Can spare body panels such as the ones in this attached photo be used without paint spraying or at the most, a clear paint spray that protects the panel if it needs protecting as it is?

Ideally I need to spray them silver but I fear that I will mess it up and God knows how much a garage would charge.

Thanks very much.

 

You can get quite a good finish with a rattle can.

Practice on the old panels that you are removing first.

These will need flattening off, both sides, and primering before applying basecoat and clear lacquer.

Spray them before you fit them👍

Start spraying away from the panel and blow across, evenly, left to right working from top to bottom

Thanks for your advice, especially the technique involved.

What does 'flattening off' mean?

I think these panels have already been primed but not sure.

So that's

1. Flattening off.

2. Primer.

3. Base coat.

4. Clear lacquer.

Looks like a trip to YouTube again.

Thanks again.

1 minute ago, Groot said:

What does 'flattening off' mean?

Rubbing down with fine wet & dry sandpaper, it gives the primer something to grip on to

I just replaced the front passenger wing (drivers replaced 2 years ago) a couple of months ago. I admire your courage at doing it yourself!

 

It may be of interest to you that the May 2024 edition of Car Mechanics has a comprehensive article on replacing the wing in a Mk2 Focus...

I replaced a couple of wings back in the day (Mk 1 Cortina and Mk 1 Escort), with the aid of a friend with a welder, got a very acceptable finish with rattle cans. Well, at least as good as the rest of the car, (which probably isn't saying much)!😀

18 minutes ago, Groot said:

I think these panels have already been primed but not sure.

That is just satin black to prevent rust whilst in storage.

You need to primer over that, after flattening 

Starting to look a bit daunting! Still might give it a try though.

I could just try to repair the hole in the old wing. It had succumbed to the known issue of rusting at the bottom because of the all the crap gathering at the back...I assume, as I haven't taken the panel off yet.

Anybody got an idea of how much it would cost if I just dropped off a new wing at the garage and gave them the colour code? Would they do that?

Thanks everyone.

12 minutes ago, Groot said:

Anybody got an idea of how much it would cost if I just dropped off a new wing at the garage and gave them the colour code? Would they do that?

Any body shop will do that, and they will get the correct code/paint! Depends on where you go, could be anywhere between £150 to over £300 to paint & fit...