To flatblack....or not to flatblack...

aspect · Post by **aspect** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:22 am

Ok well, I'm thinking it's time to paint my car, as it is very very scratched, dinged, and a little bit melted.

Some of you may have seen the flat black STi in the newest sport compact car. I know I saw it from 15 feet away from the newsstand!

Because I'm a cheap bastard, and I'm just going to scratch the hell out of it anyways, I think flat black is the way to go.

Here's a recent photo:

Legacytuner · Post by **Legacytuner** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 10:22 am

keep it red until it's completely unbearable then worry about the body,

LegacyT · Post by **LegacyT** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 10:53 am

You paint doesn't look bad at all from the pic. I think the flat black will look pretty bad IMHO.

Mark,

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 3:48 pm

I don't think flat black would look too bad, but I don't think you should do it. You'll just look like an SCC wannabe or something.

You can actually do a not-too-terrible paint job on the cheap with rattle cans... You could, for example, do a coat or two of glossy red and then one coat of clearcoat.

eastbaysubaru · Post by **eastbaysubaru** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:18 pm

Yeah, you definitely don't want to look like a follower, even though I think it'd look badass. From the pic you showed, the paint doesn't look bad at all.

-Brian

elkaboom · Post by **elkaboom** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:30 pm

Just leave it -your car has a well-loved/used look because, obviously, it is/has been

.
IMHO, I think a car that is exceptionally well (mechanically) maintained has a "ruggedly handsome" sorta look and feel about it.
Leave her as is and don't paint it any sooner than you absolutely have to.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:32 pm

People have been Krylon painting their cars for years before SCC. My buddy had a flat black, SR20DET powered 240SX before SCC started their 240 project car.

Keep it fast, and keep it flat black.

I'd say paint it. Maybe not flat black, maybe some other matte color (like Flat Red, or something).

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 5:04 pm

I used flat appliance epoxy paint on the hood and trunk of my '83 sedan. The only problem is the flat black fades to an ugly gray. I used to keep mine up with paint potectant spray and it stayed a more a semi-gloss black. The problem with painting gloss is drying time which allows all the aprticls of shit to get in the paint ... unless you have a clean garage. I always liked flat black cars as it goes back to the days of the first hot rodders who cared little about appearance, only about speed. I also like some cars to look used. I think muscle cars, for instance, look better with signs of use and age (not abuse and neglect) than they do restored. As an alternative o flat black, what about olive drab? It may look a little military or Michigan Militia, but it would be cool and have a similar effect. Actually you could prime it in flat black and if you alternate coats, it may turn out a little darker than olive drab.

Steve

turbonator · Post by **turbonator** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 5:51 pm

Do it.. I want to do my turbo in flatblack with black powder coated wheel and the EBC black slotted rotors

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:24 am

Steve - I think the problem was the paint you were using.

Krylon Rust-Protector flat-black won't fade. Unfortunately, you need to do several coats for it to be durable. Proper priming will help.

Personally, as an alternative, I'd prime it flat-black, then spray it with spray-on-bedliner. Not Line-x or Rhynoliner kind of stuff, but go to Wal-Mart and get cans of the stuff.

For help, soak the cans in warm/hot water, and spray in a moderately warm environment (75 to 77 degrees F). Spray the can upside down until no paint comes out to clear the head and work from there.

Use THIN coats (5 thin coats paints MUCH better than 1 THICK coat). And inbetween coats of flat-black, tack-cloth the parts. This will take out really big particles.

Ideally, I'd sand the SHIT out of the car, then spray a primer coat (gray, so you can ensure complete coverage when you spray your color). Then do a coat or two of flat black, THEN spray with bedliner. One thin coat of bedliner would be sweet. It's textured slightly (if you get the right stuff) and if sprayed uniformly, it would be consistant.

Otherwise, just use 2 dozen cans of Krylon, and make sure you take everything off the car (scoop, spoiler, trim [as much as you can], etc.)

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:59 am

Let's just say my opinion of painting ANY Subaru flat black can be summed-up this way:

I've subscribed to SCC for over two years. As of this month I'm going to let my subscription lapse and never pick it up again.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:18 am

Art - But that was a new car ... and that IS disgusting. I've rarely bought SCC for several years. I think the only guy I regularly enjoy reading is Dave Coleman.

Phil - could've been the paint, but it is rugged stuff - totally immune to leading edge hood chips. I've seen other faded flat-black cars, too, but they may've been just primered.

Crackle finish paint may be interesting, too, but would be difficult to get uniform. Would protect it well , but I suppose undercoat or bedliner would do that with less work.

Steve

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:20 am

I dunno. . . I'm just usually opposed to ANY kind of rattle-can paintjob on a car or truck. . . with ONE EXCEPTION.

Camouflage.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:42 am

I HATE multi-color paint-can jobs. They don't ever have the potential to look good, IMO.

Steve - Might just be that the regularly flat black painted cars I see get repainted in the year lapse that I don't see them? Lol. I'm mainly going by my buddies 240. He krylon touched it, and it stayed pristine for the whole time it was painted. It wasn't being driven TO much though, so that might have something to do with it.

I think a flat blue would look really hot. Like Steve's wagon color, only flat. If you did it right, it would almost look powdercoated, and that would be so friggin hot. Not many cars could pull off a flat-blue, but I think the BC/BF is one that could, as long as it was done WELL.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:46 am

That's why I suggested olive drab. Might be weird on a Suby, but it would be different. It might look great with black trim.

Steve

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 2:07 pm

I think appliance paint doesn't have the UV resistance of automotive and BBQ paints, which would cause it to fade outdoors.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:07 pm

Maybe use the epoxy as an under-layer, like primer. Though, using cheap paint protectant once a week on it kept it looking decent.

Flat blue would be awesome, but where would you get it?

Steve

greg donovan · Post by **greg donovan** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:45 pm

i think you should go with a semi-gloss black w/a slight amount of metal flake. kid of like the color of new unpainted body panels from subaru but metallic.

but not semi-gloss blue because i want to do that

NemesisEJ22t · Post by **NemesisEJ22t** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:19 am

Well, i guess you guys wouldn't like the hood on my Celica, or the wing on my Legacy. Actually, they're both temporary because i can't afford to get them painted right now. IMHO, i like the olive drab color idea. Don't worry about what other people think though, do what YOU like.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:37 am

NemesisEJ22t wrote: Don't worry about what other people think though, do what YOU like.

I agree. That said, I say go ahead and do it. It isn't a big investment or anything so if it doesn't turn out, then just try something different.

kidatari · Post by **kidatari** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 4:06 am

Yukonart wrote:I dunno. . . I'm just usually opposed to ANY kind of rattle-can paintjob on a car or truck. . . with ONE EXCEPTION.

Camouflage.

Damn, you've figured me out!!~

professor · Post by **professor** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:04 pm

If you do it, go with Krylon Semi-Flat Black. I've used that stuff for furniture and all kinds of stuff. It is an excellent paint, and Krylon cans spray much better than most. Look for the case discount !

True flat would be great, until you try to remove bird shit...

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