I was thinking about sanding down the cowl cover (the black cover at bottom of windshield) so it's smooth along with the wiper arm covers and painting them black and clearing them. Has anyone ever done this and how much work was it? Pics would be great too. I've just never seen this done and it would keep the plastic from fading.

 

Wipe it with some armor-all and it'll shine like never before.

 

Ditto, that should do the trick.. unless you really want it black.

 

yeah BUT then when you take a california duster over the car you have to be careful or it will streak all over the rest. and even armor-all won't make it shine like black and clear-coat would. Just want to do something different. and it will be easier to clean because i won't have the texture it does now.

 

I've heard that paint doesn't like to stick to that plastic all that well. Make sure you take care in prepping it if you decide to do it.

 

yeah you just have to prep it correctly i know. They make an adhesive you spray on first. i'm just wondering how much work it will be to sand it down smooth. and how hard is it to remove the cowl? Seems i tried it before and couldn't figure it out.

 

A good bit of work since you want it smooth and black. Plastics like that sand like a rock for the mostpart and you'll have to be careful what grit you use. Black will show sandscratch like a ****. I haven't done it and I wouldn't be all that willing to try unless I could get a junk one to test first.

 

All the openings in it will really make it a nightmare to sand smooth. You'll get about 1/4 of the way through and wish you just armor-alled it.

 

I cleaned mine and took before and after pictures just for you. As a disclaimer, it was 7:30 when I started so the sun was well on it's way to disappearing behind the trees. The after pictures would be much shinier if I had gotten to this a few hours earlier.

 

I took mine off last winter and scuffed them all down. then i clean the surface real good and sprayed them with a black that u can buy at a autobody paint place. the paint was sem black its made for plastic. now mine look like new

 

Use spray on Armor All tire shine and it'll make an even more dramatic effect. Just make sure to use it before you wash your car, it will grease up the windows. Works on the door sills and other interior plastics as well.

 

I remember awhile back there was a car that had a custom panel made out of carbon fiber that covered the entire cowl vent panel and part of the wipers. The overall design looked really slick. (Carbon fiber can always be painted.)

I tried searching for pics of it and the company who makes it and couldn't find anything unfortunately. That would be a hella cool DIY project if you didn't feel like sanding all those little vent ribs though.

 

I'd like to see it. .if ya do it post some pictures