Alum. crossmember - paint it?

toddu · 05-11-2007, 04:34 AM

I've got all my parts back from the blaster, and will be painting soon (I'm dying to get my car back on the road, but with a new little one it's been hard to find the time to complete the project). Everything is so nice and clean!!!

The crossmember is very clean, but has that dull, just blasted look to it. Do I leave it? Paint it an aluminum color?

Thanks,

euro911sc · euro911sc's Garage

You could have it anodized if you really wanted to... Black, clear, red, green, yellow, purple, whatever... I would NOT paint it except for clear coat as a last resort. You could probably powder coat it too, but at least with anodizing the surface hardness is increased greatly and it does not chip

Best regards,

Michael

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Wire brush it....

Jays72T · 05-11-2007, 07:59 AM

Spray it clear.

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

either get it clear anodized or spray it clear

Garp · 03-29-2009, 04:52 AM

Recycling an older thread. I'm thinking about having clear/colorless powdercoating applied to my crossmember. Anybody else done this? Is it safe (I guess it is) to powdercoat this part?

sc_rufctr · 03-29-2009, 05:25 AM

You could pain it with a POR15 paint but not the normal one a lot of people here use.

They have another product called "Glister PC"
It's a two component clear coat that can be brushed or sprayed on.

A pint is... $34.50 (More than enough to do your cross member)

http://www.por15.com/GLISTEN-PC/productinfo/GPCGG/

jase007 · jase007's Garage

It's safe to powdercoat the part if the shop is familiar with PC-ing aluminum.

I'd just leave it alone (not finish it) as it's going to get very dirty very quickly. That said, I POR-15'd (and paint) my F control arms when I installed the ER Poly bronze bushings ... they needed it.

Eric_Shea · Eric_Shea's Garage

If you could find a shop with a vibrating bead polisher/de-burrer you could drop it in there for about 15-20 minutes. Then I would anodize it. Aluminum can pit. Anodizing will prevent that. Anodizing dulls the finish as well which is why I recommend dropping it in a bead tub for a few minutes first, especially if you concerned with it's current appearance.

Otherwise, bolt it on the car and neer look at it again.

don gilbert · don gilbert's Garage

if its dull they used a to course of medium, glass beads will make it shiny alum.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

post pics if you do anything to it

I'd think paint or pc might mess up the seating of the Elph. mounts if that is a concern for you.

I cleaned mine in solvent, but I don't crawl under the car to admire the parts finish very often...