Repainting the R1 strut bar
#1
Lives on the Forum
Thread Starter
Repainting the R1 strut bar
I would never shell out the dough for a real R1 strut bar until I was able to get hold of one for cheap that looked like it had been abused My original plan was to strip the bar to bare metal and then have it powder coated but being the cheap bastard I am I decided to try spray paint first I figured if the spray paint came apart I could just strip it again and have it powder coated anyway.
This bar had been painted a couple times before and was in sorry shape. First I carefully drilled the rivets of the emblem out so I could remove it. A can of automotive paint stripper and a wire brush in a drill got all the spray paint as well as the factory paint off and left me with bare metal. Make sure you spend plenty of time and ensure you get the metal spotless; the seams on the back are tough to get fully clean.
I gave the bare metal a nice wipe of MEK and then sprayed a light coat of primer from a rattle can. After the first coat dried I applied a second light coat and let it dry 24 hours. I then wet sanded the primer and shot it with red spray paint from a rattle can. I believe it was Rustoleum I used.
The lighting in the pic makes the bar look a little orange but the color is actually very close to stock. The emblem was re-attached with tiny stainless steel allen cap screws and nuts. The stock (but chromed) brackets and hardware at the ends were an extra set turbojeff had available. The only thing FD guys ever notice is the chrome. Nobody can tell the bar was stripped and repainted with a few dollars of spray paint
After months of use, abuse and engine degreasing etc the paint shows no issues at all. It's still perfect with no chips or scratches. If it ever does get chipped I'll lightly sand the scratch and shoot it again with $3 worth of paint. Perfect.
This bar had been painted a couple times before and was in sorry shape. First I carefully drilled the rivets of the emblem out so I could remove it. A can of automotive paint stripper and a wire brush in a drill got all the spray paint as well as the factory paint off and left me with bare metal. Make sure you spend plenty of time and ensure you get the metal spotless; the seams on the back are tough to get fully clean.
I gave the bare metal a nice wipe of MEK and then sprayed a light coat of primer from a rattle can. After the first coat dried I applied a second light coat and let it dry 24 hours. I then wet sanded the primer and shot it with red spray paint from a rattle can. I believe it was Rustoleum I used.
The lighting in the pic makes the bar look a little orange but the color is actually very close to stock. The emblem was re-attached with tiny stainless steel allen cap screws and nuts. The stock (but chromed) brackets and hardware at the ends were an extra set turbojeff had available. The only thing FD guys ever notice is the chrome. Nobody can tell the bar was stripped and repainted with a few dollars of spray paint
After months of use, abuse and engine degreasing etc the paint shows no issues at all. It's still perfect with no chips or scratches. If it ever does get chipped I'll lightly sand the scratch and shoot it again with $3 worth of paint. Perfect.
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Columbia,SC
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all the R1 strut bars I see for sale are painted in red. Is that the standard color for all r1 strut bars? I have seen them on black cars, silver, white, blue and obviously on red cars too. Then I saw 93silverbullets strut bar painted in black..... awesome looking engine compartment if I may add. I've also heard that some are adjustable some are not?? Is one better than the other? I would think a rigid none adjustable would be the way to go then if minor adjustament is required then the adjustable type is a must.
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#8
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
Later Japanese cars had black strut tower bars - we never got them in the US.
Looks mighty nice, Damon!
Dale
Looks mighty nice, Damon!
Dale
#9
Originally Posted by DaleClark
Later Japanese cars had black strut tower bars - we never got them in the US.
Damon, real nice. And yes, I LOVE the chrome ends Can you say hehe
Richard, WOW...I need my sunglasses on! Your engine bay is GORGEOUS. Perfect. Not too much, not too little. I love it How much time does upkeep of that take? (esp all the polish...)
~Ramy
#10
DGRR 2017 4/26-4/30, 2017
iTrader: (13)
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Damon, real nice. And yes, I LOVE the chrome ends Can you say hehe
Richard, WOW...I need my sunglasses on! Your engine bay is GORGEOUS. Perfect. Not too much, not too little. I love it How much time does upkeep of that take? (esp all the polish...)
~Ramy
Me too! I like those chrome ends.. I might have to copy you! How does it hold up?? Did you use some spacers for the nuts so that it does chip the chrome?
#13
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 93silverbullet
No problem so far with the chrome chipping off. I also had the nuts chromed too! Get a reputable place to do the chroming and you'll be very please with the results.
#14
Living the dream...
iTrader: (7)
Originally Posted by DamonB
Me neither. Jeff had everything chromed. The ends, the nuts, the rod end and its jam nut. Everything. Just be careful and use good tools when messing with it.
Jeff and I used the same guy to do the chrome work (actually Jeff recommended him). He also did a morjority of the polishing you see in the pics listed above (again on Jeff's recommendation). It pays to know the right people! Thanks again Jeff.
#15
Constant threat
I'd like to get one someday and paint it or have it powdercoated yellow, as I am going to have a yellow themed engine bay on my Montego Blue car as I rebuild the engine. I figure I'll get the UIM polished/chrome finished, do the alternator and have the stator painted yellow, get some yellow hoses here and there....it ought to look pretty cool. My calipers are already painted yellow and I like the look.