Paint prep for plugging up head/taillight cutouts

[Arlo]

In nearing the end of sanding and minor body work. I’m interested in ideas on how to plug holes and cutouts where reflectors, running lights and headlamps/taillights fit in. I’m thinking styrofoam cut to fit, but who has a simpler effective idea?

[Danjo]

Tape and paper?

[musigenesis]

Bondo + these patches. But probably only good for holes up to the size of a quarter. Anything larger (like headlight holes) you want to either weld in patches of sheet metal and bondo the seams or rivet larger patches over the opening.

Are you going to be driving your bus without headlights or taillights?

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Bondo + these patches. But probably only good for holes up to the size of a quarter. Anything larger (like headlight holes) you want to either weld in patches of sheet metal and bondo the seams or rivet larger patches over the opening.

Are you going to be driving your bus without headlights or taillights?

Think he's talking temporarily while painting.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by peakbus

Think he's talking temporarily while painting.

I guess, but why would you need to do that?

[cadillackid]

I put rubber grommets in a lot of the holes I had for smaller things like 2 way antennas, stop sign wires, etc. for screw holes, little bit of clear silicone like flex shot and well simply a stainless steel screw.. keep it simple


for anything im putting back I purposely painted the hole as it would then be coated for protection

[Arlo]

Thanks for your answers to my question about how to handle the openings left when things like flasher lights, taillights, etc are removed for painting. I thought maybe I’d be removing the “plugs” after the primer coat and reinserting them before the finish coats. I was thinking of something reusable (like styrofoam). But perhaps just painting right over those openings would be ok and would certainly be easier and time saving.

Anyone see why spraying into these open areas would not be ok?

Thanks again!

Arlo

[musigenesis]

I just sprayed over and around those openings and there were no problems. I got a bit of paint on the wires and whatnot but it doesn't matter.