QuestionThanks Bill. I read many responses from the experts prior to my posting so I was cautious about my question about the bumper. I just wasn't sure if the bumper had to be removed or if the skirt could just be removed. Although I have not had any experience painting, I do have 20 years of experience with spraying finishes on furniture. I guess, as the rest of my past jobs have gone, there is only one way to say I've painted a automotive part...to try. In this case the work and the painting might just help this family out. So with all that being said, and taking your comments into account, is there a book or another place on line where I might get detail about this work? A Chilton's manual or some place to start?
I really appreciate your feedback and understanding your position here I totally understand your response - I guess I hope I can beat the odds and learn by trying.
Thanks.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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Friend had a collision which slightly buckled the hood, pushed in the grill and damaged the lower plastic skirt. The bumper has no visible damage. I will need to replace the grill, hood and lower skirt and I'm wondering if this is possible with basic tools and a good spray gun? The hood and grill look pretty basic but I'm unsure if the skirt can be removed without taking off the bumper? If not how hard is the bumper to remove? Once I get these removed and pick up some second hand parts, would I prime and paint each part prior to assembling or would I attach and align all parts then paint? Or am I way in over my head? They have zero money to take this to a shop and I'm hoping to help them out.
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Steve, no good deed goes unpunished. If you have never painted a modern vehicle, or are unsure of your ability to dismantle and assemble something as simple as a Durango bumper, you are in over your head. About the best I can tell you is to try to find a hood and bumper that are the same color as the truck. You will probably pay more for them, but I think you will be horribly disappointed with the results if you try to repair and refinish this with no body repair experience. Nuts and bolts are easy, filling, priming, and painting take proper tools, spray conditions, and talent. Bill
AnswerHello again Steve. It's been a while since I did a Durango. I believe you will need to remove the grille to access the bumper bolts, or at least it may help you to get a better look. They are sort of a pain to remove with hand tools, I have air tools that make part removal a veritable breeze compared to the old ratchet and end wrench method. If you have some experience with a spray gun, you will be all right spraying the truck. The vehicle is so new, however, that you will probably have to base/clear the truck. Base coat is applied sorta dry and corn cobby, not wet and shiny like single stage paints or varnish. All the shine comes from the clear. Wet sand primer spots with 600 wet, and scuff the rest of the entire panels with a grey scotch brite. Carefully read the directions on the paint and clear cans, and follow them to the letter. I will be here if you need help when paint time comes. as far as a manual, I don't know of anything except a factory manual that will give detailed directions on assembly and disassembly of the nose pieces. It's not that difficult, and I suggest you just dig in. Crawl underneath with a light, and look around. I bet the solution is obvious. The new parts will also help to show you what to do. I really doubt that you will be able to buy a used lower skirt without buying the entire bumper assembly. Junk yards don't like to dismantle parts that far, it's easier to just yank a bumper whole and sell the whole thing together. Ebay sometimes has very reasonable aftermarket parts, if you need to buy individual parts. Hope this helps. Bill
