Painting GFX on the car?

[My 5th]

I'm really close to pulling the trigger on an SS. Found a dealer discounting a black on black with sunroof, polished wheels, and GFX. The discount is about $1,400 from sticker. BUT... the GFX isn't painted black. It's the standard gray, and while I don't exactly hate it that way, I think I would prefer to have it black. Apparently this GFX was installed at the GM factory as the dealer said it came to them that way. (Didn't know they installed them at the factory)

I need to get opinions on whether I should have it painted on the car, or take it off to be painted. If the mounting used any 2-sided tape, I wouldn't want to muck that up as I think reapplying new tape could result in a weaker bond, and maybe, just maybe, the factory mounted it better than a dealer would have, and I could break something taking it off.

What do you guys think? Can the rest of the car be masked off sufficiently to avoid overspray and still get good coverage on edges and corners? Isn't a flex additive required for the paint? At least with it on the car I can drive it for now and save up to pay the painter and avoid reinstallation charges.

Oh, how about the $1,400 discount? Could I do better? Full Sticker is $39,430

[My 5th]

Wow. This must be some kind of forum record. I posted this thread 2 days ago and haven't generated a single response. This must be the first time no one has had an opinion about a thread. I've seen some of the opinions posted in other threads and thought some people needed something to do. I guess everyone is busy doing all those other things.

I really don't want to go through the trouble of removing the GFX if an equivalent paint job can be had by masking off the body and painting it mounted on the car, but it looks like I will have to get a professional painter's opinion as no one here is up to the task.

[copper3000]

I had mine painted by the dealership before they were installed and they turned out great! I wouldn't have them painted while they are attached, it just seems like the job will flow nicer if done separately. Taping them off will always leave lines.
The doublesided tape is easy for them to replace too!

[Michael_Js]

+1 on above comment. Also, on painting or not, IMO, it depends on what else you're coordinating for your car. Meaning - if you're getting stripes, will they be gray? If so, IMO, leaving the GFX the color they come would look great! However, no stripes? Red Stripes? I've some some really cool combination of colors. Me? I like mine painted black - off the car - by the dealer...

[Alain]

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

+1 on above comment. Also, on painting or not, IMO, it depends on what else you're coordinating for your car. Meaning - if you're getting stripes, will they be gray? If so, IMO, leaving the GFX the color they come would look great! However, no stripes? Red Stripes? I've some some really cool combination of colors. Me? I like mine painted black - off the car - by the dealer...

two things for you man;
1- I absolutely LOVE that picture of your car!
2- Where did you get that stripe for your door?

[alex33x]

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

+1 on above comment. Also, on painting or not, IMO, it depends on what else you're coordinating for your car. Meaning - if you're getting stripes, will they be gray? If so, IMO, leaving the GFX the color they come would look great! However, no stripes? Red Stripes? I've some some really cool combination of colors. Me? I like mine painted black - off the car - by the dealer...

What rims are those? and do they come in a gunmetal?? I want something to match better with silver lol

[first one]

Your dealer is lying to you. The GFX are not put on at the factory. They are a dealer installed option. Also, There is double sided tape all around and rivets on the front part of the ground effects. I would assume it would be easier to mask and paint on the vehicle, but I'm no painter. I had mine painted when I bought the car before they were installed, cost $550.00.

[My 5th]

Originally Posted by first one

Your dealer is lying to you. The GFX are not put on at the factory. They are a dealer installed option. Also, There is double sided tape all around and rivets on the front part of the ground effects. I would assume it would be easier to mask and paint on the vehicle, but I'm no painter. I had mine painted when I bought the car before they were installed, cost $550.00.

Well, I put $500 deposit down and put some more down on Saturday when I pick it up!. At least I have the problem to really worry about now. It would have been my preference to have the GFX painted before installation, but I can drive it a while as-is and do it later when there is more $$. At least the Argent Gray has some metallic in it so it doesn't look cheesy.

[My 5th]

Originally Posted by first one

Your dealer is lying to you. The GFX are not put on at the factory. They are a dealer installed option. Also, There is double sided tape all around and rivets on the front part of the ground effects. I would assume it would be easier to mask and paint on the vehicle, but I'm no painter. I had mine painted when I bought the car before they were installed, cost $550.00.

I figured as much. What are the odds that I would get the first salesman to know what he is talking about? He did claim the tape that comes on the GFX is "stronger" than what you can get elsewhere. He was implying that a removal and re-install wouldn't be as good as the original "factory" install.

[first one]

You don't need to worry about anything, I'm sure they will be fine. As long as the technician knows how to install the ground effects, re-installing them shouldn't be a problem if the dealership can get the same 2-sided tape as the original install and it should just be like a new install. Some people like the look of the flat black GFX. I don't, but you might like them as you get used to them.

[Michael_Js]

The GFX come in Argent Gray metallic...basic plastic, no paint, no finish. I still suggest painting them off the car. I had another dealer install them as the place where I bought it had never done one and didn't want to be responsible

Thanks on the compliments. The hood spears and side accents came from here: http://www.ridergraphix.com/Camaro.html

If when) I do the sides over, I would fill the entire strip - go further back & forward and higher in the rear.

The wheels were bought from the Havoc PVD Chrome Group Buy on this forum. They are from Wheel Exchange. You can also get them elsewhere and 6Liter is now selling them at a good price. Check with him - also has a thread on the forum.

Thanks,
Michael J.

[fisherssmoke]

I have seen the gray ground affects on a black camaro, he also had flat black wheels and flat black fuel door..really nice! You can go back in archives a month or so ago on Homepage to find it. Its the camaro in the Miami photo shoot.