DIY Network

Shaved Door Handles: Professional Body Finish The project is completed with a trip to a pro body shop. From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-301

In this Tricked Out project, host Andrew Totolos installs shaved door handles on a Honda Civic SI. Now that the new components have been installed, it's time to take the car to a professional body shop for completion. Here's a summary of some key points from the professional body finishing and tips for locating a qualified pro to do the work.

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	Before
	Original handle removed
	Before
	After
	Before
	After

Professional Body Finish and Paint

• To find a body shop that you'll trust to do the finishing work on your car, go to shows and look at cars you like. The best proof of a good job is to see the work for yourself.

• If you're a do-it-yourselfer, it's also important to find a shop that will work with you to set up a plan that allows you to handle as much work as possible on your own to save on costs.

• Also, you want to make sure the shop has the equipment to do the job correctly. If you want a flawless finish with factory longevity, you'll save yourself in the long run by handing your car over to professionals.

• After the car arrives at the shop, the technicians will remove any body parts that will interfere with the job and take steps to protect the finish on areas that won't be painted.

• Next, the body shop will cut out templates for the handle filler panels, transfer them to a piece of sheet metal, and cut and trim the pieces for a perfect fit.

• Then the panel is ground down to bare metal all around the handle. The filler panels get tack welded into the door-handle recess and the welds are ground flush.

• Once the panel has been filled, the shop will use a grinder to work the metal down as close as possible, and then a thin coat of filler will be applied for the final smoothing.

• Once the patch is complete, the entire car gets masked and rolled into the booth and the work is primed, cleaned and carefully inspected.

• Next, a clear sealer is sprayed onto the smoothed door panel, before the entire car is sprayed with an adhesion promoter.

• When the car is finally ready for the color coat, three coats of base-color paint and three coats of clear are applied. The new finish is immediately baked for a hard and lasting finish.

• Once you get the car back from the body shop, you'll have some light work to do. You'll need to replace the door panels or trim pieces that you removed to begin the project.

The Bottom Line:

Shaved-door kit $375
Wiring supplies $15
Perforated strap $2
Paint & body work $1500

Total: $1892

RESOURCES :

Racing Innovations, Inc.
We apologize no contact information is available.

AutoLoc
www.autoloc.com

Malibu Customs
Knoxville, TN
www.malibucollision.com