DIY Network

Mitsubishi Evo: Custom Powder-Coating A 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution 8 gets totally Tricked with a custom powder-coat treatment and faux JDM headlights. From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-402

(Continued from page 3)

Powder-Coating and Baking Engine Parts

The parts have been removed from the car, and now it's time to powder-coat them. Andrew uses a powder-coating gun to apply an even coat and bakes each piece. After the pieces have cooled, he reinstalls them on the car.

Materials/tools:

oven
rack for suspending parts
powder-coating kit with gun
respirator and goggles
high-temperature masking tape
lubricant

advertisement

	Figure F
	Figure G

Steps:

• Any time you're going to paint a part on all sides, you may want to find a way to suspend it so you can get an even finish all the way around the part. With powder-coating, the parts have to go directly into the oven to bake the powder into a smooth, durable finish. To create a rack for hanging the parts, Andrew welded together a few pieces of rebar and placed a rack from the oven on top. He suspends the parts from the rack by using the hooks that came with the powder-coating kit (figure F).

• Now it's time to use the powder-coat gun (figure G). The powder is premixed and it can be poured directly into the hopper. When it's ready, just snap the hopper back into the gun and it locks into place.

• Safety Alert: Be sure to wear a respirator and goggles for protection.
  

  Figure H

• Attach the ground wire from the gun to the oven rack, plug the powder gun in, and start firing (figure H). The powder is much more forgiving than paint. It doesn't matter how far the gun is from the part, just be sure to lay it down evenly and be sure all parts are covered.

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

• To assure that one of the smaller pieces doesn't fall into the heating element and short out the oven, be sure to turn the oven off while you carefully place the oven rack with the suspended parts into the oven.

• Turn the oven back on to 400 degrees once all the parts are stable in the oven.

• The parts will need to bake for about ten minutes after the powder liquefies, which takes five minutes. That will allow you 15 minutes to work on the next piece.
  

  	Figure I
  	Figure J

• Andrew begins work on the valve cover. In the powder-coating kit, silicone plugs have been provided to cover up the threaded holes so the powder doesn't go inside. For the big holes in the valve cover, Andrew uses a special high-temperature masking tape (figure I) that won't lose its grip inside the 400-degree oven.

• When the oil-filler neck and the other openings are sealed up, it's time to powder-coat the part.

• Pull the first parts out of the oven, and put the valve cover in the oven (figure J).

• Andrew repeats the full process with the cold-air intake pipes.
  

• Once all the parts are out of the oven and have cooled, it's time to prep them for reinstallation in the car. Remove the masking materials (figure K), silicone plugs, and rebuild the valve cover.

• Back at the car, spray a little lubricant on the valve cover seal.

• Bring in the cover (figure L) and reinstall all the other parts just like they came off.

  Figure K

  Figure L

  
  
  
  

  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

  
  
  

  RELATED PROJECTS: Mitsubishi Lancer EVO: Custom Vinyl Graphics Mitsubishi Lancer EVO: Custom Window-Tint Eclipse Light EFX: Underbody Light Kit Eclipse Light EFX: Wheel Well Lights and Control Unit Eclipse Light EFX: Tire Tagz Lighted Wheel Graphics Eclipse Light EFX: LED Windshield Washer Nozzles Custom Air Intake: Remove Factory Air-Box and Build Intake System Custom Air Intake: Fabricate and Install the New Air-Box Eclipse Ignition Upgrade: Performance Plugs, Wires and Coil

  
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Mitsubishi Evo: Custom Powder-Coating
  	Mitsubishi Evo: Faux JDM Headlights
  	WEB-EXTRA: Propane-Burning Powder-Coat Oven