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How was the roof on yours? That is the number one problem on mine, Maroon faded to rust.. Second problem is the radiator core support. I have an OEM one on hand. It is a Florida car so I was surprised the radiator support was bad. No apparent rust elsewhere underneath. I think the lawn sprinkers worked on the Rad Support.
Did you remove all the trim yourself for the paint shop or did they R&R the entire vehicle? How much did you spend? I have never had a vehicle repainted, so the transaction is rather new to me. In my case, there will be rust work on the roof as well as replacing the Radiator Support.
Removed every piece I could get off because overspray was inevitable. Except for the roof rack, tow bar and emblems, it was faded black plastic of some type. The paint job was $1800 including tax and I spent another $1000 on supplies and a few pieces.
Wow, that is a great price. I should send mine up your way. I am trying to figure out how to remove the door guards. I really don't want them back on as the plastic "chrome" inserts are awful.
Are you talking about the pieces in the picture? If so, I wonder if the chrome insert is just a decal you could remove with a heat gun.
It is some sort of reflective tape. I tried pulling it out and it is on there pretty good. Have not tried a heat gun. I would prefer pulling the whole guard off if I can figure out how. I hope it isn't glued on.
I've never removed my door guards so this is just speculation but I venture they're attached the same way as the insignias, with alignment pins/holes and mounting tape.
I remembered this comment when you mentioned something in another thread about electrolysis. Could the sprinklers be a thing? I lived in SE Florida for about 20 years and remember how sketchy the water quality was. Last house we had there was on well water and needed sand, salt and sulphur filters.
The local city water is corrosive to copper pipes. Every house built in this town with copper pipes has had to have a repipe with PEX. I would blame salinity. As far as the RAD support, the front of the car has been exposed to the sprinklers and washed on a weekly basis from them. But I can't rule out the aluminum radiator. After the Rad support is replaced, I intend to look into the voltage differential between both.
If its not too much trouble I would like to see the radiator support area behind the grill/fascia from corner to corner. I am curious how much stuff is hanging onto that support. Also the grill as removed. I am planning to repaint mine as well and wonder how it is fastened.
It's too humid today to finish painting so I can take more pictures.
Attaching the grille is a piece of cake; removing it is 16 chances to break off a plastic tab. I used a heat gun to soften it up a little. Painting is also a pita because you have to hit it from so many different angles.
