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I want to have my stock C5 air bridge painted to match the body paint color. Can this work? Will flex agent need to be added to the paint mix? Are the temps under the hood to high for the paint to survive for long?
I want to have my stock C5 air bridge painted to match the body paint color. Can this work? Will flex agent need to be added to the paint mix? Are the temps under the hood to high for the paint to survive for long?
Comments please.
The air bridge is hard plastic, its not flexible so no need for a flex agent. you can remove it and paint it your self, using exact factory paint you can purchase at any GM dealership. all you need is your paint code, and the knowledge to prep, primer, and paint. Now the coupler is flexible, and you can purchase them in colors, they are ungraded to a silicone
this is a C5 air bridge with a rubber coupler. ( two separate piiece4s )
Great news. I can simply remove and possibly replace the accordion style coupler for a smooth one, as shown. Nice! Should be easy enough to learn how to prep the hard plastic for prime and paint.
I don't know about others, but the silicone coupler I bought was a b*tch to get back one. Has some nylon inner weaving, not just rubber so flexibility was less. I dread any time I need to remove it.
But paint will do fine with the right prep on the air bridge. Might want to make sure it isn't rubbing your hoodliner first. It shouldn't be, but hate to see you put in all the effort for it to get ruined.
I used these guys for base coat, clear coat in a can, very easy !! I did mine in black along with many other things under the hood. you can get the paint in your color, need the paint code. http://www.automotivetouchup.com/?A=...otouchup.com_e
I used these guys for base coat, clear coat in a can, very easy !! I did mine in black along with many other things under the hood. you can get the paint in your color, need the paint code. http://www.automotivetouchup.com/?A=...otouchup.com_e
Under hood photos look great. It looks like an aftermarket air bridge. Is it?
The photos look like a C5, but the MAS Air flow housing looks like it is up against the Throttle body. Is that what you did. Why is the MAS Air flow relocated? Just wondering.
Under hood photos look great. It looks like an aftermarket air bridge. Is it?
The photos look like a C5, but the MAS Air flow housing looks like it is up against the Throttle body. Is that what you did. Why is the MAS Air flow relocated? Just wondering.
It's a Vararam power duck sanded smooth, when I was going to install my Vararam they said to move the MAF next to the throttle body for ease of install. (clearance for hood) I have a ECS tune and told them I had moved the MAF. I have since been told it's not a good setup, (have a message to ECS) all I can say is my engine runs fantastic !!
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Here's a pic of my air bridge painted torch red. Not the same color as the exterior of my car, but the same principle applies - OEM paint color with clear added.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
No, that is a Cyberdine raised Anniversary 50 emblem. The black outlining the base of the raised emblem is pinstripping, added to cover up the small area where the paint wasn't as smooth as the rest of the duct. Thanks for the compliment.
I had mine painted black but don't have any good close ups of it. I'll get one when I get home in the morning. Last I looked at it, it looked to me like the paint was cracking by the logo. If it is I'll need to get it done again.
It's a Vararam power duck sanded smooth, when I was going to install my Vararam they said to move the MAF next to the throttle body for ease of install. (clearance for hood) I have a ECS tune and told them I had moved the MAF. I have since been told it's not a good setup, (have a message to ECS) all I can say is my engine runs fantastic !!
Here's a pic of my air bridge painted torch red. Not the same color as the exterior of my car, but the same principle applies - OEM paint color with clear added.
Like what you have done here. I can see that painting the Air Bridge is doable. What is the blue color? Is that Navy Blue Metallic?
It doesn't exactly match your question but I have the emblem hand-painted on my air bridge with Testor's model paint. It's held up for nearly three years now. I've contemplated painting it gloss black since my radiator shroud and rail covers are gloss black. They've held up well also.
I have a smooth coupler between the air bridge and the MAF. When I bought the car I was having some odd fitment issues with that small coupler piece and I think someone may have modified it somehow. I bought a generic Spectre coupler in black and it's worked well (took some jostling to get on). If you're wanting to smooth out the other end to the TB you can go with a vendor or look to vendors that provide couplers for say intercooler charge piping. Probably needs to be around 4"
I'm not too big into colors popping everywhere under the hood. I think the only other thing I'd do would be to do something about the stand-out alternator and possibly the wheel wells (considering wrapping them in CF vinyl).
It doesn't exactly match your question but I have the emblem hand-painted on my air bridge with Testor's model paint. It's held up for nearly three years now. I've contemplated painting it gloss black since my radiator shroud and rail covers are gloss black. They've held up well also.
I have a smooth coupler between the air bridge and the MAF. When I bought the car I was having some odd fitment issues with that small coupler piece and I think someone may have modified it somehow. I bought a generic Spectre coupler in black and it's worked well (took some jostling to get on). If you're wanting to smooth out the other end to the TB you can go with a vendor or look to vendors that provide couplers for say intercooler charge piping. Probably needs to be around 4"
I'm not too big into colors popping everywhere under the hood. I think the only other thing I'd do would be to do something about the stand-out alternator and possibly the wheel wells (considering wrapping them in CF vinyl).
Looks good. Along with the painted emblem on the air bridge, did you also paint the blue on the rail covers?
Looks good. Along with the painted emblem on the air bridge, did you also paint the blue on the rail covers?
I did. Hand painted, and it looks a lot better in the picture than it actually does up close I'm afraid but I'm satisfied. I used a gloss light blue Testors color (can't recall exactly what color, but it's closest I could find to Nassau Blue) and it's held up well also as it's "sitting" on the heat-resistant gloss black. I didn't like the red "Corvette" lettering compared to the blue body.
Finished mine up lastnight. I prepped with Dawn dishwashing soap and a scotch pad. 4 coats of Rustoleum 2X ultra coverage. Looks great (to me) and matches the torch red exterior almost perfectly.
I don't know about others, but the silicone coupler I bought was a b*tch to get back one. Has some nylon inner weaving, not just rubber so flexibility was less. I dread any time I need to remove it.
But paint will do fine with the right prep on the air bridge. Might want to make sure it isn't rubbing your hoodliner first. It shouldn't be, but hate to see you put in all the effort for it to get ruined.
Yes...HUGE pain to get the silicone coupler on. This is the second time I had had to do it (first time was the install.) Honestly made me want to throw the stock one back on!
Last edited by REDSEE5; 01-11-2017 at 02:44 PM.
Reason: Spelling
Finished mine up lastnight. I prepped with Dawn dishwashing soap and a scotch pad. 4 coats of Rustoleum 2X ultra coverage. Looks great (to me) and matches the torch red exterior almost perfectly.
YES! I like it. This is the look I am going after. My car however, is a Navy Blue Metallic. Did you do any primer coats under the finish coat?
01-10-2017, 12:57 AM
Air bridge to match paint color
