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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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How to paint plastic car molding

Hello everyone,
Major question here....I drive a 98' Audi A4...the car is flame red (factory) and it has black plastic molding around the entire base of the car...I want to paint that molding to match the car to give it the appearance of being lower. Does any one have any idea how to do so? please let me know

Brennan R
Audi - Burlington, Ontario, Canada
2006

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2006

Prep and paint as if it were metal,
1)wet sand with 400 grit
2)grey primer, wet sand again with 400 grit
3)sealer
4)topcoat
5)wear shoes with lifts in them when standing next to car
I don't think the car will look lower if you paint the trim red, part of the reason a car looks high is due to the space between the tires and fenderwells, painting the lower body trim with a bright color might actually accentuate that further, is modifying the suspension not an option?

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Hi Sheldon,

That was a damned good reply ... and I liked your analysis that painting the black would do NOTHING, only lowering the suspension would.

But you didn't say how high the lifts should be on Brennan's shoes, 4" would be nice, eh? Maybe 8" but he'd look real queer in those, wouldn't he.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2006

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Maybe he has a girlfriend who could wear the 8" heels? Or fill the trunk with lead? Or park it next to a basketball backboard where he put the net 12 foot off the ground instead of 10? Or let the air out of his tires? Or park next to one of those really high curbs? All in a spirit of trying to help...

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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Thanks Freeman. I like Ted's suggestion, Brennan can get a picture of his girlfriend in 8" heels standing next to the car and send it in, we might be able to come up with some more ideas.....

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2006

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But will it make the car look lower if she wears a long skirt or a short one, Sheldon? I could be wrong, but I'd suggest an impossibly short one.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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Sheldon,

Um. Yes, the car would look much lower if his girl friend is a basket ball player AND has 8" lifts .... mind you, head room might then be problematic ....but none of you experts have suggested using Mini rims and tires. Real kinky, too, eh? Then she could wear a mini skirt !

We are dying to get a photo of her, Brennan ... well, Ted would love that and then he could allow everyone to see this .... excellent publicity for fin.com.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2006

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Poor Brennan, all he wanted was to cover up a stripe, which Sheldon told him how to do in the first post, and here we are six posts later . . .

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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Mini-rims, mini-skirts, Way to go Freeman! It's all coming together now! If we can just get Ted to share that picture.(He's probably already set it as the background on his monitor). Site moderators get all the perks.

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2006

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No, site moderators get to see their administrative assistant roll her eyes and bang things around in protest over having to spend her time maintaining this kind of thread :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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No chance of getting the 8" inch heels on her then, so I won't even go there.(Any chance she won't see this one)?

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2006