So a few months back my fiance got rear ended on the freeway, more like nudged by someone when they switched lanes, regardless it was his fault and her bumper and back up light filler panel got messed up. We opted not to fix it through insurance and just take cash from the guy. Its a 98 escort and it wasnt worth enough to make a claim, plus it may have "totalled" it. She's happy with the mileage, its a 98 with 80,000 miles on it at 35 mpg, not bad. So she didnt want it totalled. So I browsed ebay and local junkyards here and there and picked up the parts for about $100.00. luckily it was just the bumper cover that was messed up and not the subframe. I went out and bought myself a paint gun and some paint from wesco.

Go easy on the critique, its my first time with a real compressed air paint gun, and mixing reducers and whatnot. I usually rattle can my stuff.


The filler panel installed, I was dumb and didnt take a before pic of it, it was originally white. Got it off ebay for $25.00

[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o315/wilsnwbord4food/002-1.jpg
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The broken one.


The bumper is still messed up.


Theres a little bit of cracking under the clear coat. not enough to re paint though, Im not painting a 67 mustang.


Close up on the bumper.


I picked this up at the junkyard for $75.00.


Ive sanded it smooth and already painted it as well, but it needed a couple more coats of clear and it should be done tomorrow so I'll get some pics of that when its done. Its in my dads garage drying, otherwise id take some really quick. I wish my apartment had a garage.

 

At the shop at school, we were getting that cracking effect all over, and it was because the gun was set wrong, it was putting out enough air or something, but it looks like you did a pretty good job though.

 

Thanks, Yeah I played with the air adjustment a bit, Its weird though it didnt crack like that until after I sprayed the clear coat

 

How much experience do you have painting? I'm no painter, but my roommate is a professional painter and he said often times the paint cracking after laying down the clear coat is caused by not letting the paint flash correctly before you clear it. Although I'm sure if you are an experienced painter then its probably something else causing it.

 

This is my first time painting. what is "flash"?

 

letting the paint 'flash' is just another way of saying dry.....sort of. When the paint has 'flashed' all the brightness and wet look will be gone. Initially when the color is layed down it has that wet look to it, but once it has flashed it will begin to look dull....... Once the paint has flashed is when you want to lay the clear down. I guess being able to tell exactly when the paint has flashed comes with experience. I've seen my roommate paint quite a few cars and I must admit, I couldn't tell when the paint had completely flashed.

If you understand how I'm explaining it though, I bet you could get the cracking to stop.

 

Was I the only person that opened this thread thinking it said Flexing my Fiance's Escort?

Looks like fun, though.

 

Hmm, It seemed like it was cured enough and the shine was gone, I let it dry over night, and then some. Could the temperature effect that in any way? Like it being too cold and maybe taking longer than normal? I guess I should paint a few more things before I try painting anything for my truck.

Jimmeh- Thats got to be one pimped escort... "here let me flex it on this pebble"

 

yes, we should change the direction of this thread now. put the bumper down and use the new front clearance to your advantage and flex something!

 

Thats the rear bumper.... but that was only 6 bolts so im sure the front comes off just as easy. that should give me 3 inches or so. I might get some bigger tires and try flexing the curb.

 

yeah the front too, cut the fenders throw some 265's on it and hit the trail

 

looks good dude, glad to see its turning out.

 

Gotta fix the parking brake and I can hit up some rally trails.

Thanks Michael, the bumper will be on tomorrow

 

It's done! The sub frame is a little bit tweaked, but i think its an 85% improvement from what it looked like before. heres some pics of during and after.
This is my first time attempting and body repair so Im pretty happy with how it turned out. Keep in mind it only cost $250.00 for parts and supplies. I think its a pretty good fix for that price.

 

Nice job! :)

...now, tell me that it has a 1.8L in it, a 5-speed manual transmission, and she needs a new clutch.

I've had a brand spankin' new Daikin clutch sitting on my porch since I traded my Escort in and got my Ranger. I'd make you a heck of a deal on it...

 

excellent work!!..you have found a hidden talent.

 

That it does, but her clutch has recently been replaced, and feels just fine. thanks though.

 

nice job Brendon. 95% of people would never know anything happened. I will have to see if I have any thing I need painted now.

 

nice work man

 

Looks 100% better. Very nice work.

 

that turned out really well !!!

 

Looks great, now just tweak that trunk lid a bit and it will all be nice and neat!

 

Yeah, I tried to adjust the bolts that hold it onto the hinge, but it makes it worse. The subframes tweaked a bit upwards. the trunk doesnt leak so I figured Id leave it and not make it worse.

 

Looks pretty good. Paint looks to be a tad off, but it's hard to match the original after it's been in the sun for years.

 

I also bought the after market stuff, not the ford factory. Its pretty close I think