Style

iTrader: (1)

got a second hand hybrid FMIC that looks a bit tatty.

Want to paint it silver / however not sure of a good paint to use? want to leave it looking metallic. can you get metallic looking colours in spray cans i.e from halfords or somewhere be ok?

And would i want to put on a grey primer first before painting like a would anything else?

biggazvr6

iTrader: (8)

IMO don't paint it, Worst thing you'll ever do,

1. it will chip like buggery
2. Will never look rite in the first place
3. will need priming with non ferrous metal primer
4. you'll get that pist off with it all you'd wish you hadn't of bothered.

Thats speaking from experience. I binned that one, got another second hand one( i could of got a new one with the money id spent) I hired a bodyshop buffer, got some autosol metal polish, polished and buffed it up, Didnt look new but it looked a heap better, took off my bumper, meshed the opening for the fmic in the bumper and put it all back. View my pic, i think it looks ok

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

I had a v.1/2 ARC TMIC which I spruced up by spray painting it in that Chrome-effect paint, which gave it an intercooler aluminium look. But the paint would mark easy and come off even when 'dry'.

So I then gave it a coating of clear laquer in a rattle can too. The lacquer caused the aluminium effect to dull down, and gave it a glossy darker metallic look - almost like a very glossy light grey-gunmetal.

Looked really good and, of course, the lacquer sealed the paint so won't come off (obviously will still be prone to unavoidable stone chipping though).


Products used:-




Some photos of IC after painting:-

STI_Baly

iTrader: (23)

JOz is that paint going to be peel resistant though? As high engine bay temps will probably get to it.....or did you use some sort of VHT paint?

Style

iTrader: (1)

Hi Mate, Yea that looks pretty mint.

liking the black silver combo looks very smart.

so you just got a sheet of alluminium mesh from b and Q or wherever and stuck it over the front?

think thats what i will do.

Where did you get that number plate? looks really smart and small i want one

might have a go at painting it silver only concern is lacquering it is that gona affect performance at all.. -although thinknig about it cant really see it being noticeable. was gona try and re-paint the hybrid sighn on it too as its faded to the point you can only see it after 5 mins of looking

Edit: so i reckon ill try and chrome and lacquer it, as ive a few cans kicking around. then mesh it.

only thing im not looknig forward to is cutting my bumper to bits- so far with hacksaws only.. ?

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

I dont know, as I never actually ended up fitting it in the end lol - I sold it to another rmember instead.


No, it wasn't VHT paint (see added pics). Ironically I do have a can of VHT (need to flog it on) that I DIDN'T use, because I didn't want it 'insulating' the surface (this would have meant the surface fins being less efficient at radiating heat away. Probably.)

biggazvr6

iTrader: (8)

stainless steel mesh thats powder coated black, from any car shop really. best way is to bond it on to bumper with tiger seal or such like. take ya time cutting the bumper and id use a jigsaw with a new blade rather than a hacksaw. your local scooby specialist should have a template that you could borrow or you could slip em a tenner and let them mark and cut it for you.
imo just leave intercooler, just a polish as ive said, or if its that bad you could rub it all with wire wool. to be fair, you can hardly see it behind the mesh anyhow! good look, and keep smiling.