1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Ever painted a fiberglass Leer Cap?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Chriskn1690, Sep 25, 2011.

  1. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:18 PM
    #1
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    Hi all, I've come across an opportunity to pick up a white leer cap in very good condition for $200.00. My problem is I do want it to somewhat match my truck, although it does not have to be a perfect match. With that being said, has anyone bought a Leer Cap and tried to paint it yourself? I'm not sure that you can even sand down and paint a fiber glass cap, and I do not want to go to a body shop because I am on a tight budget. Any suggestions?
     
  2. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:35 PM
    #2
    ffirg

    ffirg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2011
    Member:
    #57975
    Messages:
    4,876
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    mike
    Anchorage, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2002 Tacoma SR5 TRD 4X4
    $$$
    I haven't done it myself, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to sand it down and re-paint it. It would be a lot of work, but probably do-able. My shell is a different color and also scratched up I'm thinking of repainting also. I'll probably just have a shop do it though.
     
  3. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:38 PM
    #3
    paintdiddy

    paintdiddy Machine gun shits

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2008
    Member:
    #9924
    Messages:
    10,281
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    shithead
    nj and not from "the jersey shore"
    Vehicle:
    silver bullet
    With a silver truck,I'd wet sand the cap with 600 grit paper.prep work is everything.get rid of all the shine.
     
  4. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:48 PM
    #4
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2010
    Member:
    #39131
    Messages:
    38,409
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    '19 Ford F-250 6.7 SCrew
    F-250 Land Yacht Mod
    For automotive paint you need to go a lot higher grit than 600 for the final sand. I'd go 1-2000 grit.

    OP, how good of a paint job are you looking for? The paint itself isn't overly cheap, do you have a compressor, paint gun and a place to paint? It's doable but there's a touch to doing a nice paint job.
     
  5. Sep 25, 2011 at 4:53 PM
    #5
    Tigahshark

    Tigahshark Senior NEWBIE

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    Member:
    #61688
    Messages:
    8,241
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Isaac
    On a volcano, literally!
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC TRD off road 4X4
    Tint Weathertech floor liner, weathertech window visor Roll n lock tonneau cover Rubber bed mat Smoked license plate covers
    You could easily sand the camper, you wouldnt need to sand it down to the base all you would need to do is sand it a little past scuffing it with at least 1500 as the final sand paper, a good primer and 2 coats of ANY paint but obviously good paint is better maybe something with a flex additive since i believe those are fiberglass and a good clear coat. Not hard at all and totally doable! :D

    Paint probably going be around 150-200
     
  6. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:04 PM
    #6
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    It doesn't have to be a perfect paint job, I do have a spray gun and compressor. I do a lot of spray work involving wood. There is a chain restaurant called Friendly's, not sure if you ever heard of it, but me and my grandfather do all of the wooden clocks that they have in their restaurants. My grandfather's sight is terrible so I do the spraying. I think my hand is steady enough to do it. I was just wondering if anyone else has attempted it before I try lol
     
  7. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:04 PM
    #7
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    You really think the paint would be 150 to 200 bucks?
     
  8. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:06 PM
    #8
    paintdiddy

    paintdiddy Machine gun shits

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2008
    Member:
    #9924
    Messages:
    10,281
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    shithead
    nj and not from "the jersey shore"
    Vehicle:
    silver bullet
    I'm an auto painter for 17 years.1-2000 is to wet sand and polish
     
  9. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:07 PM
    #9
    paintdiddy

    paintdiddy Machine gun shits

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2008
    Member:
    #9924
    Messages:
    10,281
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    shithead
    nj and not from "the jersey shore"
    Vehicle:
    silver bullet
    Silver is a tricky color sometimes.you can make it blotchy and have the metalics stand up( applied to dry)
     
  10. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:08 PM
    #10
    Tigahshark

    Tigahshark Senior NEWBIE

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    Member:
    #61688
    Messages:
    8,241
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Isaac
    On a volcano, literally!
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC TRD off road 4X4
    Tint Weathertech floor liner, weathertech window visor Roll n lock tonneau cover Rubber bed mat Smoked license plate covers
    For decent paint i believe so.
     
