How critical is paint blending when replacing a complete body panel?

[GON]

I have a 2019 F350 that received deep cosmetic damages (not structural) to its hood, front fenders, and doors. My goal was to buy undamaged body parts from a like color code (D1 stone gray ,metallic). I located all four doors, but not able to locate the hood (least needed part), or the front fenders.

There is a vendor in Houston, TX that will buy, paint, and ship OEM hood and fenders. My concern is the paint is not "blended" to the vehicle. Maybe this should not matter much, as the vehicle is not so old, and the body parts all have "cut offs". not painting partial quarter panel, etc.

Any thoughts?

BTW- this is the parts painter in Houston, TX:
https://www.revemoto.com/

 

[SC Maintenance]

Dark colors usually require more blending. Its got nothing to do with fading - but your eyes tend to see shade differences in dark colors more than light colors, because dark colors absorb the light while light colors reflect it.

Hence white is the easiest to match and black the hardest.

I would honestly try to find junkyard panels over freshly painted panels, only because if there is a lot of metallic in that paint how it was laid down will have more affect on the match than a solid color would, and presumably the factory booth is more consistent. However even factory paint that came off the same line on the same day can vary a little.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Important enough if you don't want to paint it again.

 

[Nessism1]

I'd say your chance of getting a proper match are quite low.

When I worked at an auto plant, we used to meet every so often to judge color match of the actual vehicles against the master chips. Depending on results, the paint vendor, PPG or Dupont at that plant, would tweak the mix to assure proper match.

Another thing that happened more often than it should, is the way the robots sprayed the vehicle varied, maybe based on how the paint was trending, and sometimes the metallic wouldn't lay down just right. Bottom line, there is most definitely variation in the paint on the OEM level.

 

[doitmyself]

Hopefully a vehicle paint expert will chime in. My opinion is based on............opinion. I see lots of cars where the factory plastic bumpers don't match the metal body panels. I don't know if this is because the plastic accepts the paint different than metal, if the primer/paint is different, or if the plastic bumpers are pre-painted on a separate line (different paint batch, etc.).

My opinion is that even factory paint is not consistent in color. So, aftermarket pre painted panels may or may not stick out like a sore thumb. No problem if you can accept that.

EDIT - what Nessism 1 states above.

 

[Nessism1]

Hopefully a vehicle paint expert will chime in. My opinion is based on............opinion. I see lots of cars where the factory plastic bumpers don't match the metal body panels. I don't know if this is because the plastic accepts the paint different than metal, if the primer/paint is different, or if the plastic bumpers are pre-painted on a separate line (different paint batch, etc.).

My opinion is that even factory paint is not consistent in color. So, aftermarket pre painted panels may or may not stick out like a sore thumb. No problem if you can accept that.

EDIT - what Nessism 1 states above.

The bumper covers are sometimes painted by a supplier, then shipped in. As you state, sometimes they match nice, other times, not so much. The paint for soft parts is also different. More flexible. I don't know how that affects the color match, though, I just know it does.

 

[CKN]

Hopefully a vehicle paint expert will chime in. My opinion is based on............opinion. I see lots of cars where the factory plastic bumpers don't match the metal body panels. I don't know if this is because the plastic accepts the paint different than metal, if the primer/paint is different, or if the plastic bumpers are pre-painted on a separate line (different paint batch, etc.).

My opinion is that even factory paint is not consistent in color. So, aftermarket pre painted panels may or may not stick out like a sore thumb. No problem if you can accept that.

EDIT - what Nessism 1 states above.

You are right. However-IMHO luxury automakers make sure they match-mostly.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The bumper covers are sometimes painted by a supplier, then shipped in. As you state, sometimes they match nice, other times, not so much. The paint for soft parts is also different. More flexible. I don't know how that affects the color match, though, I just know it does.

Yes, bumper covers, color matched mirrors, and the like are painted separately off-site. Matching can be a problem.

Probably changed in the last 30 years but In the shop for a bumper cover they would wait till the end then paint the cover off the car after adding the flex agent to the paint that was left in the cup. The match hence was perfect. Getting it back on without scuffing it could be a problem.

 

[FZ1]

I have a 2019 F350 that received deep cosmetic damages (not structural) to its hood, front fenders, and doors. My goal was to buy undamaged body parts from a like color code (D1 stone gray ,metallic). I located all four doors, but not able to locate the hood (least needed part), or the front fenders.

There is a vendor in Houston, TX that will buy, paint, and ship OEM hood and fenders. My concern is the paint is not "blended" to the vehicle. Maybe this should not matter much, as the vehicle is not so old, and the body parts all have "cut offs". not painting partial quarter panel, etc.

Any thoughts?

