Really stuck: CALL FOR HELP: Calipers + Grill

[djstan]

Hello boys and girls,

ok two things.

<b>#1</b>
After seeing dhchin's awesome $3 grill mod, i went out and bought the stuff to try out myself.

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9478

My problem is this, the Protege's (<b>NOT</b> MP3, MSP or MP5) grill has the Mazda logo <b>BUILT IN</b> to the grill, so it becomes difficult to add the Home Depot gutter guard over it.

<img src="http://www.sircus.com/navin/grill.jpg">

So that's a warning and a call for help if anyone can think of anything.

<b>#2</b>
I tried painting my calipers according to the HOW-TO: http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3723

I bought myself Duplicolor anodized blue, the results are real garbage. I scraped off all rust and applied about 5 coats (10 - 15 minutes apart) of the stuff with a foam brush.

My result was very dark blue, instead of the shiny blue expected.

I'm very well aware this could be due to the way I went about it. Here's a picture:
<img src="http://www.sircus.com/navin/caliper.jpg">
and another:
<img src="http://www.sircus.com/navin/caliper2.jpg">

As you can see it is REALLY dark.

<b>a)</b> does anyone have any idea what I did wrong? (I've only done one side of the car)
<b>b)</b> does anyone know how I can fix what I've done on the dark calipers? (prime it? redo? less paint? more time to dry? different paint?)

You guys have been great in the past, I hope someone out there has some ideas. I'm having a brain fart and can't think of what to do.

Thanks.

 

[Equinox]

no need to prime anything once there is paint already on it, so don't worry about that. If I were you I'd just go buy 500 degree paint from an auto store in a color you want. Instead of taht specialized anodized look, you usually can't get a crazy finish like that to work on cast iron calipers. Hope it works out =)

also, I'm pretty sure everyone's grill has that built in logo too, he just covered it well in the mod. P5s and MSPs alike have the emblem going back into the plastic mesh all the way like yours.

 

[Natey]

I never did the grill mod, but I agree w/ Equinox about the calipers. It sounds like you did everything right, you just need to find a color that you like better.

 

[daKiNeP5]

I used the duplicolor anodized blue spray paint on my calipers and it turned out pretty good. Did you use the base coat first? That might be the problem.

 

[djstan]

I used the duplicolor anodized blue spray paint on my calipers and it turned out pretty good. Did you use the base coat first? That might be the problem.

No I didn't and i guess there in lies the problem, do you have pics of your job? or could you describe how bright the paint looks? does it look like the cap on the can?

 

[derrick1623]

sounds like you got it figured out.haha.

 

[djstan]

sounds like you got it figured out.haha.

, ok that sounds about right then i guess. everyone concurs. really sucks though, i spent all day out there and got one side painted wrong, the other side is still stock and the grill isn't done.

that is some serious :bs:

 

[derrick1623]

hey, it happens man...just make sure you finish up.

my girls tiburon STILL only has three painted calipers.lmao

 

[daKiNeP5]

It doesnt look as bright as the cap on the can but its brighter than what you currently have. I'll try to get pics later tonite for you to see.

 

[djstan]

hey, it happens man...just make sure you finish up.

my girls tiburon STILL only has three painted calipers.lmao

hahahahha that's hilarious!

 

[djstan]

It doesnt look as bright as the cap on the can but its brighter than what you currently have. I'll try to get pics later tonite for you to see.

thanks dakine, i'll be waiting, i really apreciate you taking the time to take pictures.

 

[daKiNeP5]

Here it is:
<img src="http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/daKiNeP5/caliper1.jpg" width=500>
Sorry its kinda hard to see because of the shadow. I tried to get the wheel in as much light as I could but I didn't have much room to maneuver my car at the time. I can try take more pics later if you wanna see more.

 

[Ryan]

actually i think it looks pretty good as a dark dark blue, and you have it in the shadow a bit.

 

[djstan]

Here it is:
<img src="http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/daKiNeP5/caliper1.jpg" width=500>
Sorry its kinda hard to see because of the shadow. I tried to get the wheel in as much light as I could but I didn't have much room to maneuver my car at the time. I can try take more pics later if you wanna see more.

damn, that's exactly the color i was expecting but didn't get.

So just to be clear, you did everything exactly the way i did, but you primed first?

how light was each coat? could i have put on coats that were too thick?

OH! and did you spray or paint on with a foam brush?

 

[Pui]

I think that blue look great.
It's not about the number of coats u are putting on.
Sometimes those paint will not stand out the way u wish because u are painting on the calipers.
you should try another paint on it (much lighter).

 

[daKiNeP5]

damn, that's exactly the color i was expecting but didn't get.

So just to be clear, you did everything exactly the way i did, but you primed first?

how light was each coat? could i have put on coats that were too thick?

OH! and did you spray or paint on with a foam brush?

I used the duplicolor basecoat for the anodized paints first, then I started painting the calipers. I taped off the wheel area and just spray painted it on. Each coat was pretty light and I ended up doing 4-5 coats until everything looked even. I think the more coats you put on, the darker it gets, so be careful or your calipers might turn out different shades of blue.

 

[FrigginGLI]

I didnt cover my mazda logo on my grill makes it stand out better.

 

[123zoom]

do u have a picture of the grill where the symbol isn't covered? I was thinking of making my grill too, instead of cutting around the symbol, can't I just leave the symbol and put the grille over top of it so the symbol will be behind the grill?

 

[daKiNeP5]

When I experimented with the top grill, I took the mazda logo off and put the mesh over. It turned out pretty nice without the logo and when you take a look from further away, I could see the black outline of the mazda logo and it made a shadow behind the mesh and it was pretty trippy!