Painting the Metal Rear Deck Vents (Page 4/5)
Patrick MAR 23, 06:00 PM

quote
Originally posted by Troy Eckhardt:

Have you all found that the rivets can just be drilled out to separate the two pieces?



It was easy enough to drill the top part of the rivet off (which allowed for separation of the two panels), but I found it next to impossible to drill out the rest of the rivet without accidentally drilling into the body of the aluminum. I ended up just using tiny screws to hold the panels together again afterwards.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-24-2018).]

cliffw MAR 23, 11:46 PM

quote
Originally posted by fierofool:
... this is my 8 Step process.

1. Strip the old finish.
2. Degrease well and rinse thoroughly.
3. Wash with white vinegar, rinse and dry thoroughly.
4. Spray with Zinc Phosphate primer (used on aircraft) and sun dry for 1 day. Will still be a little soft.
5. Spray with high temp engine paint and sun dry for 1 day.
6. Send the spouse shopping.
7. Preheat oven to 250 and bake on center rack for 30 minutes.
[/b]8. Deny the house smells strange.[/b]




Heh heh.
Send the wife shopping ? Are you crazy ? I will just wait for her to go shopping again.

I will blame the house smell on my dog.


quote
Originally posted by Patrick:




Those did turn out very nice Patrick. I had never thought of two toned. Do you have a further away picture, perhaps of both ?

What the heck is laying on top of that vent ?

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 03-23-2018).]

Patrick MAR 24, 12:40 AM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:

What the heck is laying on top of that vent ?



It's one end of the spoiler from a '92 Chevy Lumina which now resides on my '88 Formula. This picture isn't the best, but does show both grills.




And this is the same spoiler/rear decklid combination when I originally had it installed on my '84.


quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Having the wing is a matter of personal taste. I don't like it. I've removed the decklid (with wing) from my '88 Formula and swapped onto it the decklid I had on another notchie on which I had custom fit a spoiler from a '92 Chevy Lumina. I like it a lot better.

This is the decklid (with spoiler) that I've now got on my Formula...




[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-24-2018).]

migs MAR 24, 05:55 AM

quote
Originally posted by Troy Eckhardt:

Have you all found that the rivets can just be drilled out to separate the two pieces? Afterward, can they be screwed back together, or must they be riveted?

Thanks,

Troy



I was able to drill out both parts, the one set in the body just requires small bit and patience, then you can just rivet it back together for the correct look... Can believe anyone wants to go through all the prep work on these ( I think i spent 3-4 hours on mine?) and just spray bomb them after all that. Do the prep work and then find a local powdercoat place, or send me yours all ready to go and I'll do it!
Thunderstruck GT MAR 24, 08:56 AM

quote
Originally posted by migs:

Thanks for the inspiration here guys I've been meaning to work on these and since i have a home powder coating and blasting setup its just time. Got the 1 side completely redone in about 3 hrs which included cooling off time while i went out to buy rivets. The OEM finish on the top part is definately powdercoat and the under tray I think is possibly just a spray paint as it comes off much easier. Did both on mine in semi gloss black not sure what the new OEM part would have been after looking at the finished product i wonder if the undertray was more of a flat finish to make it less visible.


Before




The factory finish is definitely not powder coat, it is a painted surface. That is why it wears off and gets weather beat.

I must say that with the exception of the rivets not being black, your finished pieces look NOS.

Where's that "LIKE" button.

[This message has been edited by Thunderstruck GT (edited 03-24-2018).]

cliffw MAR 24, 09:26 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
It's one end of the spoiler from a '92 Chevy Lumina which now resides my '88 Formula.



Ah, it looks weird from that top angle but does look good from the side profile

Hmm, I wonder what it would look like on wingstands.


quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
Having the wing is a matter of personal taste. I don't like it. I've removed the decklid (with wing) from my '88 Formula and swapped onto it the decklid I had on another notchie on which I had custom fit a spoiler from a '92 Chevy Lumina. I like it a lot better.



Smart move. Even smarter would be if you saved the original deck lid. Just in case you sell. As you say, personal preference.

Thanks.
spirit MAR 24, 10:38 AM
I took my underside leaf-catchers off and threw them away. But my car doesn't set outside.
Patrick MAR 24, 01:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:

Smart move. Even smarter would be if you saved the original deck lid.



I save everything.
qwikgta MAR 24, 10:41 PM
Years ago I got some advice from a professional painter, he said "primer sticks to metal, and paint sticks to primer". seems pretty basic but i've always lived by these words, and for the most part, my painted parts seem to last. Almost every time i skipped the primer, i got a crappy paint job. Also, good advice w/ the aircraft primer, most don't realize the vents are aluminum.
rogergarrison APR 03, 05:33 PM
Generally thats true...but like everything...there are exceptions. I was a body shop owner/operator for 45 years. Aluminum should have chromate primer as said. I painted planes in Okla City and a few here. Krylon BBQ black is a semi gloss I use a lot and it can be used without primer just fine. I did a lot of parts on my kit cars over the years. Primer is also good in that you can fill slight imperfections with it before painting. If you use primer, remember it needs to be sanded or scuffed before painting.