Frame color

[AA-ron]

My kit is almost ready-- I should be picking it up in September!
I have a question about frame color. I ordered my frame uncoated to save some money, and truthfully, the painting portion of this build is the least daunting to me (I've been around a spray booth for years).
My question is this: I'm kicking around the idea of painting the frame some other color than black. I know the 25th anniversary model uses a nice bronze color and am considering something like that but darker, or possibly a grey color. I'd love to hear the groups pros and cons on this choice.
Why am I considering a different color you ask? Well, just to be different I guess. FYI, the body color will be somewhat of a Sage Green with a burgundy interior.

[CaptB]

I powder coated mine is silver metallic.

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[rich grsc]

Any color you like. :D

[john42]

I always thought it would be cool if the frame color matched the stripe color. So a blue and silver striped cobra would have a silver frame.

[j.miller]

Black or silver. It will go with any color you chose to paint the car..... Don't paint it the color of the car (unless it's black or silver).....have spent my life painting cars (my bad).....but you do what is best for you...da Bat

[mrmustang]

My kit is almost ready-- I should be picking it up in September!
I have a question about frame color. I ordered my frame uncoated to save some money, and truthfully, the painting portion of this build is the least daunting to me (I've been around a spray booth for years).
My question is this: I'm kicking around the idea of painting the frame some other color than black. I know the 25th anniversary model uses a nice bronze color and am considering something like that but darker, or possibly a grey color. I'd love to hear the groups pros and cons on this choice.
Why am I considering a different color you ask? Well, just to be different I guess. FYI, the body color will be somewhat of a Sage Green with a burgundy interior.

Don't overthink the choice of frame color, unless you do not plan to drive the car. Why do I say that, simple, with street or track use, you will get paint to chip and flake off, exposing bare metal, which eventually will rust. If allowed to continue, depending on your location, you will eventually have rust that will eat into the frame, deeper and deeper. Quite a few MK I and early MK II cars are currently experiencing this issue. Most with owners who decided to leave the frame uncoated, or coated it with paint out of a few cases of spray cans, even a few with the early version of FFR's paint/powder coating.

In closing, keep it simple, keep it to something that you can easily recoat or touch up a few miles down the road. Maybe even rethink your choices, and find a local powdercoating company to treat and seal your frame properly.

Just my two cents worth, having had more than my fair share of FFR's.

Bill S.

[AA-ron]

Oooh, I like the silver.

[AA-ron]

Thanks for the advice. I'm leaning towards a grey as it will be fairly neutral and easy to match as the years go by. I've painted my fair share of boat trailer frames, so I'm going to approach it the same way.

[narly1]

On the subject of frame painting, what is the most durable product/technique, powder or otherwise for the task?

[CaptB]

On the subject of frame painting, what is the most durable product/technique, powder or otherwise for the task?

So some good points up above about how much you'll drive it. I built mine as a show car, while I'll drive it I'm sure that I'll get the dings from rocks etc. But I powder coated mine for the show quality, etc. If you're gonna drive it alot there's some really nice frame paint from Eastwood that I used on the rear axle of the car.

https://www.eastwood.com/the-original-eastwood-chassis-black-gloss-finish.html

[rich grsc]

I have yet to find a paint that brake fluid won't ruin. Powder coating hold up very well to brake fluid.

[Rdone585]

I went with POR15 almost 20 years ago. Don't regret at all making that choice. After the prescribed prep, I sprayed 3 coats on. I did not use the clear coat. You must be careful with this paint it's nasty stuff, wear the proper safety stuff from head to toe. To this day if I need to drill through it I grind a small spot for the drill to start or will just spin trying to penetrate to the metal (OK, maybe the drill bit wasn't as sharp as it could have been). If you do paint it yourself, try to get some sort of rotisserie, or can lift or tilt the frame, so you don't have to stoop below the frame to get the underside.

[Ted G]

AA-ron, like you I chose a different route. I am going with a very, very dark blue and silver stripes and decided on a lighter blue frame.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=169333&d=1657639468

[narly1]

I went with POR15 almost 20 years ago.

I'm well aware of the nastiness of POR15. I've also heard that as it is not UV stabilized it fades over time.

I've also heard some good things about various epoxy finishes.

Powder or otherwise I believe that the biggest challenge and precursor to a successful frame paint job is PREPARATION.

Sandblasted and free of oil/solvent contaminations so that the paint has something to grab onto.

Earl

[CaptB]

@Ted G, looks great man!

[toadster]

I'm well aware of the nastiness of POR15. I've also heard that as it is not UV stabilized it fades over time.


I think the goal is to keep the car - tires down as to not expose POR15 to sunlight :) j/k

btw - I love Ted's car, that blue looks amazing in person!!

[Rdone585]

not UV stabilized it fades over time.
That may be true but you wouldn't know it from looking at mine. The frame is mostly hidden under the body and panels. I also did my roll bars thinking I would have to redo them later. I did cover the roll bars in the clear. The clear didn't hold up for me, so about 3 years later, I lightly sanded and repainted with POR15. Been fine ever since. The black you see in my avatar on the roll bars is more than 15 years old. So, not saying everyone will get the same performance, but I'm still a happy camper.

[Rdone585]

OK, so you can't see them in the avatar.
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[AA-ron]

That frame looks great with the blue-- you've got my juices flowing.
Thanks for the pic!

[Ted G]

That frame looks great with the blue-- you've got my juices flowing.
Thanks for the pic!

Thanks and here is another:

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