Painted Calipers

RCZ · 03-08-2009, 07:58 PM

1) Why in the world would anyone powdercoat pistons?
2) If you do it right, painted calipers can look alright, the problem is that it is very easy to cross the line into tacky, just pick the color carefully...

kustomZ · 03-08-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

1) Why in the world would anyone powdercoat pistons?

X2

alan93rsa · 03-09-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Why in the world would anyone powdercoat pistons?

I think the pistons shown are ceramic coated on the top and have an ant-friction coating on the skirts. I've had this done before. You need a very good shop to do this if you want the coatings to stick. Possibly the person who posted the piston photos was using this to show the capabilities of the shop.

MightyBobo · 03-09-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan93rsa

I think the pistons shown are ceramic coated on the top and have an ant-friction coating on the skirts. I've had this done before. You need a very good shop to do this if you want the coatings to stick. Possibly the person who posted the piston photos was using this to show the capabilities of the shop.

Wow, I'm surprised you guys haven't heard of this....and yes, I was posting to show that the shop I know is VERY reputable

Shamelessly stolen from some powder coating shops website:

Quote:

Power Coating (Thermal Solutions)

Power coatings relate to engines/motors (cars, snowmobiles, motorcycles): almost anything with a combustion engine. Some hold heat where it's needed. Others remove unwanted heat. Some are used to reduce friction on metal-to-metal contact, while others shed lubricants. All of them increase horsepower.

Piston Coatings

Piston Coatings are formulated to provide a thermal barrier for piston domes, for corresponding combustion chambers, and valve faces. This specialized formulation withstands detonation impact while reducing surface temperatures and does not affect tolerances or compression ratios, increasing combustion chamber efficiency while increasing horsepower and part life expectancy.

Its becoming a "must-have" when building an entirely forged bottom end, just because its a fairly cheap way to extend the life of your parts, along with the other nice side effects. Shop I know only charges $25 a piston.

RCZ · 03-09-2009, 01:54 PM

See, I have had coated CP pistons in my last engine build, but you were talking about painting calipers and somehow you made the jump to thermal coating. Its not that we haven't heard about it, its just that no one calls it powdercoating pistons. It just really seemed like they were painting the pistons hehe my bad.

MightyBobo · 03-12-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

See, I have had coated CP pistons in my last engine build, but you were talking about painting calipers and somehow you made the jump to thermal coating. Its not that we haven't heard about it, its just that no one calls it powdercoating pistons. It just really seemed like they were painting the pistons hehe my bad.

Oh lol - see, I thought the process was very similar - just what they bake onto the pistons isnt just a paint

. I never said I was a powdercoater sadly

lol

03-09-2009, 01:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1120	See, I have had coated CP pistons in my last engine build, but you were talking about painting calipers and somehow you made the jump to thermal coating. Its not that we haven't heard about it, its just that no one calls it powdercoating pistons. It just really seemed like they were painting the pistons hehe my bad. Last edited by RCZ; 03-09-2009 at 01:58 PM.

03-08-2009, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1120	1) Why in the world would anyone powdercoat pistons? 2) If you do it right, painted calipers can look alright, the problem is that it is very easy to cross the line into tacky, just pick the color carefully...