Repainting my car - new bumper needed? - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center

~StealthDriver · 05-16-2008, 02:39 PM

Hey, i just bought a 95 gt as my daily driver, but the paint looks awful, so i was gonna repaint it.
The bumper is kinda banged up, i didn't know if i should buy a new one or if can be made to look fine.
Also the light covering are kinda fogged over or something, anyone have any ideas how to fix that.
Thanks, anway here's the pics:

~StealthDriver · 05-19-2008, 09:05 PM

Ideas anyone?

seta8967 · 05-19-2008, 09:20 PM

I would take it to the place whee you are getting it painted or a autobody shop and see if they think it fixable... pics are only so good. From the looks of it your current one is salvagable.. though i can't really tell.

DBLerman · 05-19-2008, 11:23 PM

For what you will be paying for paint and body work, it would probably be easier to either buy a new bumper or get a used bumper that is in like new condition.

~StealthDriver · 05-20-2008, 07:42 AM

Thats what i was thinking, but i posted a week ago and no one has a used bumper for sale. Also though how about the glass on the headlights. Should i just try to sand it down and buff it? Is it ez and cheap just to replace the glass?

Lord Warlock · 05-20-2008, 08:18 AM

You could fix your bumper if you really wanted to, it isn't beyond hope. A body shop would be able to fix it, but they'd probably prefer to replace it, but finding another replacement piece may not be any cheaper and it will stretch out the time to repair it. Re: the glass, can't help you there, very small imperfections can be polished out, but if you can feel it with your fingernail, usually its too deep to fix.

nightblack91vr4 · 05-20-2008, 08:25 AM

It looks like I had the same problem you have now with your headlights: peeling and bubbling. I took a razor blade and very carefully scraped off all of the bubbles, then used some clear spray paint to give it a top coat. It didn't come out perfect, but it looks much better. I had a really hard time finding new headlight covers (read: I didn't find any) so this was an easy fix for me.
I decided not to sand it because the covers are plastic, so I figured it would only make it more cloudy and scratch it up.

wraith · 05-20-2008, 04:05 PM

do a search on lexan headlight polish and repair

~StealthDriver · 05-20-2008, 07:27 PM

Thanks alot for the ideas guys, i think it will give me a great starting point on this car i just bought. Just too used to the pop up lights

Lord Warlock · 05-20-2008, 09:33 PM

If the lights are plastic, they can be sanded smooth, then wetsanded, then a coat of clear to seal it, and it will look almost new. I've done it several times to the tail lights and garnish on the stealth, and they came out looking new afterwards. But don't sand on glass...not good.

05-16-2008, 02:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
~StealthDriver Go Lobos! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Trader Rating: (0)	Repainting my car - new bumper needed? Hey, i just bought a 95 gt as my daily driver, but the paint looks awful, so i was gonna repaint it. The bumper is kinda banged up, i didn't know if i should buy a new one or if can be made to look fine. Also the light covering are kinda fogged over or something, anyone have any ideas how to fix that. Thanks, anway here's the pics: __________________ 1991 Stealth R/T TT 1995 3000GT

05-19-2008, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
~StealthDriver Go Lobos! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? Ideas anyone?

05-19-2008, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
seta8967 selling 95 vr4 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: station-minot AFB :( Drives: 1995 3000gt VR-4 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? I would take it to the place whee you are getting it painted or a autobody shop and see if they think it fixable... pics are only so good. From the looks of it your current one is salvagable.. though i can't really tell.

05-19-2008, 11:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
DBLerman Average poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North NJ Drives: '94 3000GT Trader Rating: (3)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? For what you will be paying for paint and body work, it would probably be easier to either buy a new bumper or get a used bumper that is in like new condition. __________________

05-20-2008, 07:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
~StealthDriver Go Lobos! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? Thats what i was thinking, but i posted a week ago and no one has a used bumper for sale. Also though how about the glass on the headlights. Should i just try to sand it down and buff it? Is it ez and cheap just to replace the glass?

Sponsored Links
3000GT/Stealth International Message Center Advertisement

05-20-2008, 08:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lord Warlock Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Jacksonville FL Drives: 2004 SVT Cobra,91TT Trader Rating: (10)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? You could fix your bumper if you really wanted to, it isn't beyond hope. A body shop would be able to fix it, but they'd probably prefer to replace it, but finding another replacement piece may not be any cheaper and it will stretch out the time to repair it. Re: the glass, can't help you there, very small imperfections can be polished out, but if you can feel it with your fingernail, usually its too deep to fix.

05-20-2008, 08:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
nightblack91vr4 Young Gunner Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chagrin Falls, OH Drives: 1996 SL Trader Rating: (3)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? It looks like I had the same problem you have now with your headlights: peeling and bubbling. I took a razor blade and very carefully scraped off all of the bubbles, then used some clear spray paint to give it a top coat. It didn't come out perfect, but it looks much better. I had a really hard time finding new headlight covers (read: I didn't find any) so this was an easy fix for me. I decided not to sand it because the covers are plastic, so I figured it would only make it more cloudy and scratch it up.

05-20-2008, 04:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
wraith resident evil Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Oradell New Jersey Trader Rating: (15)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? do a search on lexan headlight polish and repair

05-20-2008, 07:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
~StealthDriver Go Lobos! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? Thanks alot for the ideas guys, i think it will give me a great starting point on this car i just bought. Just too used to the pop up lights

05-20-2008, 09:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lord Warlock Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Jacksonville FL Drives: 2004 SVT Cobra,91TT Trader Rating: (10)	Re: Repainting my car - new bumper needed? If the lights are plastic, they can be sanded smooth, then wetsanded, then a coat of clear to seal it, and it will look almost new. I've done it several times to the tail lights and garnish on the stealth, and they came out looking new afterwards. But don't sand on glass...not good.