Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: tzettler on July 12, 2013, 02:55:33 AM

Title: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: tzettler on July 12, 2013, 02:55:33 AM
I am fairly new to Calgary, and while I know now almost all of the off road Jeep mod places, I am unsure of where I could bring certain parts to be professionally painted.  I drive a gecko green Jeep, hard to find parts in that color, though wouldn't mind a matching set of diff covers, perhaps amongst other things.  Thanks for the responses as I seem torbe filling up the tech talk forum lol
Title: Re: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: hps4evr on July 12, 2013, 07:36:19 AM
If you want matching paint then get a set of whichever diff cover you want, sandblast it, and visit the dealer to get your paint code and get them to paint match. Or, find a powder coating company that can match paint. I don't know off hand any powder coating shops but someone around here must know.
Title: Re: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: w squared on July 12, 2013, 07:38:25 AM
I wouldn't bother getting your diff covers "professionally" painted - they are going to get chewed to rat crap by the grit on the roads here. Here's what most of us do:

#1. Clean them with brake cleaner to get the oils off.

#2. Hit them with a good self-etching primer.

#3. Two thin coats of the color of your choice.

#4. Drink beer.

If you really want to get fancy, you can then sand off the raised portions (generally the manufacturer's logo) until bare metal shows and then slap on a couple coats of clear. The honest truth is that you'll probably feel like re-painting them within two years though - Calgary is hard on paint.
Title: Re: Re: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: binare on July 12, 2013, 08:45:40 AM
Any vehicle I've seen with painted diff covers tends to look like poo after awhile, they don't stay shiny for long that's for sure.
Title: Re: Re: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: w squared on July 12, 2013, 08:48:25 AM
Any vehicle I've seen with painted diff covers tends to look like poo after awhile, they don't stay shiny for long that's for sure.

I'd say that you put a fine point on it, but most poo is rounded.
Title: Re: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: tzettler on July 12, 2013, 09:17:03 AM
Hahaha awesome good tips, spoke with a few of the boys from work too and they offered similar recommendations, probably just stick with black!  Thanks!
Title: Re: Painting Diff Covers, etc...
Post by: w squared on July 12, 2013, 10:28:54 AM
If you're going to paint if black, Ukranian Tire has a "rubberized rocker guard" type of rattle-can paint that is supposed to resist gravel/rock chips. It's not perfect (and is less durable that real bedliner), but for $12 a can, it lasts way longer than normal tremclad.