WIPE, SAND, CLEAN APPLY PRIMER COLOR COAT CLEAR COAT WET-SAND AND POLISH

Before sanding, wipe the entire engine surface with ColorRite Prep-Wipes towelettes to remove any grease or wax. Follow this up by wiping the entire surface with a soft, absorbent cloth such as a microfiber towel. Then sand by hand with 600-grit wet/dry sandpaper and water. Do not use solvent or reducer. After sanding, use a dry cloth to wipe away residual moisture and sanding slurry. Next, and immediately prior to step two, use the tack cloth to remove any dust and tiny dirt particles.

Because some scratches went down to the bare plastic, we needed to apply the ColorRite primer, which is gray in color. We sprayed three light but even coats, keeping the nozzle 10 to 12 inches away from the surface. We allowed each coat to dry 10 to 15 minutes before spraying the next coat. Not only did the primer provide a consistent base shade for the color coat, but it also filled in minute scratches in the surface of the old finish and underlying plastic, helping ensure a smooth final finish.

We let the final primer coat dry for 15 minutes before starting to apply the color coat. As with the primer, we sprayed three even coats, allowing each to dry for 10 to 15 minutes before applying the next. We kept each application light, with the spray nozzle about 10 to 12 inches from the surface to prevent runs or drips, and covered the entire surface with each application for consistent color. The finish might initially appear a bit rough or stippled in texture, but this will smooth out after steps four and five.

We let the final color coat dry for about 45 minutes. Then we sprayed on three light, even and full-coverage applications of the ColorRite glossy clear coat, waiting about 10 minutes between coats, and again keeping the nozzle about 10 to 12 inches from the surface to help prevent sags or drips. The clear coat not only creates a glossier finish, but also helps fill in and even out the color coat’s slightly rough texture, if any. After clear-coating, let the finish cure for three to five days in a dry, undisturbed place.

After five days, we used 1,200-grit wet/dry sandpaper and water to lightly sand the apron surface by hand. We avoided over-sanding the ridges to prevent wearing through. This process resulted in a smooth but slightly hazy finish. Then we used microfiber cloths to apply and buff out the ColorRite lightcut polishing compound to bring out the color and replicate the factory sheen. After bolting the apron back on, it was identical in color and gloss to the surrounding parts.