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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 4)

	Before. . .
	and after.

Andrew has powder-coated parts tucked away under the hood. Now he continues the upgrade powder-coating parts that will be seen by all: the wheels.

Materials/tools:

propane oven with temperature gauge
paint stripper
scrapers and brushes
acetone
powder-coating kit with gun

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Powder-Coating Wheel Rims

Andrew moves outside to perform this power-coating project. He uses a propane oven with a temperature gauge that has been made from an old 55-gallon steel drum.

• Even though the EVO's wheels look like bare metal, they're actually coated with a protective finish that has to be stripped before they can be powder-coated (figures M and N).

  Figure M

  Figure N

  
  

  
  

• When all the clear paint is loose from the rims, rinse them with fresh water to get them ready to powder-coat. Be sure to go over them with acetone to get rid of any remaining dirt and residue.

• Now it's time to powder-coat. Spray an even coat (figure O). When the powder looks like it's covering everything without being lumpy, the rim is ready to go in the oven (figure P).

  Figure O

  Figure P

  
  

• Bake the rim in the preheated 400-degree oven. Andrew placed a piece of driveshaft on the oven's flat baking surface so that the rim will bake evenly.

• Bake the rim for approximately 30 minutes.

• Remove the rim from the oven and let it cool.

• Mount the tires on the wheels, and bolt them back onto the car to complete the project.

The Bottom Line —
Powder-Coating Engine Parts; Powder-Coating Rims; Faux JDM lights:

powder coating kit $180
no-prep paint $8
silicone sealant $5

Total = $193

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RESOURCES :

Special resources for DIY's Tricked Out 400 series

Racing Innovations
www.racinginnovations.com

Knoxville Dragway
www.knoxdragway.com

Wetherill Associates
www.waipowdercoating.com

SPC Performance
www.spcperformance.com

AEM
www.aempower.com

Kicker
www.kicker.com

Autoloc
www.thehoffmangroup.com

Killer Cans by Alsa Corp.
www.alsacorp.com

Rapido Group
www.rapidogroup.com

Stellar Security
www.thehoffmangroup.com

Dyno Dynamics
www.dynodynamics.com

Stillen
www.stillen.com

Skunk2 Racing
www.skunk2.com

Injen Technologies
www.injen.com

Nitrous Express
www.nitrousexpress.com

Synapse Engineering
www.synapseengineering.com

Air Ride Technologies
www.ridetech.com

Airgasm Kustomz
www.airgasmkustomz.com

Lincoln Electric
www.lincolnelectric.com

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires And Wheels
www.mickeythompsontires.com

Buggies Unlimited
www.buggiesunlimited.com