Strut Tower Brace Painting - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

seanjhon · 07-17-2014, 12:29 PM

Hey everyone,

I have seen that a lot of people have painted their strut brace. I have just received mine and looking to do the same thing. I have seen plenty of threads that have pics but no threads explaining how they have painted and their process.

Was wondering if there was a DIY thread on the process of prepping and painting a metal piece like that. Like the sand paper used, when to use it, when to wet sand, what grit to use.

Any info or maybe someone who has done it before can break down their process for me!! Thanks

RobertRS · 07-17-2014, 01:05 PM

I went the other route with ours and just polished the bar.

Ksmoke · 07-17-2014, 02:55 PM

Pretty simple. I just sanded using 400, 600, 800. Cleaned it up real well, let it dry out completely. Used a sandable primer, about 3/4 coats. Re sanded to keep everything smooth. Applied desired colors, again 3/4 coats. Then used a clear coat 3/4 coats. Overall not to complicated to get done. If you've done any painting before the steps are pretty similar. Had it done for about 6 months so far with no issues.

Michaels2011 · 07-17-2014, 03:01 PM

Here are some pics of how I painted mine & the paint I used…
The key is cleaning the surface to be painted well. I used rubbing alcohol for the final clean up prior to paint.
For the brace that attaches to the strut tower I used SIlver. 4 coats total, allowing plenty of drying time between coats.
Then I taped off silver and painted the strut bar blue, again 4 coats allowing plenty of drying time between coats.
Finally I cleared the whole brace & installed…
Hope this helps...

Michaels2011 · 07-17-2014, 03:50 PM

Strut brace installed with the other painted covers...

seanjhon · 07-17-2014, 05:29 PM

How long between coats did you wait?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaels2011

Here are some pics of how I painted mine & the paint I used…
The key is cleaning the surface to be painted well. I used rubbing alcohol for the final clean up prior to paint.
For the brace that attaches to the strut tower I used SIlver. 4 coats total, allowing plenty of drying time between coats.
Then I taped off silver and painted the strut bar blue, again 4 coats allowing plenty of drying time between coats.
Finally I cleared the whole brace & installed…
Hope this helps...

seanjhon · 07-17-2014, 05:34 PM

Ksmoke,

Did you sand whole brace with each 400,600,800 once, or to a desired surface with each sandpaper?

When you re sanded after primer what sand paper did u use?

How long between coats did you wait before next coat?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksmoke

Pretty simple. I just sanded using 400, 600, 800. Cleaned it up real well, let it dry out completely. Used a sandable primer, about 3/4 coats. Re sanded to keep everything smooth. Applied desired colors, again 3/4 coats. Then used a clear coat 3/4 coats. Overall not to complicated to get done. If you've done any painting before the steps are pretty similar. Had it done for about 6 months so far with no issues.

seanjhon · 07-17-2014, 05:35 PM

And how did you all keep from dust particles flying on?

How long after completed paint job did you wait until you put brace on car? Week?

ntmad8tr · 07-17-2014, 05:41 PM

I had mine painted by River Cities Creations and Lighting. They did a fantastic job.

Michaels2011 · 07-17-2014, 06:02 PM

I waited at least the minimum required on the paint can. It wasn't a 2 or 3 day paint job…
Patience pays off tho….

BLTZKRG · 07-17-2014, 06:20 PM

Looking excellent guys....cant wait til my 1LE brace arrives so i can do my own. Thinking shades of black or a gun metal color since car is Ashen Grey.

Ksmoke · 07-17-2014, 10:37 PM

When it was bare metal I lightly sanded with each level of sand paper. Mine had a few scuffs that wouldn't wash off so I used the sand paper to clean it up. Pretty much just used whatever level was needed to get the brace smoothed out. ( mine came shipped horribly) After priming I started with 800 and finished with 1000 to have a smooth finish. Primer I waited 10 - 15 minutes between coat (per directions on can). I used two different paints for color choices but each can recommended 15 minutes between coats.
I did mine over 2/3 days purely because I had odd hours for work. If your doing 1 color you could probably get it done in a day if you start in the am. I let the color painted parts dry over night before taping them off to do a different color.

Here's a pic. Gloss black on the ends, Ashen gray in the center.

