painting (?) a new IRS center section

[willie knuckles]

Hello to all!

I received my kit in late June and have started the build. I purchased a new IRS center section from FFR and it's time to install it. Currently the front portion is black (?iron) with some painted markings (looks like paint pen) from the factory; the rear is a bronze color. Should I paint it? If so - what sort of prep work do I need to do to paint it. I have seen a lot of threads about POR paint - if I went this route, can I use spray paint or do I need to brush it on? If I left the center section alone, do I need to prep it in any way before installing it?

Any help/thoughts/comments are appreciated!

willie knuckles

[toadster]

A lot of folks will use POR–15 - it pretty much creates a hard shell protects it from the elements and since it’s under the car, you don’t really have to worry about any UV fade

[edwardb]

When the 2015+ Mustang IRS center sections first came out, the iron cases were unfinished and very quickly turned a very nice orange-brown color. My 20th anniversary Roadster used a zero miles takeout I was able to find. It was only on the Mustang from the factory to a shop (they told me it was Roush...) where it was removed. It was already rust colored. Before and after pictures below. The NIB center section I bought for my Coupe was iron and hadn't had a chance to rust yet. But it would have. I painted both with POR-15. Just brushed on. POR-15 flows out quite nicely. Newer iron center sections now have a black finish which sounds like yours. I don't know what it is but shouldn't rust like the older ones. You could paint it if you want. But maybe isn't necessary. At least for the reasons I painted mine. The back part of the case is aluminum for all versions. No finish necessary. Although I typically spray mine with clear Dupli-Color DE1636 Engine Enamel. I've used it for a number of builds and it holds up surprisingly well. Gives it a little bit of shine and it's easy to keep clean.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%2020th%20Anniversary%20Mark%204%20R oadster/Independent%20Rear%20Suspension/.highres/IMG_3248_zpsg9fhoqo4.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds (https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%2020th%20Anniversary%20Mark%204%20R oadster/Independent%20Rear%20Suspension/.highres/IMG_3248_zpsg9fhoqo4.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%2020th%20Anniversary%20Mark%204%20R oadster/Independent%20Rear%20Suspension/.highres/IMG_3256_zpsmoqf2oqg.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds (https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%2020th%20Anniversary%20Mark%204%20R oadster/Independent%20Rear%20Suspension/.highres/IMG_3256_zpsmoqf2oqg.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds)

[Kbl7td]

Did por15 on my whole center section, that aluminum will oxidize if you don’t put a high quality clear on it. Do this, spend $30 and get a tiny can of por, do the iron portion. Then spray the entire thing with a spraymax 2k clear.

[chmhasy]

They do make POR-15 in black, silver, and gray if you want to semi match the Aluminum cover.

[narly1]

I coated mine in Nyalic although I wish that I'd cleaned the factory paint pen numbers/letters off first. They kind of ran a bit.

Earl

[Gizmosrcool]

I cleared mine. I liked the factory look.