Painting Firewall
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Lake Lure NC
Painting Firewall
I am in the process of getting ready to paint the frame and the firewall. It seems to me that the firewall is made out of plastic. Can the firewall be painted and if so what type of paint is best? 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Originally Posted by mothersworry
I am in the process of getting ready to paint the frame and the firewall. It seems to me that the firewall is made out of plastic. Can the firewall be painted and if so what type of paint is best?
That is a question I've never heard asked before.... I'd like to see the answers to this one. 
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by mothersworry
I am in the process of getting ready to paint the frame and the firewall. It seems to me that the firewall is made out of plastic. Can the firewall be painted and if so what type of paint is best?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,320
Likes: 2
From: Salem Oregon
I just did mine and I know I will catch flack on here, but I used the black wrinkle truck bed coating on mine. I wanted durable, plus I had chopped the snout off my ac box and wanted to hide any imperfections. It seems to have stuck good, but it will not stick to the rubber top piece. The wife looked at it after I was done and said, "it looks like it was made that way", but then she is a girl so no idea what your buddys might say. My next door nieghbor is a body man and he said, " that came out pretty good" so maybe it is alright. Randy
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
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For the frame rails and firewall, I used a gloss black spray paint that you can pick up from your local AutoZone or other major autoparts place. It's very durable, can withstand the elements (I sprayed down a bolt with the stuff and let it sit outside all throughout the hot summer and cold winter, and it still looked good as new) and it's rated to withstand 500 degree temperatures before any problems. And it has a glossy shine to it. I doubt the framerails experience temps in the 500 degree range, nor the firewall. Though if there were ever a time the firewall would experience something like that would be when the car sits after a driving period. The stuff is called Dupli-Color Engine enamel. Works great on engines and it seems well on other things. You can get it up to a rated 1500 degree temp, but I think the gloss black is only 500 and lower.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The factory used a type of plactized enamel for the frame to keep it from rusting. The firewall, underhood, small pieces were a semi-flat enamel. Most of the firewall won't be seen once the engine is back in so I would recommend spray cans to do the work.
Clean and degrease the area and use a scotch-brite pad to roughen up the surface. Mask everything you don't want to paint. Use Dupli-Color black sandable primer for a primer coat (you can sand it somoth with 400-grit if you wish when dry. Then use Krylon Semi-Flat (#1613) paint for the finish coat. 3 light coats should do it. This combo will almost perfectly duplicate the factory finish.
You can do the wheelwell panels in the same fashion to give it all a finished look.
Clean and degrease the area and use a scotch-brite pad to roughen up the surface. Mask everything you don't want to paint. Use Dupli-Color black sandable primer for a primer coat (you can sand it somoth with 400-grit if you wish when dry. Then use Krylon Semi-Flat (#1613) paint for the finish coat. 3 light coats should do it. This combo will almost perfectly duplicate the factory finish.
You can do the wheelwell panels in the same fashion to give it all a finished look.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Lake Lure NC
Got a product from Eastwood today called Chassis Black Below is the description:
Not glossy, not dull, just right! Authentic 60-70% gloss looks great on suspension parts and frame. Proper for all makes and models. Tough modified epoxy formulation resists chips, corrosion and temperatures up to 300 degrees F
I think this will work. Any thoughts?
Not glossy, not dull, just right! Authentic 60-70% gloss looks great on suspension parts and frame. Proper for all makes and models. Tough modified epoxy formulation resists chips, corrosion and temperatures up to 300 degrees F
I think this will work. Any thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,594
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From: CALGARY ab
Originally Posted by mothersworry
Got a product from Eastwood today called Chassis Black Below is the description:
Not glossy, not dull, just right! Authentic 60-70% gloss looks great on suspension parts and frame. Proper for all makes and models. Tough modified epoxy formulation resists chips, corrosion and temperatures up to 300 degrees F
I think this will work. Any thoughts?
Not glossy, not dull, just right! Authentic 60-70% gloss looks great on suspension parts and frame. Proper for all makes and models. Tough modified epoxy formulation resists chips, corrosion and temperatures up to 300 degrees F
I think this will work. Any thoughts?
Go to a PPG supplier, OR House of Color. and get the run down of epoxy primer, base urethane paints, , etc...these are the best known for the condition you are exposing to..
ps: i gonna do my valve covers this way in red..
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Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by mothersworry
Got a product from Eastwood today called Chassis Black Below is the description:
Not glossy, not dull, just right! Authentic 60-70% gloss looks great on suspension parts and frame. Proper for all makes and models. Tough modified epoxy formulation resists chips, corrosion and temperatures up to 300 degrees F
I think this will work. Any thoughts?
Not glossy, not dull, just right! Authentic 60-70% gloss looks great on suspension parts and frame. Proper for all makes and models. Tough modified epoxy formulation resists chips, corrosion and temperatures up to 300 degrees F
I think this will work. Any thoughts?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Tx
If I had the firewall exposed, I would cover it with Thermo-Tec Aluminized Heat Barrier, glued on with silicone cement. I'd carry the heat barrier down the transmission tunnel also. Should block most of the engine/ transmission heat.
The aluminum would look great, and the cockpit would stay a lot cooler.
With silicone cement, it should stay in place and be very durable.
Only problem is getting the engine and everything else out of the way to install it.
I agree with the Chassis Black paint for the frame, and it would look good on the firewall too if you just wanted to paint it.
The aluminum would look great, and the cockpit would stay a lot cooler.
With silicone cement, it should stay in place and be very durable.
Only problem is getting the engine and everything else out of the way to install it.
I agree with the Chassis Black paint for the frame, and it would look good on the firewall too if you just wanted to paint it.
