I think it's called the windshield wiper cowl? Doesn't look bad in pic but I'm tempted to paint it with special plastic spray paint. I just don't want to do it and then regret it later if it starts peeling off or doesn't adhere everywhere like I've seen happen when painting plastics like this.

Ive painted them with just satin black Krylon and no problems. Good cleaning first.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: Ive painted them with just satin black Krylon and no problems. Good cleaning first.

Awesome! It'll look nice with a fresh cost of paint.
Thanks Roger!

Clean the heck out of it and use krylon fusion brand paints that are for use on plastics. I painted my flight deck cranial and the paint worked great.

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ARCHIES JUNK IS FASTER THAN SHAUNNA'S JUNK
12.3 is faster than a 13.2

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: Ive painted them with just satin black Krylon and no problems. Good cleaning first.

Ditto. Just clean it well. Adhesion primer seems to work well. It has lasted many years through many washings.

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Yup, painted without an issue. Just used a good brand of spray paint.

Yup - painted them on my cars.

Clean the hell out of it. Krylon for plastic is your best bet, - no sanding or primer base coat needed.

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Calgary time/temp

3.4L Supercharged 87 GT Click me
Super Duty 4 Indy #163 Click me

Krylon spray paint in semigloss also worked for me.

Nelson

As everyone pointed out, CLEAN ! then wipe it down with "Grease and wax remover". Fusion works best, spray it WET so you don't leave stripes or swirls.

Thanks and ratings for all!
Wish I could twice for those I gave one already years ago

Wont "back to black" or something like it work on that instead of paint?

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Wont "back to black" or something like it work on that instead of paint?

How long would those products last though. I'd rather take a chance and paint it and have it looking good a very long time!

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Wont "back to black" or something like it work on that instead of paint?

Should've taken your advice.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/069618.html
Maybe the abomination was because of the brand? It was Rust-o-leum plastic paint. Should've used the Krylon? Just thought I should put it out there.... prep was good with bad results

As Mike pointed out in the other thread, Pisa makes a fiberglass replacement:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/067738.html

quote Originally posted by IMSA GT: As Mike pointed out in the other thread, Pisa makes a fiberglass replacement: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/067738.html

Thanks! Very nice but pricey!! I'll see if I can get a good used one first.

Back in the day, I used Bumper and Trim satin black paint. Never had an issue.

Read your linked post. You should not have used a pressure washer or denatured alcohol on that part. Dove soap really? I would have used a dishwashing soap like Dawn or Palmolive, no solvents. Let it dry indoors not out in the direct sunlight. When it is dry soak the part with spray can silicone (do this with the cowl panel off the car). Spray a heavy coating on both sides of it. Give it time to soak into the surface of the plastic. Re-spray it with silicone and the second time around wipe it down before the carrier evaporates.

Provided your cleaning was effective, this will make the part look like new.

quote Originally posted by lateFormula: Read your linked post. You should not have used a pressure washer or denatured alcohol on that part. Dove soap really? I would have used a dishwashing soap like Dawn or Palmolive, no solvents. Let it dry indoors not out in the direct sunlight. When it is dry soak the part with spray can silicone (do this with the cowl panel off the car). Spray a heavy coating on both sides of it. Give it time to soak into the surface of the plastic. Re-spray it with silicone and the second time around wipe it down before the carrier evaporates. Provided your cleaning was effective, this will make the part look like new.

No...not Dove. It was Dawn dishwashing soap! Got them mixed up (had a few beers last night!)
I treated this part like any other body panel and had success in the past...but this part is different. I'll try your silicone treatment when I find a replacement.
Thanks, Marc

My plans for parts like that are to polish them. Haven't done any yet so no results or tips to post. Just another idea to out out there.

If the part has had armor all or tire shine or another vinyl or rubber protectant applied alot in the past it may be hard to get clean and degreased enough for paint to stick and last?

quote Originally posted by 2.5: If the part has had armor all or tire shine or another vinyl or rubber protectant applied alot in the past it may be hard to get clean and degreased enough for paint to stick and last?

It likely did. That's why I thought washing it with Dawn and then pressure washing it after was a good idea?!
Maybe it was cleaning it with denatured alcohol that wasn't such a good idea before I painted. The alcohol was evaporated but maybe left a chemical behind that mixed with the paint causing the issue?

[This message has been edited by Gokart (edited 07-07-2014).]

Just a few points to add...

Denatured alcohol is fine and good for use on brand new plastic pieces. Plastic that is fresh has a skin which for most grades of plastics (especially those used in automotive applications) will be chemical resistant. But in this case the part is at least 26 years old and has been exposed to the environment all that time. The combination of UV, heat cycling in the summer months, and interaction with naturally occurring ozone is what destroys old plastic. Over time and interaction with the environmental factors the skin of the plastic degrades which will significantly affect the chemical resistance of the plastic. I believe that the combination of the denatured alcohol and the pressure washing is what pitted the surface of your cowl.

quote Originally posted by lateFormula: Just a few points to add... Denatured alcohol is fine and good for use on brand new plastic pieces. Plastic that is fresh has a skin which for most grades of plastics (especially those used in automotive applications) will be chemical resistant. But in this case the part is at least 26 years old and has been exposed to the environment all that time. The combination of UV, heat cycling in the summer months, and interaction with naturally occurring ozone is what destroys old plastic. Over time and interaction with the environmental factors the skin of the plastic degrades which will significantly affect the chemical resistance of the plastic. I believe that the combination of the denatured alcohol and the pressure washing is what pitted the surface of your cowl.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I could've avoided the embarrassment of destroying this cowl but felt I had to share my experience so others will have better luck! I believe your theory regarding the old plastic. I think it was just the denatured alcohol that sabotaged my painting. I had the gun far away and the highest nozzle (40) and it was a quick rinse. When I was done there was absolutely no pitting. It was still very smooth.

I just hand washed my cowl, dried it, and used Krylon Fusion paint on it. That was about three years ago and it still looks very good (done on a 87 Mera show car).

Nelson

quote Originally posted by hnthomps: I just hand washed my cowl, dried it, and used Krylon Fusion paint on it. That was about three years ago and it still looks very good (done on a 87 Mera show car). Nelson

I wish I would've used that Krylon brand. I thought Rustolem paint for plastic would've been just as good but I'm curious if my results would've been different!?!

I have had good luck with anything Rustoleum, they are as good as Krylon IMO.
I use "rubbing alcohol" on pretty much every material before painting and havent had an issue with that either.
But I havent painted a Fiero cowl.