well but the only problem they can cause is water getting to your airfilter but only if you have an induction kit of some sort fitted ( ie Apexi etc; )

Water can drip inbetween the nose panel and bumper , straight onto the filter , it,s an easy fix , just make a guard to fit over the top of the filter which directs any water away from the filter.

I just used a flat piece of plastic and bolted to the four bolts underneath the nose panel , covering and protecting the top of the filter from the drips , job done :dance: :dance: HTH

Most likely, you'll have to use the seals and seal clips from your existing nose panel.

Will I have to supply my own mesh? And the splash guard that I hear people talking about. Sometimes I get the impression there is one there already (underneath stock air box) and other times I get the impression you have to make or fit one. Which is right?

 

Thanks again

Will I have to supply my own mesh? And the splash guard that I hear people talking about. Sometimes I get the impression there is one there already (underneath stock air box) and other times I get the impression you have to make or fit one. Which is right?

 

Thanks again

Generally mesh is not supplied with these panels. There should be a splash guard under the existing filter/air box but some have had theirs removed. As said above, a vented panel gives an additional place for water to enter the nose, so some additional protection may need to be fabricated.

 

HTH

 

Steve :)

yeah that helps. Thanks a lot everyone. As for spraying what kind of success have you had? And would you spray it before putting it on the car?

 

I assumed that you would but then I read its better to spray things like bodykit when it's on the car

Deffo spray it OFF the car!

That's the panel I have, damn good choice ;)

 

 

It's a great fit, but you'll need to do some prep work:

 

You need to drill the holes along the edge. These are marked for you

 

Remove the metal brackets and rubber seals from the old panel, and make sure the line up with your holes.

 

Once you're happy with the fit, it's time to paint.

 

Remove the panel from the car, remove edge strips again and find somewhere warm to paint the panel.

 

Make sure you give it a light rub down, then spray with primer. I didn't do this as I thought it was already primered, but it wasn't :( (stone chips ahoy)

 

I got a couple of tins of Nissan Black pearl, which is a perfect match for my car.

 

Once dry, rub it down with different grades of wet n dry paper, then use rubbing compound. Then a final T-cut, then polish.

 

Alternatively, take to a spray shop and it will be done in a few hours, lol.

 

Good luck.

thanks for that. Nissan black pearl eh? Sounds very pirates of the carribean ;)

 

Mines silver. There appears to be two different codes for silver though so is there an easy nissan one I can get? Nissan Silver surfer maybe?

 

You said:

 

"Once dry, rub it down with different grades of wet n dry paper, then use rubbing compound. Then a final T-cut, then polish."

 

That's once the paint is dry I take it? And did you not use the laquer? Or is that just for metal panels?

Oh yeah, sorry, missed that bit, lol.

 

Coat of paint

semi dry, another coat of paint

 

Dry for half an hour

 

Do the sanding to get rid of orange peel. 800 down to 1500, keeping paper wet

 

Laquer

 

Dry

 

1500 paper, again keep wet.

 

Then Rubbing compund with wet cloth, then T-cut.

 

 

***** I warmed up the panel with a hairdryer before painting, then used the hairdryer as I was spraying. Kind of, heavy coats and straight over with the dryer, doing it in smallish sections.********

 

That's it this time ;)

Thanks again this is good stuff. Shame It'l be hard to search for since I miss spelt the title.

 

Hope I'm not being thick but if you rub it down with the paper after you've painted won't you get the scratches on it?

Sometimes I get the impression there is one there already (underneath stock air box) and other times I get the impression you have to make or fit one. Which is right?

both, there is one under the stock airbox..although many remove it by mistake. Also, aftermarket bumpers dont tend to have one.

 

..and if you have a aftermarket nose panel, then some fabricate one above the filter as well as underneath

Cheers leg.

Thanks again this is good stuff. Shame It'l be hard to search for since I miss spelt the title.

 

Hope I'm not being thick but if you rub it down with the paper after you've painted won't you get the scratches on it?

 

:wack: Yeah, I know, it's a headfcuk :D

 

1500 is pretty much just paper.

 

If you're brave, you will do it. That's how these guys in Overhaulin/American Hotrod get such a nice shine. I watched it and thought "what the hell are they doing?????" but that's how you do it. Light rubbing remember, and keep it wet!! ;)

After the wet and dry you end up with a dull surface, thats why you bring it up with the rubbing compound ;)

Ok I think I'm ready to tackle this now. Thanks a lot for all the advice.

 

One last thing though, whats this rubbing compound you speak of?

I think I got mine in Halfords, or maybe my local car stuff shop. It's not expensive. Mine came in a round shallow tin.

two ways of finishing the nose panel

flat the final coat with 1500 wet and dry lightly and polish up using a fine compound and a polisher

 

flat the final coat with wet and dry clean off all dust and laquer up

Ok brilliant thanks again everyone.