BTW- this is the parts painter in Houston, TX:
https://www.revemoto.com/

Each part is gonna look like a patched part. Do the best you can do with the scratches and just drive it. It's a work truck. .02

 

[ls1mike]

Here are some Caprice photos after the scooter explosion. He didn't blend into the doors or trunk lid, but he did paint from A pillar back over top of the doors the complete rear fender and rear bumper. He matched it perfectly.

Having said that on my 05 Grand Prix I picked up a pre painted bumper for it off Ebay.
It was an excellent match. They used the GM paint code I provided, and I was pretty happy with it.
The Grand Prix was black.

 

[Trav]

As long as it is not a pearl color or white, red, yellow I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you go ahead with this ask them to do a small spray out for you beforehand, possibly send them a small piece of the original fender. It may cost you a little but then you know how well this will match. This is very important if the paint has variants of the same color code.

 

[#18FAN]

As long as it is not a pearl color or white, red, yellow I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you go ahead with this ask them to do a small spray out for you beforehand, possibly send them a small piece of the original fender. It may cost you a little but then you know how well this will match. This is very important if the paint has variants of the same color code.

Just sending a fuel cap cover is very common to use I’d bet they get it pretty close match. I know if I was shooting something that may be a butt match I’d want something to look at as a guide.

 

[GON]

For the hood, decided to go with a used painted hood found on Ebay. The hood is a 2020, which is a possible risk as my truck is a 2019. Paid more than I would have liked. The color, stone gray metallic (color code D1) is simply near impossible to find. I have found three over the past three years, and they all sold before I could purchase. I fear as these trucks get older, the hood in stone gray will become harder to come by. These trucks usually get totaled from front end/ cab damage, which typically takes out the hood.

Aware of @FZ1 thoughts just to overlook the cosmetic body flaws. That was my original intent. Decided to fix the body as the truck outside the cosmetic body issues is in like new condition. Additionally, my wife noticed two bullet holes on the passenger side, and she thinks it's improper that I drive a vehicle with bullet holes.

Here is the hood I just purchased. Seller rates the condition as A+. Now the question is- can the Seller pack the hood for cross country shipping without damage? Seller has a good rating and positive comments about packing items, but packing a mirror assembly is very different than packaging a hood. I won't be able to inspect for shipping damage before the end of the return period- so assuming some risk.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/376668861636

 

[repairman54]

I replaced the rusted front fenders on my '16 Equinox. Basecoat / clearcoat paint. Online seller paint color match was spot on, but it was always waxed regularly since new which is a big factor IMO on matching adjacent panels. Not garaged either.
I'm not gonna comment on my application skills though but their good at 6 feet.
The Amazon fenders came in with only a slight corner tweak that was easily corrected.

 

[SC Maintenance]

For the hood, decided to go with a used painted hood found on Ebay. The hood is a 2020, which is a possible risk as my truck is a 2019. Paid more than I would have liked. The color, stone gray metallic (color code D1) is simply near impossible to find. I have found three over the past three years, and they all sold before I could purchase. I fear as these trucks get older, the hood in stone gray will become harder to come by. These trucks usually get totaled from front end/ cab damage, which typically takes out the hood.

Aware of @FZ1 thoughts just to overlook the cosmetic body flaws. That was my original intent. Decided to fix the body as the truck outside the cosmetic body issues is in like new condition. Additionally, my wife noticed two bullet holes on the passenger side, and she thinks it's improper that I drive a vehicle with bullet holes.

Here is the hood I just purchased. Seller rates the condition as A+. Now the question is- can the Seller pack the hood for cross country shipping without damage? Seller has a good rating and positive comments about packing items, but packing a mirror assembly is very different than packaging a hood. I won't be able to inspect for shipping damage before the end of the return period- so assuming some risk.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/376668861636

I assume this will ship LTL. So the good news is if they crate it properly and the trucker gives a rip, it will arrive in good shape. Or it will arrive like a banana and whomever is receiving will be able to tell without any expertise.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Best bet is to get a used panel that has the same age (1 - 2 yrs apart) and it will kinda match.

If you repaint it will NOT match.

It is very hard to match without extreme professional skill. (I have tried many times and lack the skill)

 

[Arc]

I'm far from being a professional painter but I have never had any luck matching paint. Even when I go to the paint shop and let them slap the little color matching computer on the car it never comes out the same. Years ago I repainted my whole mustang because I couldn't get the new fiberglass body kit to perfectly match.

 

[Cujet]

I've had iffy luck with junkyard matching panels. Generally, they don't.

In the end, I believe conventional methods are best. Replace the sheet metal, paint to match. In the case of my previous F150, we painted the entire side after a fight with parking lot bollards. Purchased 2 new Ford doors and replaced the RHS of the cab sheet metal at door level. By painting the bed, doors and fender, there was no mismatch.

 

[Bailey28]

Stand by, I painted a fender for the Charger and will install it very soon. We shall see what the silver metallic looks like against the original 2013 color.