94drumx3/drummer200sx - 1994 mx-3 RS

[94drumx3]

awesome...i appreciate the advice/tips.
i might do the paint job myself, depending how much the shops charge.

[onlytrueromeo]

I good paint job will be 1000+. Since youre doing prep work yourself, you will save money, however, if you are not experienced with it, the paint will not look good if you dont have a good base (primer) coat.

With that said, if you want to paint it just for the heck of painting it, you can use rustoleum cans, and they will work. You will not get the highest gloss from it, but it will protect the car. The next step up is to get a cheap spray gun and buy some cheap paint, put it in the gun and spray the car yourself...this is easier said than done (I know I've done it) Best bet is to get a test piece (like an old fender or hood or something) and practice spraying the thing...if you like the results, move to the car. You will most likely want to get a single stage paint, and not to a base/clear as they are more tricky.

Next step up from that is to get a GOOD paint gun and some GOOD paint, and repeat what I said above. This will cost you though as you could spend 500-600+.

You will need to paint in a warm environment, free of dust if you can. If you have a garage, great. You still need to make an enclosed spray area so that overspray doesnt go everywhere. This is what I would do...take 2x4's and lots of drop cloth sheets and build yourself a box from around the car w/ enough room to work in. Hook up a square fan blowing outward so that overspray leaves the enclosed area. You will also need someplace for fresh air to get in...if the setup is in your garage, cutting a number of small slits on the side opposite the fan will work, if youre outside you might want to rig up some sort of filter device.

OR you could do it the really cheap way and just do it outside, under the sun! (Or a carport which is what I did). Just make sure its not going to rain for a few days so the paint has some time to cure!

[fowljesse]

Google "$50 paint job Moparts" VEry interesting, and harder to screw up. Look for the Miata.

[onlytrueromeo]

^^lol I tried the 50$ paint job and it didn't work to well for me...the black looks AWFUL thinned and rolled on...yeah you can get it smooth but it is not glossy and no amount of polishing will make it better.

[fowljesse]

The miata looks like a black mirror.

[94drumx3]

Google "$50 paint job Moparts" VEry interesting, and harder to screw up. Look for the Miata.

hey thanks i'll look that one up...i've seen most of the "$50 paint job" articles and they make it seem real simple, but i'm known to mess up a lot of simple stuff haha

[94drumx3]

I good paint job will be 1000+. Since youre doing prep work .........
........the sun! (Or a carport which is what I did). Just make sure its not going to rain for a few days so the paint has some time to cure!

hey thanks for the pointers...i think i might just go with the self done paint job.


also i know a lot of people dont like body kits and everything, and i am starting to have the same views. i think if i could do over again, i'd put the money from the body kit into the engine...ah i guess i'll have to learn from my mistakes.

[fowljesse]

I painted my 33 foot RV silver with rollers. It looks great, but the job wouldn't be good enough for my MX-3. I painted a travelling van the same color, and method, and polished it so much, it literally hurt my eyes. Try putting in the word "aussiedriver" in the search, too, to see the Miata. You won't believe it.

[94drumx3]

so this whole foam rollers is leavin a lot of bubbles, but they pop prety fast.
its lookin absolutely great from in the garage but when you see it in daylight it kinda looks crappy but i'm homin after a few more coats and some wet sanding i'll have a nice look that i'm wanting.

[fowljesse]

I'm looking forward to seeing it done!

[94drumx3]

[Mi|<E]

The green one is the ECU temperature sensor.


This one is the fan temperature sensor.


Here is the orange colored one near the ignition coil


And im going to call this a butterfly style plug, its the reverse light plug to the tranny.

[Mi|<E]

Condenser



Igniter

[94drumx3]

K, update:

my mx-3 has given me nothing but problems. and i always get right to where i'm about to get rid of it and then voila problem solved so i'll get rid of my postings of getting rid of it, and then BAM another problem. will it ever end?!

well i've decided to at least get er running smooth. and i've also decided to try and get it back to more of the "stock" look. i'm trying to find a stock front and rear bumper for cheap. wish me luck.

i'm just getting in my VAF i need from Mi|<E...who has helped me out a TON with the whole thing. truly grateful!!

the roll on paint job....well eh, it was ok on the hood, the rest of it was just horrible. but i was in a rush and blah blah its really my own fault on that one.

another day with the mx-3 today. gonna re-sand it all down, re-primer it and honestly...i really like the primer grey color. so idk, it'll probably stay like that for a while.

[onlytrueromeo]

^I had the same problem w/ the roll on...it took too long and I'm not patient enough I guess. Rattle canning looked nicer and was easier IMO if you want a cheap paint job.

Sucks that you're havin problems...one you get the issues ironed out (prob. just 1 or 2 things that are causing everything) the car should be very reliable. Ive only been stranded because I'm a moron and left my lights on or something like that, or left my terminals too loose so they pop off when driving (not fun!)