Well,

I just painted them a couple of weeks ago.  (usual clean/degrease with
Simple Green and sand everything) Used:

- Dupli-Color Bumper Coating in "Dark Charcoal" for the broader bumper
areas.
- "Duplicolor" Acrylic Enamel in Semi-Gloss Black for the imitation rubber
strip on the bumpers and also used this for the grills.
- Automotive masking tape
- Dupli-color black and grey primer
- Dupli-color spray on pickup truck bedliner in black for the spoiler.
(Got all this stuff at the local http://www.pepboys.com/ .)  And I removed
all the bumpers/grilles first and sprayed in the garage.  The spoiler comes
off in pieces and I did each on individually.

My Vanagon is Silver so I wanted a grey that matched and also wanted to
imitate the original grey as best I could.

I stopped by a automotive paint store, and they told me the Duplicolor is
good quality and would work just fine for this use.  But I am still worried
that it might not last through the years, or that it is somewhat porous and
might create problems.  However the Dupli-Color is a "Premium Automotive
Formulation".  http://www.duplicolor.com I don't have a compressor and spray
equipment, so the rattle can route was most efficient.  And yeah using
marine grade awlgrip (www.awlgrip.com/) would have lasted longer than the
van!  But the approach I took turned out really nice for now, and have
already gotten complements.  I allowed them to cure for a few days, this
paint needs the time to harden.  Less than $50 for these parts of the van to
look like new.

Only thing I would do better next time is to really press down harder on the
edge of the masking tape when doing the black simulated rubber strip; I got
a little bit of feathering under the tape when spraying with the 2nd color.

And then I used "Forever Black on the all the other trim parts: mirror
housing, engine air intake vents, wipers, etc, all the black stuff
(http://www.foreverblack.com/).  This is really good product, but careful,
very runny and in my opinion takes some practice in using it well.

Roland

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Sam Conant
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 10:17 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Painting Fiberglass bumpers

I agree re the POR 15 use.  A decent Mastic compound to coat the fiberglass
following by a decent, protective coat of weather-resistant matching paint
should do the job well.
SamC
----- Original Message -----
From: <JordanVw@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 11:16 AM
Subject: Re: Painting Fiberglass bumpers

> In a message dated 6/23/07 10:58:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM writes:
>
>
>> I would sand them up real good first. Then use a bit of bondo to fill the
>> scratches and minor dings. Sand till acceptable. POR15 clear and then
>> topcoat with POR15 chaassis black.Both the mirrors and bumper.This paint
>> is almost identical to the door handles in color. satin black. Use a
>> spray
>> gun.Forgiving paint, that por stuff
>
> Roger, how much does POR15 pay you to be their spokesmodel?  do you make
> bachelor party appearances?     :<P
>
> leave the POR15 stuff to rusty metal.. its not reccomended for fiberglass
> at
> all.
>
> chris
> (used to work at a bodyshop)
>
>
> **************************************
> See what's
> free at http://www.aol.com.

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.6/863 - Release Date: 6/23/2007
11:08 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.6/863 - Release Date: 6/23/2007
11:08 AM