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  • Mitsubishi Evo: Custom Powder-Coating
    		•
    A 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution 8 gets totally Tricked with a custom powder-coat treatment and faux JDM headlights.
    From "Tricked Out"
    episode DTRK-402


    (Continued from page 2)

    PHOTO

    High-visibility engine parts get the powder-coat treatment so that they "pop" even louder.
    To begin, Andrew removes the parts under the hood that he plans to powder-coat, and he preps them by stripping and cleaning them.

    Materials/tools:

    standard shop tools
    paint stripper
    mask and goggles
    scrapers and brushes
    acetone

    advertisement


    PHOTO

    Figure A
    PHOTO

    Figure B
    Remove Engine Parts and Prep for Powder-Coating

    • Begin by removing any parts that you wish to powder-coat. Remember, they have to be able to fit in the oven.

    • Once the easy parts are removed, Andrew pulls off the cold-air intake pipes (figure A), valve cover (figure B) and the exhaust manifold heat shield.

    • Take the parts to the bench, and you can start prepping them. You'll want to remove anything that you don't want to get powder-coated, such as the oil cap and some grommets. Remember, starting with a clean surface is the key to a pro-quality finished product.

    • Anything that's already been painted in the car, such as the valve cover and the intake tube, Andrew will strip using a heavy-duty aircraft stripper.

      PHOTO

      Figure C
      PHOTO

      Figure D
      PHOTO

      Figure E

    Paint-Stripper Basics

    • Safety Alert: When using Be sure to use a mask and goggles for safety.

      Using aircraft paint stripper is fairly simple, provided you follow the proper procedure and safety precautions. Spray an even amount on the parts and let it sit for a few moments as the paint begins to bubble up (figure C).

    • Once the paint had begun to bubble and soften, gently scrape the paint off of the surface (figures D and E).

    • It usually takes a couple of applications to get all the paint off, plus a final coat to get the stubborn paint out of the cracks and crevices.

    • Once all of the paint has been scraped from the parts, take the parts to the sink and rinse off the biodegradable stripper.

    • Take the parts back to the workbench and wipe them down with acetone for a final cleaning.

    Paint-Stripping Tips