Basic prep work

[sbianco]

My son "crunched" his front fender for his Dodge Stealth. I have the replacement fender which is in excellent cond., unfortunately the wrong color.
Your site is a wonderful source of info and products, however what I need to know is, can I just sand the existing fender to basecoat, and then repaint, or do I have to do the whole primer thing. Also, I seem to get so many different opinions on sandpaper grit options. Basically, what are the grit/sandpaper steps in relation to the various steps from start to finish in preparing and painting a car or piece. I know that there are many variables, but I need just a 1,2,3 of the basics. Thank You!

[Phil V]

Step 1 - go to a paint store and buy a pint of the correct basecoat color for your sons car. (Try to get them to mix you up a half pint of the basecoat color instead of a full pint). Not sure where the paint code is on that Stealth. Should be on a stamped metal tag about the size of a credit card affixed to the radiator support. It won't say "paint code" it will be just a 3 digit code on the lower line of numbers or next line up from the lower line of numbers.
While you're at the paint store pick up a couple sheets of 600 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Also pick up one burgandy colored Scotch-Brite scuff pad. One quart of Omni urethane clearcoat along with its associated pint of hardener. You'll need a quart of cheap lacquer thinner to use to clean the gun between basecoat color and clearcoat and also to clean the gun after you shoot the clearcoat. Going to cost you between $80 - $150 for materials depending on what color it is. Some colors are only $40 a pint while others are as high as $100 a pint. Don't chince on the money and buy a cheap color basecoat like Omni base unless the color is a basic color like black or white, colors with no metallics. Buy PPG DBC basecoat, costs more but its more cost effective in the long run if the paint is a metallic based paint.

Step 2 - Use a wax and grease remover to remove any contaminants from the fender.
Step 3 - With your burgandy colored scuff pad remove any shine from the old paint on the inner edges of the fender. Like areas that would be visible when you open the hood where the fender bolts to the inner apron. Also scuff the area at rear of the fender where the door meets the fender, do the same on the bottom of the fender where the fender bolts to the door hinge pillar. Scuff the area in the front of the fender where the bumper cover bolts to the fender. All you want to do is remove any of the shine from the existing paint.
Mix up a little of your basecaot color and spray those areas you just scuffed with scuff pad. When the color is done shoot one or two medium coats of clearcoat. Let that sit overnight then the next day install that fender on the car. Once the fender is installed get out your 600 grit sandpaper and either wetsand or dry sand the existing paint. You only need to remove the existing shine from the paint on the outer part of the fender. No reason to remove the factory clearcoat and no reason to use a primer. Once all the shine is removed from the fender its ready to paint and clearcoat. Tape up the inner part of the fender edge under the hood so that you don't screw that up when you paint the outside of the fender. Go to a hardware store a buy a cheap plastic drop cloth large enough to cover the whole car. Lay the plastic cover over the car and with a razor blade cut the plastic from around the fender your going to paint. Get some newspapers and 3/4" masking tape. Paper and tape all around the fender ( hood, bumper and door) then tuck the plastic drop cloth under the newspaper and tape the paper to the plastic dropcloth. Wash the fender down one last time with wax and grease remover, make sure its totally dry when you're done. Mix up you colorcoat and apply that. Wait 15 minutes to a half hour then apply your first coat of clear. Wait a half hour then apply your second coat of clear. Pour out the remaining clear in the gun and clean the gun with the cheap lacquer thinner.
Let the car sit overnight. The next day pull you paper, tape and dropcloth and the car should look like new again. Have fun ! it actually is that simple to do your fender.