Powder Coating Color Choices For Suspension Pieces

[Dentbusters]

I went to the local powder coaters today.  They have all the black items done ( k-member, a-arms, shock plates, etc.).
The bare metal parts a now needing to be done. I am wanting to achieve the bare metal color/ appearance. My plan or idea is to clear powder the bare metal pieces.
My question is has anyone found a color or colors to match closely the appearance of bare cast? If so, what product? Is it fairly dark in color. I have the new suspension kit and they appear fairly dark cast (almost a charcoal color).

The pieces left to finish are:
sway bar
leaf springs
third member
strut rod bars
center steering link
spindles

One issue I have is that I have already sand blasted several of these pieces.

Any help on what powder to use on the pieces.

Thanks
Travis

[Dentbusters]

Anyone have any experience with powder coating these parts to match a bare metal color/appearance? The people at the powder coaters said that if we clear powder the sandblasted parts it will turn them a shade darker than they are now (not dark as needed for the cast pieces). The problem I have is what color/ product to use to match the darker shade of cast. The brands they use are PPG, and Diamond Vogal. They also said I can supply them with the powder I wish to use.

From the color chips they had, it was not a guarantee that the one we pick will be close or not.

Anyone been down this road? What brand and what color did you use?

Travis

[Steve P.]

Sorry I can't help you with your question, but I am wondering what you paid for the pieces you have done.  I want to have some of the same parts done and have no idea what the cost would be.. 

[8WHEELER]

I was in your same position 6yrs ago. I asked the local powder coater, what would look real close to raw metal.
Well, they told me Mercedes Silver was real close. Well you can tell the parts I coated silver, and at the time I
was not concerned about doing the lower control arms the raw color, I just powder coated most everything
gloss black, I painted all of my ball joints tie rod ends gear box with Eastwood manifold paint, it looks like raw
metal, and it really dose stay nice.

Like I said I was not ''at the time'' making it perfect correct, but oh well I think it looks OK.

By the way, I have never tried clear yet, so sorry I can't help you on that.
I have about $120.00 into all of the powder coat, everything you can see, K-Frame to drums.

Dan

[OttawaCharger]

Dentbusters - did you use 100% gloss black for the parts you've done already or did you tone it down a bit?
Also, have you checked out the powdercoating forums at www.eastwoodco.com?  There appears to be a lot of good info there.

8Wheeler - looking good.  Did the powdercoating cause any assembly problems?

[8WHEELER]

8Wheeler - looking good.  Did the powdercoating cause any assembly problems?

The only problem we ran into was just some light sanding needed, to get the upper ball joints on,
other than that, no problems with anything else. I also did this to my blue 68, it is amazing how
thin and durable Powder Coat is. The biggest expense is getting the parts sandblasted, it always
costs much more than the Powder Coat.

Dan

[Steve P.]

Dan, as usual what you do looks great. I would like to know more about the process. You mentioned sand blasting and I watched the mini flick from Eastwood.

I'll take a stab at what I THINK is  correct and please tell me if I'm wrong.

1) degrease
2) sand blast
3) wire wheel > to remove the silica
4) prepsol
5) powder coat.
6) install

So can you give me an idea what it should cost to do for instance a spindle??

[Dentbusters]

Still haven't decided what to do for the raw metal pieces. I think I have a couple hundred in the pieces I have done already. I suspect I will have about 500 in everything when its all said and done.  I'm looking to achieve that darker gray cast color almost charcoal for the cast pieces. The leaf springs and non cast items I would like a shade lighter. I'm going to call a few more companies this week and hopefully one will have more experience in this area than the ones I have dealt with so far.

Travis

[8WHEELER]

Dan, as usual what you do looks great. I would like to know more about the process. You mentioned sand blasting and I watched the mini flick from Eastwood.

I'll take a stab at what I THINK is  correct and please tell me if I'm wrong.

1) degrease
2) sand blast
3) wire wheel > to remove the silica
4) prepsol
5) powder coat.
6) install

So can you give me an idea what it should cost to do for instance a spindle??

Hi Steve
That is about what I do

1) Hot Tank
2) sand blast
3) PAY 
4) wire wheel, and some sanding, if there was a little surface rust or something
5) powder coat.
6) PAY   
6) install

I paint my sway bar a satin or semi flat black

I use POR 15 on the leaf springs

Then Powder Coat
Front and rear spring shackles
third member housing
backing plates
U-Bolts, nuts and shock plates
strut rod bars
center steering link
adjustment sleeves
spindles
Upper and lower control arms
all nuts, bolts and washer, if you can believe that   
K-Frame
Torsion bars
Torsion bar adjustment bolt and threaded bracket

I am sure I forgot something, thats nothing new 

I can get it all done at one shot for about $100.00, the owner of the company
gives me a good discount, he used to be a member of our mopar club. Plus
if I can wait 2 to 5 days they can run a bunch of other peoples stuff and
the same time and save money for all of us, I can wait for that price no doubt.

Like I said, I pay much more for hot tank and blasting, than the powder coat WOW.

Dan

[Steve P.]

Great info. Thanks Dan...  You too Dentbuster.....