Got a little bored this weekend....

[Duncan]

So we thought we would try our hand at painting the top of my $500 1996 Camry aka 'The Panty Dropper'. Dupli-color paint at O'rileys ($24 a quart. We applied 2 quarts of primer, 2 quarts of 'Jet Black', and 2 quarts of clear. Sprayed on using cheapy kobalt gun they sell at Lowes).
Before;



After our '20ft' addition;


Took us about 15 hours or so, and it still needs polished (waiting for it to cure, may try this weekend) but it turned out pretty good, imo.

[krazy kris]

Looks really good for what it is! You could probably flip it for a pretty penny

[HarrisonTX]

What did you do to the existing paint before the primer? Scuff? Anything?
Looks good in the pic

[Duncan]

What did you do to the existing paint before the primer? Scuff? Anything?
Looks good in the pic

The hood was in pretty bad shape (200k miles of rock chips) had to take it down to bare metal at the very front, filled a few dings and I sanded/scuffed the rest. After the primer I sanded again just to smooth it out a little more, there are some imperfections that showed thru (my sanding of one of the spots I used bondo on the hood didnt turn out real well, could have spent more time sanding it down).

[Duncan]

Looks really good for what it is! You could probably flip it for a pretty penny

Thanks!
I bought it to help out a family member nearly two years ago till they got back on their feet which they did so they returned it. I just had the timing belt and water pump replaced, I need to address the front struts (new, but noisy), and the power steering leaks pretty good (high pressure hose and pump both leak). but apart from that, everything else works just as it should. I have yet to look into what these sell for but I am fairly certain I would only break even after its all said and done. Hell, before too long my oldest will be driving (4 years still, but the last 4 years went by pretty damn fast..). Until then, the wife will use it instead of the Excursion (diesel is over $4 a gallon)

[brtnstrns]

Thanks!
I bought it to help out a family member nearly two years ago till they got back on their feet which they did so they returned it. I just had the timing belt and water pump replaced, I need to address the front struts (new, but noisy), and the power steering leaks pretty good (high pressure hose and pump both leak). but apart from that, everything else works just as it should. I have yet to look into what these sell for but I am fairly certain I would only break even after its all said and done. Hell, before too long my oldest will be driving (4 years still, but the last 4 years went by pretty damn fast..). Until then, the wife will use it instead of the Excursion (diesel is over $4 a gallon)

How much did it cost to change your timing belt? My 95 camry 5SFE is pushing 120k miles without it being replaced. I do all highway driving and since its non-interference, I'm not too concerned. But I should probably replace it soon...

[Duncan]

How much did it cost to change your timing belt? My 95 camry 5SFE is pushing 120k miles without it being replaced. I do all highway driving and since its non-interference, I'm not too concerned. But I should probably replace it soon...

I let it go as long as I could (being non-interference I knew it wouldn't hurt anything) but it started to make some noise so I took it to Firestone, $697 and some change to have them do the timing belt and water pump (could have saved money by doing it myself...but I am lazy).

[DON SVO]

I let it go as long as I could (being non-interference I knew it wouldn't hurt anything) but it started to make some noise so I took it to Firestone, $697 and some change to have them do the timing belt and water pump (could have saved money by doing it myself...but I am lazy).

I love the paint job, it freshened that car up something awesome.

As for the timing belt deal, even on the high side, the belt and tensioner should be less than $150... I consider that paying myself $550 for 6 hours.

[brtnstrns]

I love the paint job, it freshened that car up something awesome.

As for the timing belt deal, even on the high side, the belt and tensioner should be less than $150... I consider that paying myself $550 for 6 hours.

That's what I'm leaning towards. I've just never done it before and hate front wheel drive cars so I have no idea how much time it would take or what to expect. I've read some write-ups and seems fairly straight forward, but there is such little room on the side of the engine bay, I just believe its gotta be time consuming and a pain in the ass.

[8mpg]

any up close shots? Looks pretty good

[Duncan]

any up close shots? Looks pretty good

Thanks! I will post some after I polish it, right now its pretty clouded looking and I didnt spend near enough time sanding and smoothing before shooting so there are quite a few spots that showed thru. Its a 20fter at best

[8mpg]

20 footer is great for painting at home.

[Duncan]

I love the paint job, it freshened that car up something awesome.

As for the timing belt deal, even on the high side, the belt and tensioner should be less than $150... I consider that paying myself $550 for 6 hours.

I thought so as well. I wasnt sure how the two tone look would turn out, but I am pleased with the results.

There is quite a long list of things (mostly minor) that need to be fixed that I plan on taking on (front suspension noise, power steering pump/hose replacement, front axle boots are non existent though they aren't making any noise yet, a few door handles that need to be replaced - inside and out, headlights no longer have any adjustment and are pointed in the wrong directions - new ones on order along with cheap HID's, driver side window motor, oil pan/valve cover and oil filter adapter gaskets). With the timing belt and water pump off the list I am more likely to start the others sooner rather than later. But I like the thought of making $550 for 6 hours, I will have to keep that in mind when fixing the rest of the issues.

[brtnstrns]

... a few door handles that need to be replaced - inside and out...

Haha, yeah my Camry is essentially a police car - can only open the rear doors from the outside. That and I managed to rip the entire drivers door handle off - there's only a little sliver that I can get one finger on to pull out then get my hand behind the inner part of it.

[Cooter]

I would have gone back w/ factory color, but quality looks decent for at-home especially black