07-17-2014, 12:29 PM	#1
seanjhon Drives: 2013 camaro Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 607	Strut Tower Brace Painting Hey everyone, I have seen that a lot of people have painted their strut brace. I have just received mine and looking to do the same thing. I have seen plenty of threads that have pics but no threads explaining how they have painted and their process. Was wondering if there was a DIY thread on the process of prepping and painting a metal piece like that. Like the sand paper used, when to use it, when to wet sand, what grit to use. Any info or maybe someone who has done it before can break down their process for me!! Thanks

07-17-2014, 03:01 PM	#4
Michaels2011 Drives: 2014 2lt/RS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Augustine Posts: 564 View My Garage	Here are some pics of how I painted mine & the paint I used… The key is cleaning the surface to be painted well. I used rubbing alcohol for the final clean up prior to paint. For the brace that attaches to the strut tower I used SIlver. 4 coats total, allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Then I taped off silver and painted the strut bar blue, again 4 coats allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Finally I cleared the whole brace & installed… Hope this helps... Attached Images __________________ K&N cai..... WCC underhood lighting.... 1LE strut tower brace.... Custom painted Fuse box/engine covers & strut tower brace.... Pfadt 1.25 lowering springs.....Ghosted side markers.....

07-17-2014, 03:50 PM	#5
Michaels2011 Drives: 2014 2lt/RS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Augustine Posts: 564 View My Garage	Strut brace installed with the other painted covers... Attached Images __________________ K&N cai..... WCC underhood lighting.... 1LE strut tower brace.... Custom painted Fuse box/engine covers & strut tower brace.... Pfadt 1.25 lowering springs.....Ghosted side markers.....

07-17-2014, 05:41 PM	#9
ntmad8tr Music City Camaro Club Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Spring Special Edition Join Date: May 2014 Location: Christiana, TN Posts: 642 View My Garage	I had mine painted by River Cities Creations and Lighting. They did a fantastic job. __________________ EMC(SS) USN RET. 2014 2SS *Spring Special Edition*,1 of 293. Cold Air Inc. CAI,Apex Catch Can, Kooks 1-7/8" headers, Kooks HF Cats, X-pipe, Kooks mufflers,Graphite, BMR Toe links, BMR rear trailing arms, MRR228s,RGB ORACLE Colorshift Halos, RGB LED Engine bay and Grille lighting, Diode Dynamics RGB Fog Lights. NightOwl LED control system. Painted engine cover by S.L. Customs. River Cities Creations painted strut brace. My Build Thread

07-17-2014, 06:02 PM	#10
Michaels2011 Drives: 2014 2lt/RS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Augustine Posts: 564 View My Garage	I waited at least the minimum required on the paint can. It wasn't a 2 or 3 day paint job… Patience pays off tho…. __________________ K&N cai..... WCC underhood lighting.... 1LE strut tower brace.... Custom painted Fuse box/engine covers & strut tower brace.... Pfadt 1.25 lowering springs.....Ghosted side markers.....

07-17-2014, 01:05 PM	#2
RobertRS Drives: 2014 2SS L99 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi Texas Posts: 1,320	I went the other route with ours and just polished the bar.

07-17-2014, 02:55 PM	#3
Ksmoke Drives: 2013 Camaro 1LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 313 View My Garage	Pretty simple. I just sanded using 400, 600, 800. Cleaned it up real well, let it dry out completely. Used a sandable primer, about 3/4 coats. Re sanded to keep everything smooth. Applied desired colors, again 3/4 coats. Then used a clear coat 3/4 coats. Overall not to complicated to get done. If you've done any painting before the steps are pretty similar. Had it done for about 6 months so far with no issues.

07-17-2014, 05:35 PM	#8
seanjhon Drives: 2013 camaro Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 607	And how did you all keep from dust particles flying on? How long after completed paint job did you wait until you put brace on car? Week?

07-17-2014, 06:20 PM	#11
BLTZKRG Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: dover pa Posts: 248	Looking excellent guys....cant wait til my 1LE brace arrives so i can do my own. Thinking shades of black or a gun metal color since car is Ashen Grey. __________________ 2014 Ashen Gray Metallic 2SS/RS M6 CAGS Skip-Shift Eliminator 1LE Strut Tower Brace GMPP Track Pack Axleback Halltech CAI Fuse Pull Mod

07-17-2014, 10:37 PM	#12
Ksmoke Drives: 2013 Camaro 1LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 313 View My Garage	When it was bare metal I lightly sanded with each level of sand paper. Mine had a few scuffs that wouldn't wash off so I used the sand paper to clean it up. Pretty much just used whatever level was needed to get the brace smoothed out. ( mine came shipped horribly) After priming I started with 800 and finished with 1000 to have a smooth finish. Primer I waited 10 - 15 minutes between coat (per directions on can). I used two different paints for color choices but each can recommended 15 minutes between coats. I did mine over 2/3 days purely because I had odd hours for work. If your doing 1 color you could probably get it done in a day if you start in the am. I let the color painted parts dry over night before taping them off to do a different color. Here's a pic. Gloss black on the ends, Ashen gray in the center.