Base to VR4 Swap + Complete Restoration

I am proud of this piece so more pictures! Although once again, the black chrome came out too dark. Also the bracket on the front that supports the shifter cable will have to be painted as it is actually 2 different pieces held together with rubber and that probably wouldn't go over very well in the oven.

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Cleaned some random parts as well. I had intentions of powder coating the wiper motor housing, took it apart and had some springs fly out everywhere only to realize that there is a magnet glued to the inside of it and after a little research, heat demagnetizes magnets, oh well. I have a spare one so I'll try to loosen the adhesive and re-glue them and see if it still works.

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I also have a bit of experience powdercoating, my next project is going to be doing EVERYTHING in my buddy's engine bay with the black chrome. I think your problem with the varied results that you are getting is the thickness that you are putting down on the black chrome, if it is too thin it will look like a gunmetal or grey and if it is too thick it will look like a gloss black almost. So try messing around with the thickness of your coat and see if what I suspect is true. Also, another idea, which I ended up doing on my last project (granny smith dormant with a mirror gloss clear), is to do an argent silver/base silver base coat before the black chrome.

I'd share some pics of my last project but then this really will be just a powdercoating thread LOL.

Good luck.

nice work.

question though...why re-use stock brake lines? why not just put AM ones in?

looks good, be sure to sand off the powercoat on the ptu bracket where it touches the ptu. It should be bare metal (with heatsink compound optimally) or the ptu can overheat.

Wow, Nice build! Keep up the good work man, I hope to see more soon.

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Originally Posted by DK77

I also have a bit of experience powdercoating, my next project is going to be doing EVERYTHING in my buddy's engine bay with the black chrome. I think your problem with the varied results that you are getting is the thickness that you are putting down on the black chrome, if it is too thin it will look like a gunmetal or grey and if it is too thick it will look like a gloss black almost. So try messing around with the thickness of your coat and see if what I suspect is true. Also, another idea, which I ended up doing on my last project (granny smith dormant with a mirror gloss clear), is to do an argent silver/base silver base coat before the black chrome.

I'd share some pics of my last project but then this really will be just a powdercoating thread LOL.

Good luck.

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I thought the thickness was messing with it so I did test it out with lighter coats and heavier coats, and I did get it correct on one piece, but me being a newbie at powder coating, its hard to tell when the thickness is correct even after the test. I will keep practicing before I get to any important visible parts. Although the black chrome will still be just an accent in my engine bay, I am considering doing the alternator, brake master and clutch master using it if I don't feel like polishing them and those I want to come out right.

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Originally Posted by IPD

nice work.

question though...why re-use stock brake lines? why not just put AM ones in?

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Thanks, I re-used the stock ones because there is nothing "better" in my opinion. The aftermarket ones are "different", not necessarily better. By aftermarket, I assume you mean the stm braided line kit. Those seem to be for people that want to delete their abs without taking the engine out, but I will have the engine out again before this car is finished so I won't have that issue. Also I prefer the hard line over the braided as once their in place and don't cause any chafing issues that the braided lines do.

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Originally Posted by Forest Gump

looks good, be sure to sand off the powercoat on the ptu bracket where it touches the ptu. It should be bare metal (with heatsink compound optimally) or the ptu can overheat.

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Thanks, I actually made a little stencil of the ptu bottom and traced it onto the high temp masking tape so the ptu is still touching bare metal. I wasn't aware of the thermal paste though, I would assume some arctic silver for a cpu would work for that? I have some laying around I think.

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Originally Posted by J_Parker

Wow, Nice build! Keep up the good work man, I hope to see more soon.

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Thanks, you too, I am subscribed to your build thread and check it every couple hours lol. We seem to be doing a similar build, my wiring harness is next on my list. I will also be gutting out all the unused wiring, although there is not much as it is entirely an na harness already. But I would like to integrate the wiring for my gauges, datalogger and all that stuff into the harness and re-loom it. I have been looking at the possible materials for wire covering and can't make up my mind. Stock loom is cheap but looks kind of cheap, the braided sleeve loom looks nice, but not very protective as far as letting dirt and oil in, and then there is heatshrinking the entire harness with raychem dr-25 like all the professional race teams do, however that is extremely expensive. Was interested to see what you decide to use.

Very impressive! Looks great

Did you have a different screen name on the "other site"?

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

Very impressive! Looks great

Did you have a different screen name on the "other site"?

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Yea I used to be mudvaynedude122

Awesome job so far!!! It's looking very nice with all of that work you're doing to it!!