  11. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:10 PM
    #11
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    What do you think a shop would charge to paintit to match it to my truck?
     
  12. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:13 PM
    #12
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    Hmm. . . well even with that it is cheaper then buying a new cap. . I wonder if a shop would be much more than 200.
     
  13. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:13 PM
    #13
    paintdiddy

    paintdiddy Machine gun shits

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2008
    Member:
    #9924
    Messages:
    10,281
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    shithead
    nj and not from "the jersey shore"
    Vehicle:
    silver bullet
    If you prep it,I'd say about $200-$400 depending on shops. Shop around.I'm sure you could find someone on Craigslist In your area.
     
  14. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:14 PM
    #14
    Tigahshark

    Tigahshark Senior NEWBIE

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    Member:
    #61688
    Messages:
    8,241
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Isaac
    On a volcano, literally!
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC TRD off road 4X4
    Tint Weathertech floor liner, weathertech window visor Roll n lock tonneau cover Rubber bed mat Smoked license plate covers
    /\/\/\/\ what he said
     
  15. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:16 PM
    #15
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    hmm. . . maybe I will prep it and bring it to a maco or something. I know a guy that did all of his own prep work on an old civic, he brought it to maco and they only charged him 400 to paint and clear coat the entire car. . I would assume it would be cheap for them to do a lear cap if its already sanded
     
  16. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:17 PM
    #16
    Chriskn1690

    Chriskn1690 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45516
    Messages:
    233
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Springfield,MA
    Vehicle:
    2000 4Runner SR5
    K&N intake and flowmaster 40 exhaust.
    I didn't expect all these answers so quick, thanks guys! . .It's the girlfriends birthday so I'm taking her out right now. I'll be back on tomorrow, seriously thanks for the responses.
     
  17. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:19 PM
    #17
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2010
    Member:
    #39131
    Messages:
    38,409
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    '19 Ford F-250 6.7 SCrew
    F-250 Land Yacht Mod
    Last time I had a bike painted, I did the prep and the guy who was going to paint it for me made me use 1,000 grit. You're telling me I could been fine with 600 :mad: Dammit, coulda saved me a whole lotta sanding!
     
  18. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:27 PM
    #18
    paintdiddy

    paintdiddy Machine gun shits

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2008
    Member:
    #9924
    Messages:
    10,281
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    shithead
    nj and not from "the jersey shore"
    Vehicle:
    silver bullet
    Depends on color,grit,and how good you are at prep work.you could go up to 800. You could go up to 3000 if you were paintng a 100 point show car. You could use 220 if your painting a non metallic color or single stage and polish it.It doesn't hurt to go the extra step. 400-600-800. You wouldn't start at 800
     
  19. Sep 25, 2011 at 5:35 PM
    #19
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2010
    Member:
    #39131
    Messages:
    38,409
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    '19 Ford F-250 6.7 SCrew
    F-250 Land Yacht Mod
    Damn... I did 100, 220, 400, 600 and he had me take everything back and do 800 and 1,000. It probably wasn't necessary but the guy is kind of a perfectionist. He's got a Harley that he's had offers upwards of $40k for, beautiful machine and he made my bike look incredible.
     
  20. Sep 25, 2011 at 6:22 PM
    #20
    ALawrence

    ALawrence Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2011
    Member:
    #63252
    Messages:
    1,409
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andrew
    Oklahoma City
    Vehicle:
    03 Tacoma Sr5 Double cab 4x4
    do you do all the wooden clocks in all friendlys? like the ones in pennsylvania too? my sister did a painting thats inside the one in lancaster pa....

    wouldnt fiberglass caps be gel coated? isnt that alittle different prep then on a car?
     

Products Discussed in

To Top