Engine Covers - Just Finished Painting

Trilitheum · 10-07-2015, 08:29 AM

I just cleaned the surface with some alcohol before painting and let dry. The plastic is already fairly rough and textured and the paint adhered very well.

It was just standard automotive paint, from the touch up spray cans, no special plastic paint etc. You could use those but I didn't find it necessary.

2 1/2 years later it still looks good as new.

Dragon_Ball_Z · 10-07-2015, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trilitheum

I just cleaned the surface with some alcohol before painting and let dry. The plastic is already fairly rough and textured and the paint adhered very well.

It was just standard automotive paint, from the touch up spray cans, no special plastic paint etc. You could use those but I didn't find it necessary.

2 1/2 years later it still looks good as new.

Awesome! I want to do this mod, is this the paint you used?

Did you clear coat yours? Also the red paint you used a brush to apply it?

-Raj

Trilitheum · 10-07-2015, 08:42 AM

Yup, believe it was duplicolor gun metallic.

I didn't clear coat, just masked the rest of the cover off and painting two light coats and let dry a good day or more before re-installing.

For the red I used a small paint brush, like the craft store type, and carefully applied the paint to the top of the lettering. It will build up to give a nice thick coat if you keep adding more to the brush and do a little at a time. Have to be careful as if you go to far it will spill over the top of the letter and you have to wipe it off and start over. I dried the parts in the sun for a day as the caliper paint can take a long time to dry if put on thick.

If you want to see what the paint looks like now check here when I painted my post MAF tubes a couple months ago. VHT Wrinkle Paint
It's a little dusty in the engine bay, but you can see the paint is still excellent.

Dragon_Ball_Z · 10-07-2015, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trilitheum

Yup, believe it was duplicolor gun metallic.

I didn't clear coat, just masked the rest of the cover off and painting two light coats and let dry a good day or more before re-installing.

For the red I used a small paint brush, like the craft store type, and carefully applied the paint to the top of the lettering. It will build up to give a nice thick coat if you keep adding more to the brush and do a little at a time. Have to be careful as if you go to far it will spill over the top of the letter and you have to wipe it off and start over. I dried the parts in the sun for a day as the caliper paint can take a long time to dry if put on thick.

If you want to see what the paint looks like now check here when I painted my post MAF tubes a couple months ago. VHT Wrinkle Paint

It's a little dusty in the engine bay, but you can see the paint is still excellent.

Awesome, so the red is caliper paint? You sprayed it on the brush and wiped? And I'm really surprised you didn't use something to help with adhesion for the paint.

-Raj

Trilitheum · 10-07-2015, 09:00 AM

No, didn't spray, it was the small can of caliper paint, just used the small brush to apply it.

Well I know with the duplicolor it has been almost 3 years and no issues, and I have been to the track several times, so if it was going to peel from the heat etc. it should have by now.

10-07-2015, 08:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trilitheum Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 210 Drives: '11 370z 6M KAD Spt Rep Power: 16	I just cleaned the surface with some alcohol before painting and let dry. The plastic is already fairly rough and textured and the paint adhered very well. It was just standard automotive paint, from the touch up spray cans, no special plastic paint etc. You could use those but I didn't find it necessary. 2 1/2 years later it still looks good as new. __________________ 2011 Nissan 370Z Touring/Sport, 6MT, KAD

10-07-2015, 08:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trilitheum Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 210 Drives: '11 370z 6M KAD Spt Rep Power: 16	Yup, believe it was duplicolor gun metallic. I didn't clear coat, just masked the rest of the cover off and painting two light coats and let dry a good day or more before re-installing. For the red I used a small paint brush, like the craft store type, and carefully applied the paint to the top of the lettering. It will build up to give a nice thick coat if you keep adding more to the brush and do a little at a time. Have to be careful as if you go to far it will spill over the top of the letter and you have to wipe it off and start over. I dried the parts in the sun for a day as the caliper paint can take a long time to dry if put on thick. If you want to see what the paint looks like now check here when I painted my post MAF tubes a couple months ago. VHT Wrinkle Paint It's a little dusty in the engine bay, but you can see the paint is still excellent. Dragon_Ball_Z likes this. __________________ 2011 Nissan 370Z Touring/Sport, 6MT, KAD

10-07-2015, 09:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Trilitheum Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 210 Drives: '11 370z 6M KAD Spt Rep Power: 16	No, didn't spray, it was the small can of caliper paint, just used the small brush to apply it. Well I know with the duplicolor it has been almost 3 years and no issues, and I have been to the track several times, so if it was going to peel from the heat etc. it should have by now. JARblue and Dragon_Ball_Z like this. __________________ 2011 Nissan 370Z Touring/Sport, 6MT, KAD

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