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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

painting subframe connectors

  • Thread starter Thread starter Asha'man
  • Start date Start date Aug 30, 2003

Asha'man

Founding Member
Feb 5, 2002
1,909
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0
Denver
Aug 30, 2003
#1
  • Aug 30, 2003
  • #1
Should I? I'm thinking so, because they're just bare mild steel. Now that that's decided, what shall I paint them with? Would spray paint hold up? They don't salt the roads here in the winter, but I'm sure there's still crap that might eat through to the steel. Don't wanna have them powdercoated, no money. Suggestions?

Ash
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Aug 31, 2003
#2
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #2
Sell them and buy powdercoated ones.

Most all are already powdercaoted, and I've seen them for under $100.
 

Asha'man

Founding Member
Feb 5, 2002
1,909
0
0
Denver
Aug 31, 2003
#3
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #3
Ah, negative. I got these for free (if the guy comes through) so I plan on using them.

Ash
 

shecky

Founding Member
Dec 23, 2000
269
0
16
Wilmington, DE
Aug 31, 2003
#4
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #4
get a bare metal sealer and some top coat, you'll be fine...
 
B

bcmbcmbcm

20+ Year Stangneter
Jan 29, 2003
455
0
16
Aug 31, 2003
#5
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #5
I just painted mine

check out www.porstore.com

I used a Zinc galvanizing liquid. removes very minor surface rust (its there). If you get a scratch or chip (you will), the rust will not creep.
 
G

goldbomb79

Member
Jun 4, 2003
374
0
16
Indiana
Aug 31, 2003
#6
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #6
how about just cleaning them up and then primering it and paint it with paintable undercoating and you can either leave them the black undercoating color or paint them whatever color you want to. just my two cents
 

Asha'man

Founding Member
Feb 5, 2002
1,909
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0
Denver
Aug 31, 2003
#7
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #7
What's paintable undercoating? Don't think I've seen it before. I also like the POR-15 idea.

Ash
 

4dStang

Banned
Oct 23, 2002
718
1
0
Near St Louis, Missouri
Aug 31, 2003
#8
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #8
Get a can of rustoleum. Paint with 2 coats. Thats it. Shouldnt rust for 5 or so years. No sense spending mucho money to paint something under the car. Paint after installation.

Chris
 
B

Bigstang1

Founding Member
Aug 28, 2002
415
0
16
Massachusettes
Aug 31, 2003
#9
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #9
POR-15
 

FORDRACING19

Founding Member
Aug 13, 2000
371
0
0
Denton,TX
Aug 31, 2003
#10
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #10
i used rustoleum on mine and they look good. spray zinc is good to keep the rust off also.
 

cenok is family

15 Year Member
Jun 25, 2003
1,409
69
79
Norman, Ok
Aug 31, 2003
#11
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #11
POR-15 ....POR-15 price por-15 is badass but it's like 30$ for a quart and if you're just painting subframes, that'd be a waste. just get some rustoleum like a few others said.
 

Asha'man

Founding Member
Feb 5, 2002
1,909
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0
Denver
Aug 31, 2003
#12
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #12
Rustoleum sounds good to me. Someone said paint after install.......be easier to paint before, will it interfere with the welding or something? I'd rather paint the whole thing beforehand and then have to repaint the welds than to paint it all when it's on the car.

Ash
 

jadedinpa

Founding Member
Aug 2, 2002
1,094
0
0
lancaster, pa
Aug 31, 2003
#13
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #13
Asha'man said:
Rustoleum sounds good to me. Someone said paint after install.......be easier to paint before, will it interfere with the welding or something? I'd rather paint the whole thing beforehand and then have to repaint the welds than to paint it all when it's on the car.

Ash
Click to expand...

paint them except for the ends where they will be welded in. then once they are on the car you can paint over the welds.
 

FORDRACING19

Founding Member
Aug 13, 2000
371
0
0
Denton,TX
Aug 31, 2003
#14
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #14
i painted afterwards. made it alot easier. the person that welds it will thank you.
 
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bcmbcmbcm

20+ Year Stangneter
Jan 29, 2003
455
0
16
Aug 31, 2003
#15
  • Aug 31, 2003
  • #15
I also painted mine with weld through primer

from Griots garage. no flames please for the price!

It is weld through zinc, so the installer literally welded right over the paint. This way, there was no bare metal sealed anywhere....

if you don't paint under the subframes, there will be bare metal pressed up against your floorpan, and rust will come out.

Yes, I spent about $40 for the griots stuff and the por 15. The way I look at it, once welded in, the subframes are no longer a "part"; they are now my chassis, as they are fully welded to the car, and no different than a rocker panel or floorboard. In other words, I would not want my chassis painted with rustoleum or krylon. Now if it was a bolt on suspension part or bracket, that might be different. But S&^#t, this is your frame we are talking about!

I sleep alot better knowing that my chassis is prepped and sealed up really well, there are no hidden cavities of bare metal anywhere, and more importantly, I wont have to do this job ever again.
 
D

dj14901

New Member
Oct 26, 2003
19
0
1
CT
Jan 1, 2004
#16
  • Jan 1, 2004
  • #16
bcmbcmbcm said:
from Griots garage. no flames please for the price!

It is weld through zinc, so the installer literally welded right over the paint. This way, there was no bare metal sealed anywhere....
Click to expand...

bcmbcmbcm:

Just curious, how many cans of the Zinc primer did you use?

Thanks,

DJ
 
P

PonyBoy90

Founding Member
Aug 30, 2002
555
0
0
Toronto
Jan 2, 2004
#17
  • Jan 2, 2004
  • #17
Paint them with standard black paint and then get a spray can of rust proofing OIL. Here in Ontario Canada they salt like nuts so the rustproofing business for the auto industry is BIG business. I don't drive mine in the winter, but rust proof anyways to prevent rusting from dampness in the summer and spring months. Most auto stores or a professional rust shop sell their own stuff in a spray can. Every so often like at every oil change, just spray the stuff on the subframes and you should be fine. OR, you could just pay the $50 and they can oil spray your entire undercarriage and it's good for a year depending on the weather.

Go to a place that uses oil for rust proofing and not the "tar-ish" type paint as this stuff creates pockets where moisture can get in and then start rusting underneith.

I don't know what businesses they have where you are from, but here we have RUST CHECK and KROWN RUST CONTROL. I like KROWN the best. Their oil solution is better and more durable.
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
6,945
1,598
223
Northern KY
Jan 2, 2004
#18
  • Jan 2, 2004
  • #18
2 coats Rustoleum, then 2 coats of Dupli Color 1200 degree engine ceramic spray paint. Not because it's heat safe, but because it's a much tougher paint and will actually withstand some chips. Other than that, a cool idea would be to get that Dupli Color bed liner stuff, it's just like that Rhino Liner stuff but you can buy it in a can. That would be super tough and hold up to chips better than any paint, even powdercoat.
 

mustang90

Founding Member
Feb 8, 2001
1,209
15
58
Jan 3, 2004
#19
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #19
Get some VHT frame epoxy spray paint! 4 bucks a can at a local speed shop and the stuff works GREAT! I used it on my subframes and it looks nice too!
 

whitemustang89

Member
Dec 15, 2003
166
0
17
in the sticks of arkansas
Jan 4, 2004
#20
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #20
just go pick up some of the cans of 3m spray can undercoating its rubbery and wont rust had alot of that on my frame on a truck i used to have never rusted its really cheap and i think wal-mart might even carry it
 
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