I'm thinking about spray painting my intercooler black/gunmetal but i'm scared it might make the intercooler less effective. Anyone ever try this? If so, what kind of paint do u recommend?

 

I'd feel better going to your local gun store and getting some of the "black" gun blue... it is a stain and not a paint...

 

yeh i agree, dont paint that ish, especially w/ spray paint.. im sure there are better ways to do it, maybe powder coating but i liked the guy aboves idea about the gun stuff..

 

get it anodized black.

 

I say just leave it. Front Mounts are phat and ment to be shown off. If you cover it up, you just spent 800-1000 on something that eveyone will be asking you, why did you paint it?

 

thats not why u have a front mount! its to cool down the intake charge! but i have to agree they look tight as ****!

 

There are spray paints that are meant to be used on aluminum items... atleast there are over here... Stealth mode!!

 

They sell black radiator paint you can use on your intercooler and not mess with efficiency. If you bought a turbo kit to show off a FMIC, you're a dork.

 

I agree

 

...anodized would probably be the best option... not as cheap as the "gun blue" though...

...and to the nut sack with the "lllllloooookkkk at my big intercooler! I got a turbo!" comment, don't make much money street racing do you? Wait, did I say street racing for money? Strike that, wasn't me...

PS forgot that someone makes a "thermal"(or non) coating of sorts just for that... forget who does it(Swain/Jet hot?), but it is supposed to help "radiate" heat??? Don't know anyone who has used it... Most VR4 guys I deal with aren't using FMICs and most Supra guys don't give a ****...





[Modified by Zeus, 8:34 PM 9/2/2001]

 

Ive heard, let me repeat HEARD, that there is some form of paint for intercoolers that not only paints them black, but makes them more efficient at the same time. Might wanna check into this if youre pretty sure you wanna spray that sucker. No flames if Im wrong please, cause Im not sure this is true, just tryin to help.

 

 

is there any need for that picture to be so damn BIG! i cant even view the whole thing at once

 

Just get it anodized. It'd be kinda cool to get a red to blue fade anodize job. Like from hot side to cool side. Hmm actually that'd be kinda ghey, but you can do it. Try http://www.pkselective.com. They do a lot of trick anodizing on paintball guns.

 

FMIC's look bad *** that's for sure, but attract too much attention. Annoucing that you have a turbo is like telling theivies, look at my turbo and what other goodies you might want. Glad to see I'm not the only one who wants to keep their turbo on the DL.

How much do you think it would cost to have a IC anodized?

 

i wouldnt touch it. "if it aint broke dont fix it" FMIC do look good though.

 

I painted mine black with BBQ paint. I don't want to advertise also. I figure you run enough boost you won't notice a loss in power. No one really notices unless they get about 5' or so away. I bought an unpolished intercooler which allowed the paint to stick better. The only thing thats says turbo on my car is the orange hose clamp in the rear view then my tail pipe when I pass by.

 

Swaintech has a coating specifically for Intercoolers! You may to look into this!