I've decided that I want to paint the chrome pony on my GT package intake cover. Has anyone done this theirselves? If so, what did you do to prep it for painting? Remove the chrome or sand it to make it a little more "tacky" for primer? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark

 

Lightly sand or steel wool and then prime, you should be good to go. I say steel wool because you might find it easier to get into the little nooks and cranny's. F.Y.I. if you didn't already know the pony will come off, it might be easier to work with if you remove it. I took mine off to paint my cover and then reattached it with a little silicone.

 

I've never done it...but model builders remove chrome plating by placing the plastic piece in a baggie and spraying it w/ Easy Off.

 

Thanks guys.

Either way, it doesn't sound too difficult.

citizen arcane: are you talking about Easy Off oven cleaner???

 

I did it to mine.
1. I scuffed the emblem with a scotchbrite pad.
2. Primed it with a etching primer. Thin coats. Let dry over night.
3. Painted the base color. Again let dry one day.(didn't want to bake on. could warp the emblem.)
4. Painted the custom flames (airbrushed) Again let dry one day for same reason before.
5. Clearcoated

I think it turned out pretty good. One pic is before and pic two is after clearcoat.

 

That looks awsome! BTW, are those two GT parts in the first pic, pieces of strut tower covers?

 

Yes they are. I ordered them from www.midwestautogear.com but I flip-flopped the colors cause they came in red but the RED didn't match the engine compartment SEE PIC (thanks Ford-too dull)

Also I'm going to get their fuel rail covers in black.I don't want to over do the red.

 

It all looks great together.
What method did you use to paint the letters and stripes/ridges? Did you mask around them then spray them, or did you hand paint the top of each one with a brush?

 

Masked off the stripes. Hand painted all the lettering. I had the horse flames airbrushed locally after I applied the base coat.

 

Very nice looking job, you should be proud of how it turned out...and thank you for your help.
Mark

 

Just a side-note. Do not use oven cleaner. That does work (I've used it) on chrome-plated plastic, but the pony on the plenum cover is actual aluminum. Oven cleaner might etch the metal.

 

Thanks

 

Looks great! Use this advice.