Lately I more and more considered not painting my car Imola Orange. Partially by seeing the picture beside, I ultimately decided to paint it black. I chose a black pearl paint with a blue hue; Nighthawk Black Pearl. This was a factory color on the Acura RSX Type S.
The Prelude is on the trailer here to be taken to the painter. I transport the car with a car cover over it not risking unforeseen rain or damage.
We arrived at car damage specialist Van Straaten, located in Gouderak. Here the car will be spray-painted on the inside.
Two friends help me to scotch the last overlooked edges.
There it is in the spray booth. Everything has to be degreased and taped off first, but at least it's in a warm place here.
I left the rear quarter windows in because they were in mint shape and there wasn't any rust under them. I did remove the weather strips surrounding it, so that paint will be under them and no masking edges will be visible.
The engine bay is ready for paint as well, after I double-checked every square centimeter for rust one last time. The steering rack, steering wheel, wheels and suspension are taped off so the rest will be spray-painted black. The front cross-member will get a layer of paint as well.
The hood and trunk lid will be painted on the inside and are carefully hanged onto a frame.
The first layer of paint is on the car. It was painted a matte black, which for the interior doesn't matter, but I'd rather have the engine bay in the same color as the exterior.
The rear panel has been painted as well; it was welded in new and the welding points need to be protected as well.
The inside of the fuel lid was painted black so that the lid can remain on the car while the exterior is being painted.
I had the side-sills painted as well, because side-skirts will be fitted over them and under them it should be black as well.
The engine bay was painted very neatly, but too matte.
The same applies for the underside of the hood.
The area under the front fenders is not painted from factory, but I did have them painted. This was the damaged corner, but there's nothing left to see.
The complete engine bay has to be scotched again for the second layer of paint. Luckily I received some help.
After an hour the whole engine bay is scotched. It went quite fast because everything was even and smooth now. All we had to do is roughen up the paint a little.
Scotching the underside of the hood took a quarter of an hour with two people working on it.
The underside of the trunk lid in color. You can clearly see the blue hue of the black pearl paint in this picture, in the upper area of the trunk lid.
The trunk and rear panel. Black, eh?
With the second layer of paint, the complete interior was done as well. Now there are absolutely no red areas left.
The engine bay, the most proud part of the car, where later on the engine with all its polished parts will be done justice very nicely.
The hood-, trunk lid- and door hinges and the headlight frames are all painted the correct color.
Even the inside of the front fenders were painted. So that's some extra rust prevention then.