Fyi - rear strut cover silver - repaint

[JasonZ-YA]

Hi,

I thought i would share my find. I went to HOME DEPOT and purchased:

RUST-OLEUM METALLIC - BRILLIANT METAL FINISH.

It matches pretty darn well....see pics......and you be the judge.


oh, and i scuffed and scratched the heck outta my strut cover and it needed to be replaced or repainted. I originally was gonna carbon fiber wrap it.....but i decided against it...

AS FOR APPLICATION:
I used acetone and cleaned the strut cover, scuffed it all around with light sand paper, i believe 400, then 800 with light pressure........

I used acetone again to clean after sanding, waited for it dry then applied a light coat......waited to dry, reapplied another light coat........waited to dry.....then i did a good thorough run....after it was all dry, i wiped it down and ready for install....A shot of clear coat spray will probably be good.

oh yeah, I used a dremel with a sanding tool to burn down the "Z" logo mounting points and then a punch and a slight blow with a rubber mallet to pop the Z out. I plan on using super glue or something to remount it.

-J

PICS don't do it much justice........but it matches really really well...

Don't know if its been posted before as i didn't find anything.

[AllstarE4]

Well from the pictures the color looks great. As long as the finish looks like the original and not a painted piece then you're golden.

[JasonZ-YA]

ya, it looks great.......i was very doubtful myself, but was surprised with the outcome.....

ill post pics once i have it reinstalled.......
-J

[JasonZ-YA]

UPDATE WITH MORE PICS...

[AcidJake75]

it does loook good...but I have to ask - why did you have to repaint? I recall seeing it off the car.. what were you up to?

pffffffft - **edit** perhaps I should have read your first post..heh..sorry..

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by AcidJake75

it does loook good...but I have to ask - why did you have to repaint? I recall seeing it off the car.. what were you up to?

I was gonna have my buddy carbon fiber wrap it......so i had removed it and scuffed it all up with sand paper to give the resin something to grab/part of the prep process......etc....

then, i decided not to CF wrap it after all........so i got it back from my buddy and had to paint it.........i was just gonna flat black it like this one thread i saw but when i was at the home depot i saw the silver and it looked to be a near perfect match.........didnt realize it was gonna come out perfect...lol

-J

[JasonZ-YA]

I updated the first post.........a shot of clear coat will neutralize the color and make it even better.....

So, i recommend getting some clear coat put on it when done spraying the Silver.
-J

[Z04]

not bad, looks like some good work. though i am considering going with the darker color that the newer Z's have (that silver cover is a bit distracting at times in the rear view)

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by Z04

not bad, looks like some good work. though i am considering going with the darker color that the newer Z's have (that silver cover is a bit distracting at times in the rear view)

I know what your talking about........ive seen the new Z darker color.......

I really think the Dupont wheel paint color called: "Graphite"
MIGHT be a pretty close match to the newer z darker color your talking about.

I havent tried it yet.....but you may wanna check that out.

post it up here if you do...........

-J

[robbinsj]

I am looking into having mine airbrushed, how did you remove it??? I cant seem to figure it out.

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by robbinsj

I am looking into having mine airbrushed, how did you remove it??? I cant seem to figure it out.

Take your time and pull the adjacent interior pieces back slowly.

start with the two end caps on top...pull up on the end closest to the middle and pull up slowly. dont completely remove it, just pull it up.

then pull back the fronts and sides. same thing, dont completely remove it just pull forward or back a few inches to clear the center section you want to remove.

Then with two hands pull straight up evenly on the center section and it will pop out straight up.

hope that helps...
-J

[Cux350z]

looks good.


you ever wish you had a black interior over frost?

[JasonZ-YA]

actually no........i love the frost interior........but i hated the seats........the frost seats to me were too thin (mm wise) and cracks showed up too quickly......I would however love to have the 06 frost door panels....much nicer i think..

I bought factory black cloth full seats off a member here and switched my rear trunk carpet to black to kinda make it all go.......I love how it looks now!!!

The 4th pic is my foam trunk mat: DIY - FOAM TRUNK MAT i did - because im always hauling stuff and don't want to ruin my OEM carpet.....again..lol..

Kinda like an OREO interior now......lol..

-J

[FORZWIN]

I know it's an oldie, but thought I'd add pictures of mine. I too have frost interior and jsut felt the center section was a little bleh.

[JasonZ-YA]

^ nice........what paint did you use??

[FORZWIN]

Thanks! I used self etching primer and then dupli-color auto paint, the stuff you find in small cans to match factory paint. It's held up great for 2+ years now and has the perfect sheen for me without clear. I believe the color was "Phantom Grey Pearl".

I'll see if I can dig up a picture that shows more of it...

[JasonZ-YA]

^ baller...good addition..thanks

-J

[ThundrA]

I know this is dumb, but how do you remove the rear strut cover, can you be specific with the procedures?
Thanks

[JasonZ-YA]

well, if i remember correctly, you pull up the side end caps......

then from there you pry on the entire thing.......nothing special about it really..

-J

[Ultra-yellow]

removing the strut cover is a breeze. And yours looks great, would def clearcoat it though. I am selling an extra silver strut cover in case anyone wants to experiment with this. (just PM me)