13 GT Decklid panel
#21
The Airaid CAI was installed yesterday. Haven't had a chance to test it yet.
If you get a chance, call me and let's chew the fat.
Last edited by Missouri Hoss; 7/6/13 at 11:24 AM.
#22
Sounds easy, but it's not. The scratch resistant coating is hard as nails. It takes work to just break the surface with a jitterbug sander and 320 grit. Finer abrasives won't even dull the surface.
#23
Good to know that the panel is scratch resistant since I got my hands on one that came off of a 2014.... I know its all opinion, but the black panel does an excellent job if breaking up all the red back there... Looks boring all red IMHO... I know we have different taillights but u get the idea, I really like the looks of the 13-14s so much better, but I'm trying to make the best of what I got for now
#24
My reason for painting mine to match the car color is, I'm striping it and I want that stripe to go down the decklid as well. I don't like the looks of striping that stops above the panel, then picks back up at the top of the bumper. Just personal preference, I guess.
#25
My reason for painting mine to match the car color is, I'm striping it and I want that stripe to go down the decklid as well. I don't like the looks of striping that stops above the panel, then picks back up at the top of the bumper. Just personal preference, I guess.
On my sterling gray Mustang that's on order, I went to my dealer today to get my weekly pre-delivery fix. I'm planning to put gloss-black stripes on mine shortly after I take delivery. I was looking at that decklid panel on a gray Mustang in the lot, and asking myself how it's going to look when the black stripes meet that panel.
I'm debating whether I might put some matte black stripes on the decklid (if they'll even stick well), which then switch back to gloss black below the panel, as sort of an "inverse" black color, to continue the stripe without a radical color change.
I'm undecided though... I may just let the gloss black stripe be interrupted at the decklid.
#26
That's weird, you see other people posting how they don't like the decklids on the '13 because they scratch way too easy.
#27
They did scratch easy. I can't wait to paint mine. The tail lights break up the color enough for me. Plus I have a black rtr spoiler and carbon fiber license surround.
#28
All I can confirm is, I watched my body man run an orbital sander over the 2014 panel with 800, 400 then 320 grit paper and the 320 very very lightly dulled the surface after a few minutes. I had to look close to see the sand marks. An etched surface is what he needs for the paint to stick. Even after he broke completely through the coating, the surface was slick. He says it will undoubtedly need to be primed before paint. The paint specialist will be here Monday to help decide what system is best.
#29
I can completely relate to that visualization, and I agree with your reasoning.
On my sterling gray Mustang that's on order, I went to my dealer today to get my weekly pre-delivery fix. I'm planning to put gloss-black stripes on mine shortly after I take delivery. I was looking at that decklid panel on a gray Mustang in the lot, and asking myself how it's going to look when the black stripes meet that panel.
I'm debating whether I might put some matte black stripes on the decklid (if they'll even stick well), which then switch back to gloss black below the panel, as sort of an "inverse" black color, to continue the stripe without a radical color change.
I'm undecided though... I may just let the gloss black stripe be interrupted at the decklid.
On my sterling gray Mustang that's on order, I went to my dealer today to get my weekly pre-delivery fix. I'm planning to put gloss-black stripes on mine shortly after I take delivery. I was looking at that decklid panel on a gray Mustang in the lot, and asking myself how it's going to look when the black stripes meet that panel.
I'm debating whether I might put some matte black stripes on the decklid (if they'll even stick well), which then switch back to gloss black below the panel, as sort of an "inverse" black color, to continue the stripe without a radical color change.
I'm undecided though... I may just let the gloss black stripe be interrupted at the decklid.
I think if I was in your situaton, I'd break the gloss stripe at the decklid panel and begin again at the top of the bumper. If I wasn't also adding red painted tail light trim, I'd be doing the same.
#30
Stripe decisions are difficult to make, aren't they? I've wrestled with mine for a couple of months now. Popular or not, I'm going for primrose yellow over red. At least I can say nobody else around has the same color scheme. A rare appearance is what I'm focused on. You just don't see late model red GTs with a primrose yellow super snake stripe.
I think if I was in your situaton, I'd break the gloss stripe at the decklid panel and begin again at the top of the bumper. If I wasn't also adding red painted tail light trim, I'd be doing the same.
I think if I was in your situaton, I'd break the gloss stripe at the decklid panel and begin again at the top of the bumper. If I wasn't also adding red painted tail light trim, I'd be doing the same.
Thanks for the opinion about breaking the gloss stripe at the decklid--that is sort of how I am leaning at the moment.
#31
I can sort of visualize your yellow-red color scheme in my head, and that might indeed look really slick. You'd certainly not likely see another one like that on your streets, so everybody would know it was you coming. I'd love to see photos of that when it's done.
Thanks for the opinion about breaking the gloss stripe at the decklid--that is sort of how I am leaning at the moment.
Thanks for the opinion about breaking the gloss stripe at the decklid--that is sort of how I am leaning at the moment.
#32
I may have bitten off more than I can chew but, I took my OEM deck lid panel to the local body shop today. I expected to get it painted Race Red to match the car, then install painted tail light trim pieces of the same color. To my surprise, the glossy black OEM panel is coated with a tough scratch resistant substance of some kind. My body man tried to prep it for paint by scuffing it with ScotchBrite, which wouldn't touch it, then 800 grit, which would touch it, then 400 grit that turned out the same. Finally, he tried 320 grit to break through the coating, but it will take some time to get it all scuffed. I'll have to wait until Monday for a paint specialist to evaluate it and recommend a paint system that won't later peel, while standing up to a paint guarantee. Geez, nothing is simple nowadays. Why the hell did Ford coat this butt ugly panel with such a tough material?
#33
#34
Hoss - I think your choice of stripe color is going to be awesome. I'm sure everyone will know it's you that's heading down the road. I will have to keep this thread handy for the Marines that I know.
#36
For your Marine friends...
#39
I took my car in to have its paint photograph matched. While I was there, I found out that the panel's OEM surface is painted with a diamond clear coat. When I left the body shop, my man was struggling to get it removed with an orbital sander and 320 grit. He said the panel will have to be primered prior to the new red basecoat and clear being applied. It will then be baked and won't be ready for install until Tuesday night or Wednesday. My tail light trim (from AM) should be in by the end of the week. I'm anxious to get this mod done, so I can proceed with the striping.
Last edited by Missouri Hoss; 7/8/13 at 10:52 AM.