Powdercoated rear diffuser & gas cover (photos)

[Tim Taylor]

I have recently powdercoated my rear diffuser and gas cap cover to match the RAC Monolite grey wheels. Unfortunately, it is a bitch to get a good photo of the rear diffuser. Here are some things I learned - the edge molding around the rear diffuser can be replaced with some neoprene black edge molding from www.mcmaster.com (do a search for edge trim). This is almost an exact match. I used black silicone adhesive caulk to attach to diffuser after it was powdercoated. It was .60 per foot. Its McMaster part number 8507 k122.

On the gas cap cover, I really wanted it to be anodized, but ran in to tons of problems. First, the two pins that hold the snap clip on came out easily, but the pins that actually hinge the opening cap to the outer frame did not. The anodizer said that if they prepped the whole gas cap cover together, those pins could erode significantly, if not entirely. Second, with anodizing, the end color is a function of the kind of aluminum. With no guarantee of what kind of aluminum that cover is, they indicated the color could end up in a hard anodized finish, anywhere from dark grey (what I wanted) to brown, what I did not want. So, I blew it off and had it powercoated with the diffuser.

I had the stainless screws powdercoated but they filled the allen head holes when they did it so that I could still get an allen head driver in there, but when done, the powdercoat looked a little ragged so I went back to the stainless screws. I like the look.

You will note I also swapped out all the badges with black and silver vs yellow and green. It subtle but makes a difference thats really integrating (to my eye).

I will work on getting better pix's of the rear diffuser. Oh yea, you can note in the rear shot that I painted out the exhaust shrouding that came bright aluminum to the left and right of license behind the black grills.

[Randy Chase]

Very nice! Great posts.

[zvezdah1]

I'm considering powder coating the gas flap on my solar yellow car, it has the factory black wheels diffuser option.
Chris

[choi0706]

those are some giant photos! some of us have lightweight small screens

[Bill B]

Those wheels look great!

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by zvezdah1

I'm considering powder coating the gas flap on my solar yellow car, it has the factory black wheels diffuser option.
Chris

Neil has the same configuration.

[Tim Taylor]

Here is a slightly better shot of the powdercoated diffuser with the black rubber edge trim

[KLM]

Thank you for the link to the rubber trim Tim. I have disliked the "naked" edge of my diffuser since powdercoating. You just helped me solve an issue, sincere thanks!
PS - your car looks great (I too have the gray RACs - love 'em).

[JediMindGamez]

I was thinkin of doing the same thing, just with the Volk TE37 or SSR, even down to the badges. It looks very nice.

[darkSol]

Originally Posted by KLM

Thank you for the link to the rubber trim Tim. I have disliked the "naked" edge of my diffuser since powdercoating. You just helped me solve an issue, sincere thanks!

I left the rubber trim off after I powdercoated - but I also took the prep time to sand smooth and even out all the edges... and I saved 3.2 oz

[shay2nak]

wow! very nice.

[Irishlass]

oooo I like... would look good with RED too!!