Painted/covered Calipers
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
Painted/covered Calipers
I am looking at either painting my calipers or covering them and trying to decide what color would look best.
My car is Blade Silver and I am struggling with painting them Black with Silver lettering or Silver with Black lettering.
Any opinions and/or photos of your car would be quite welcome.
Thanks,
My car is Blade Silver and I am struggling with painting them Black with Silver lettering or Silver with Black lettering.
Any opinions and/or photos of your car would be quite welcome.
Thanks,
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 773
Likes: 163
From: Downingtown, PA
I would go with powder coating them rather than the covers. I bought a set of the covers and they were HUGE. Sent them back and had The Powdercoater (forum member) and he did a great job. Black with silver lettering would be my choice. JMO
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 260
From: Shawnee, OK
Powder-coating is the way to go - no doubt ! It will look the best and have a durable finish.
I like the ZR-1 blue with silver. It just looks really good and stands out. Black or Silver won't really stand out. It'll be a clean look, but not noticeable.
Good Luck ! And don't forget pics when you're done !
I like the ZR-1 blue with silver. It just looks really good and stands out. Black or Silver won't really stand out. It'll be a clean look, but not noticeable.
Good Luck ! And don't forget pics when you're done !
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: Kingman AZ
*Flame suit at the ready*
I had planned on powder coating my calipers the ZR1 blue but after I installed Z51 rotors (that had been painted black and then 'brake pad' machined) along with the black brackets... I stood back and realized the stock calipers didn't look too bad (to me anyway
). I have black Z06 style wheels so the 'as cast' silver calipers stand out better than from behind my stock chrome wheels. If I had stayed with the chromies, I would've gone red powdercoat.
When I was looking for opinions here on the Forum, I was told to think about what accents you may want to use elsewhere on the car or in the engine compartment.
I had planned on powder coating my calipers the ZR1 blue but after I installed Z51 rotors (that had been painted black and then 'brake pad' machined) along with the black brackets... I stood back and realized the stock calipers didn't look too bad (to me anyway
). I have black Z06 style wheels so the 'as cast' silver calipers stand out better than from behind my stock chrome wheels. If I had stayed with the chromies, I would've gone red powdercoat.When I was looking for opinions here on the Forum, I was told to think about what accents you may want to use elsewhere on the car or in the engine compartment.
Last edited by Kontra06; Jan 3, 2011 at 01:04 PM. Reason: Added pic
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 578
Likes: 8
From: Naples, FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20
Oh please, don't use the covers. Powdercoat Mike is a great vendor. his forum name is Corvette Pilot. He did a great job for me and lots of other forum members.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
Thanks for all the responses; I have pretty much ruled out covering them.
May paint them. I painted my 97 and it turned out pretty well.
If I get real energetic then I may do the powder coating; was trying to avoid completely removing the calipers but that may be the better way to go.
thanks again for all the input.
May paint them. I painted my 97 and it turned out pretty well.
If I get real energetic then I may do the powder coating; was trying to avoid completely removing the calipers but that may be the better way to go.
thanks again for all the input.
Last edited by Slider-01; Jan 3, 2011 at 02:39 PM.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
Thanks for all the input.
So, I already had the Duplicolor paint kit so decided to tackle it, what the heck. Figured if I didn't like it I would take them off, strip them down, and get them powercoated. I like to do things myself so gave it a whirl.
Finished the fronts last night and will go after the rear tonight or tomorrow.
A couple of hints to using the Duplicolor kit that I learned somewhere on the forum is to thin the paint slightly and boy did that make a big difference; and to use a good quality brush. I did both and it helped a lot.
So, here is the left side.
The red isn't rust; it is refelction from a red towl I had in the garage.
Also, some of the areas like the top of the bracket look like it isn't painted; it is, that is where the flash from the camera hit it.
Thanks again for all the recommendations; I really appreciated all of them.
So, I already had the Duplicolor paint kit so decided to tackle it, what the heck. Figured if I didn't like it I would take them off, strip them down, and get them powercoated. I like to do things myself so gave it a whirl.
Finished the fronts last night and will go after the rear tonight or tomorrow.
A couple of hints to using the Duplicolor kit that I learned somewhere on the forum is to thin the paint slightly and boy did that make a big difference; and to use a good quality brush. I did both and it helped a lot.
So, here is the left side.
The red isn't rust; it is refelction from a red towl I had in the garage.
Also, some of the areas like the top of the bracket look like it isn't painted; it is, that is where the flash from the camera hit it.
Thanks again for all the recommendations; I really appreciated all of them.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
Thanks,
It really turned out well; much better then when I did it on my C5. The key was the thinning of the paint (literally a thimble size amount in about 1/2 can of the paint), and the good china bristle brush.
Put 5 coats on them waiting about 45 minutes between coats. Had the garage up to about 75 degrees which helped the drying process.
The front wheels go back on tonight
It really turned out well; much better then when I did it on my C5. The key was the thinning of the paint (literally a thimble size amount in about 1/2 can of the paint), and the good china bristle brush.
Put 5 coats on them waiting about 45 minutes between coats. Had the garage up to about 75 degrees which helped the drying process.
The front wheels go back on tonight
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 273
From: SC
Say what you want...But I like the covers! They are easy to clean, they cover up the UGLY vette calipers. They help keep the wheels clean and i don't care what anyone say's! They don't get the brakes hot! I have had them on both my c6 vettes and they look very nice and clean. Get the ones sold by GM, yes GM sells them! They say corvette on them with the GM trademark. I just don't get it. People put covers on their engine caps, covers on their air ducks, covers on their grills and so on, so why the harsh marks about covering the ugly-est part of the car?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 14
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
Say what you want...But I like the covers! They are easy to clean, they cover up the UGLY vette calipers. They help keep the wheels clean and i don't care what anyone say's! They don't get the brakes hot! I have had them on both my c6 vettes and they look very nice and clean. Get the ones sold by GM, yes GM sells them! They say corvette on them with the GM trademark. I just don't get it. People put covers on their engine caps, covers on their air ducks, covers on their grills and so on, so why the harsh marks about covering the ugly-est part of the car?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
Say what you want...But I like the covers! They are easy to clean, they cover up the UGLY vette calipers. They help keep the wheels clean and i don't care what anyone say's! They don't get the brakes hot! I have had them on both my c6 vettes and they look very nice and clean. Get the ones sold by GM, yes GM sells them! They say corvette on them with the GM trademark. I just don't get it. People put covers on their engine caps, covers on their air ducks, covers on their grills and so on, so why the harsh marks about covering the ugly-est part of the car?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 273
From: SC
I agree. The only thing as ugly as the calipers on a Vette is the alternator, and fortunately you can't see that with the hood closed. But if I were going to show off my engine bay I would cover the alternator, not paint it. A pig is still a pig even if you put lipstick on it.
:i agree: