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.

 

Damon,


As always great write up. It looks perfect, just like from the factory!

I actually had mine reshot in black. And it's held up very well! I also copied Jeff's idea of chroming the end plates once I saw how good his turned out .

 

looks great guys, one day ill have to buy a strut bar too :P

 

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.

 

I painted mine blue to match my calipers...

 

The strut bars came in red and black, but I don't know if that is true for both the R1 and R2 bars. Only the R1 bars were adjustable.

 

damn silverbullit....bling...bling..and all that..lol. and hdp...i like your calipers..that looks nice...and damon of course rockin it stock, and lookin good..lol.

 

Later Japanese cars had black strut tower bars - we never got them in the US.

Looks mighty nice, Damon!

Dale

 

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?

 

Phil, spacers = washers?

 

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.

 

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.

 

I agree with Damon. Be careful and use the right tools and you'll have no problems.

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.

 

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.

 

Still not a scratch or scuff on it. I'm glad I didn't bother to powdercoat!