See I had a hard time believing that engine heat did that to the paint as well (though I don't know any better)...and if it is hot enough to do that, why hasn't it happened to others, what did they roll on over the blemish to stop it? Those thoughts cross my mind everyday I look at it.

Instead of coughing up the $50 for some more heat shield material, I might just do the "faux saudi grill" mod and go ahead and paint it. I don't mind the lack of insulation noise-wise anyways, I just don't want to paint it up good and watch it melt away. The saudi mod should help with airflow and keeping the temp down enough.

Thanks for the ideas Danny, but i'm probably going to give it the hood blackout which would take care of most of the problem area (and match my wheels), and then just try my best to match the fang that extends beyond the hood blackout area with some rattle can and some clear coat. Will post pics when I'm done, as long as I don't screw it up real bad.

 

Make sure you sand and prep well. That's the diff between good paint jobs and bad paint jobs, rattle can or not. It's all in the prep work.

 

Agreed, and I'm not sure if you can tell from the pic I posted, but i'm going to have to sand it down pretty good.

Any sandpaper recommendations? I do have an electric sander and if i'm going to take the hood off and paint this beast, I want it to look as good as cheaply possible.

 

Doing it good the first is the cheapest way, redoing a bad job always cost more.

Ever watch shows like Trucks, HorsePower TV and such where they do things like buy old trucks or muscle cars/engines/and such and do them up? They have segments on all that kind of stuff.

Do you have an Air Compressor? Spray Gun? For the price of several cans of good spray paint, you can get some basic equipment and do it yourself much better than canned stuff.

 

Do one of those new things where it looks like something ripping thru the paint.....

 

Brandon, I don't know if YOU know it yet, but this is exactly what you're looking for for your hood.

http://www.toplessrobot.com/Frank%20...estructeur.jpg

Trust me.

 

I think it matches the "fang" too!

 

Or do one similar involving a Disco driving over a bunch of Wranglers....

 

On Orange County Choppers they had a tearaway paint job on one of their bikes.

 

My 97 had no blanket, but did have round plastic discs to hold one in. Popped those out, and grabbed one from a Disco 2 at the boneyard for $6. Some holes line up, some don't; interior quieter now