well, i dont promise, but ya...
ima fit the front end i got this weekend... i was in an auto store today, and i can get my hands on fiberglass to strengthen it up where need be, but since i am totally new to body work, i want to ask a few ?s...

first, since the front end is fiberglass, if i need to sand down some spots, what kinda grit paper do i need??

also, is there a special primer i need to use??
i figure i can fit it, sand it down, and prime it... install it, roll for about 1/2 week, fix/strengthen the spots that need to be strengthened, and then have it painted...
does this sound right?? i want to do this the right way, the first time, and not have to backtrack like most of the time when i mess w/my shit...

also, currently, my stock front end is held on by the braces to the frame, and zipties in the corners (fenders)... i removed the panel by the hood latch when installin hood pins, and never put it back on..

should i put it back on and use the mounting holes there as well as teh ones in teh fender???

thanks a bunch guys...
and i proly left sum things out, and your comments will generate new ?s

tia ns

03 srt-4 13.130@112.47mph (n2o, stock turbo, 10/2003)
now: 20g, portfueler, bpu+++ (track/dyno times tbd...)

i farted on your wiki

>first, since the front end is fiberglass, if i need to sand
>down some spots, what kinda grit paper do i need??

80 grit should be good. Actually, you should only be fiberglass on the back side of the bumper, so you wouldn't need to sand. I would use 80 grit on the front, or even lower, if you are going to bondo. Don't put more fiberglass on the front outside of the bumper, it shouldn't need it. Use bondo to fill in any imperfections etc.

>also, is there a special primer i need to use??
>i figure i can fit it, sand it down, and prime it... install
>it, roll for about 1/2 week, fix/strengthen the spots that
>need to be strengthened, and then have it painted...
>does this sound right??

Ya sounds right. I would let the body shop primer it, since it can be done real quick. They should use good primer or gel coat, and then they can't blame the paint not going on right to the primer you sprayed (don't use spray can primers). It should be mixed and sprayed with a paint gun. Also, after it is gel coated (we gel coated mine not primer, it's just thicker), you have to sand the whole thing again, wet sand with 400 grit. This shows up a lot of pits and imperfections that you normally would not notice when the bumper is not painted. I found a lot of things I had to bondo with my rear.

>also, currently, my stock front end is held on by the braces
>to the frame, and zipties in the corners (fenders)... i
>removed the panel by the hood latch when installin hood
>pins, and never put it back on..
>should i put it back on and use the mounting holes there as
>well as teh ones in teh fender???

Ya just use same mounting holes, I use five on top, one on each fender. I don't think the braces will be essential with the blitz front, but I would keep that metal brace that goes across the five holes by the hood latch if you can.

________________________________________

2004 WRX - WR Blue Pearl
1997 Eclipse GS - Royal Sapphire Pearl

Final sanding before paint, 600 grit and wet sand. just a thought.

>>Ya sounds right. I would let the body shop primer it, since it can be done real quick. They should use good primer or gel coat, and then they can't blame the paint not going on right to the primer you sprayed (don't use spray can primers). It should be mixed and sprayed with a paint gun. Also, after it is gel coated (we gel coated mine not primer, it's just thicker), you have to sand the whole thing again, wet sand with 400 grit. This shows up a lot of pits and imperfections that you normally would not notice when the bumper is not painted. I found a lot of things I had to bondo with my rear.


ok, marcus(or neone else who knows there shiot).. im kinda confused about this one...
i "think" that there is a gel coat already on there, on top of the fiberglass... if u need to see the kit again, http://seangordon1.tripod.com/blitz.html

from your reply, it seems as if i gotta make several trips to the paintshop...
thanks for all your help

03 srt-4 13.130@112.47mph (n2o, stock turbo, 10/2003)
now: 20g, portfueler, bpu+++ (track/dyno times tbd...)

i farted on your wiki

Ya there is already a gel coat on there. The thing I'm talking about is gray like primer, but it's thicker than primer. What it does is it will settle onto the surface, and show you a lot of imperfections that you normally would not see with just the gelcoat on the bumper. I don't know if it's really called "gelcoat", it's just a thicker primer. We spray that over all the bondo parts too because paint will not stick well to bondo. Just think of it as a finishing layer before you paint, and you will sand a lot of it off where you see imperfections. You might see ripples, or small hairline cracks etc. Also, the gelcoat will go on thick, so you will have to sand a lot of it to make it smooth anyways. It just helps you perfect everything. It's nothing like the gelcoat on the actual bumper though, just a "thicker primer".

________________________________________

2004 WRX - WR Blue Pearl
1997 Eclipse GS - Royal Sapphire Pearl

so bondo and 80grit or less on the front, then da primer, hehe...
im slo, and i totally wish u were on aim so i didnt advertise it...

thanks much mayn!

03 srt-4 13.130@112.47mph (n2o, stock turbo, 10/2003)
now: 20g, portfueler, bpu+++ (track/dyno times tbd...)

i farted on your wiki

Ya, but only sand with 80 grit where you have to bondo. And before you primer, wet sand with 400 also to make the whole thing smooth. It should feel really smooth when it has water on it.

________________________________________

2004 WRX - WR Blue Pearl
1997 Eclipse GS - Royal Sapphire Pearl

aight, i just yanked the stock front, and slappd her on...

she sags on the dr. side a lil, but i havent drilled any mountin holes so i figure the gap under the dr. light will be fixed ...

right now, im not so sure i wanna fuk with it, hehe... just seems like too much werk which i have really no clue about...

i totally appreciate your help, and im fin to take it off, and bondo up several spots (crack on pass side) and a few imperfections...

i hope i am able to take care of all this, so yall pray for me, hehe..

03 srt-4 13.130@112.47mph (n2o, stock turbo, 10/2003)
now: 20g, portfueler, bpu+++ (track/dyno times tbd...)

i farted on your wiki

all you need is the 5 bolts where the hood latch is and 1 bolt on each fender, or a zip-tie, like i use.

To prep the outside, just wet-sand the bumper w/ 400 grit sandpaper.

For any bondo or fiberglass work, first sand large scratches in the front bumper w/ 40 or 80 grit dry-sandpaper. Then apply the bondo/fiberglass and then sand down with 80, 320, and wet-sand w/ 400 again.

If you want to reinforce the bumper w/ more fiberglass, you should probably do that from the inside of the bumper so you don't have to sand it or anything.


Good luck... Any your car looks really tight lowered and w/ the CF hood.

Ian | SoCal | Former 2GNT owner |
2GNT mods & pics: www.go.to/dsmdomination |
email: icjeclipse@earthlink.net |

ya, thanks for all the feedback, and for the props... i swappd pix so yall will see the diff once i get that shit painted...

im buyin all the bondo/sanding stuff today, and will work on it so gimme sum time, and ill be "rollin"

03 srt-4 13.130@112.47mph (n2o, stock turbo, 10/2003)
now: 20g, portfueler, bpu+++ (track/dyno times tbd...)

i farted on your wiki

vega.. 20 bucks calls it wont fit... ahem.. think about it then email me

Boca Raton, Florida
95 Eclipse GS- sold
99 Eclipse GSX- 386awhp
98 Eclipse GS- sold
92 Prelude