Vietnastee

iTrader: (8)

Machine, the new lugs look great.

Be careful with them since the Projects Kics rust easily on the inside because they're exposed. I would help spray some WD40 or some kind of rust inhibitor (anything safe that won't hurt your wheels or the finish of the lugs).

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for the heads up, but I was told by a Wacky guy to put car wax on the inside of the ends to prevent rusting. I did that before installation and there is no rust on them whatsoever.

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Ok, just like I promised, I was able to get paint my engine covers yesterday and clean the car up and take some pics. I know they aren't the best quality and as nice as some of the other guys, but I have to make due with what I have.

Overall I love the new color of the engine covers! They came out much better than I had anticipated.

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Looking REALLY good, Chip

For some reason this pic stands out to me, I like the way the purple looks.

rossv1

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Chip.....LOVE the engine covers. Your TL looks so classy.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Digging the purple covers

Someone needs to get a proper photoshoot with this car!

silvrbreez

Does that color have a bit of iradescence like the neo-chrome lugs or is it basically purple? In either case, I'm digging the pop of color on your car. Not sure I'd have the gusto to do something purple like that on my WDP, but kudos to you.

Makes me want to try my hand at this whole Plasti-Dip thing sooner rather than later.

k1x

iTrader: (1)

nice!!! how many coats?

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Looks great Chip

Time for some ATLP on dat azz

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

I agree Austin. Out of all the engine pics, this one seems to be my favorite as well!

Thanks Ross

Thanks for the compliments and the update as well!

Thanks GP! I agree I do need to get a really photoshoot done soon. Could possibly be happening pretty soon.

Thanks man! The clear coat really helps the color pop the way it does. It doesn't quite have the glow like the lugs do, but clear coat really help liven the color up a lot. Give the plasti dip a shot if you're looking to spice up the engine bay. Worse comes to worse and you don't like it, just peel it off.

Thanks! I have 3 coats of black dip over the covers, then there is 4 coats of the blaze purple. Then I added 4 coats of crystal clear enamel on top for the glossy finish. I wanted a darker look to the purple so that's why I did a black base. If I would have left the covers white like they were previously, the purple would have been super bright. In the end, I'm glad I went the route that I did.

Thanks Tyler I think an exhaust may come at some point down the line, but they are so expensive. Plus I have a few other things at the top of my list I want to get first, but I definitely won't rule one out. I'll just have to make due with my stage 3 mod for now

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Looking great chip...can't wait till you inevitably end up painting the car purple. I know the lifestyle, I've seen it before

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Lol, thanks J. I gotta find some vultures first though...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Hey...have thought to paint any portion of your lips purple or teal?

quanaman

iTrader: (4)

That purple looks awesome in the engine bay!

Very nice

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Chip, have you given any thought to match your brake calipers to the engine covers?

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Thanks man.

I do have the RDX covers, but left them black. I was kicking around the idea of making them white with a black Acura decal. I could possibly dip them purple since the dip on the engine bay cover isn't melting off. The only thing that deters me is the fact that they are only stock brakes, so I'm really not sure if I want to draw all kinds of attention to them. Now if I had the Brembo's up front, they probably would have been white or possibly purple already. It's not really a bad suggestion though. Toughest part would be getting the whole brake caliper close to the color purple that the dip is. Unless I just left the caliper black and did just the RDX cover purple?

omnuts

wow, that came out good, excellent job.

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

thats looking pimp man love it

Predatorbird

The engine covers look much better now!

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Thank you for the positive feedback guys!

Now if I could just get some better looking pictures, I'd be all set.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

With a high temp base, I really wonder how the RDX calipers would respond to the dip?
Honestly, I'd give it a whirl, Chip. Purple on the covers and don't touch the black rear portion. Worst case, it peels right off, but I doubt the covers get that hot since they have few points of contact.

silvrbreez

I'm reading up on PlastDip now for the first time. Interesting stuff.

Machine...
Ever thought about overlaying the blaze with one of their Metallizer or Pearlizer coatings to possibly make the purple more mimic the neo-Chrome effect on the lugs?

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

I think, as you stated, the dip would hold up just fine over the covers because of how few contact points there are. I guess I could always try it out, though I don't think I have enough purple left to do the covers and I'd have to order more. I guess I could use whatever is left to paint a cover or two to see how it looks and then go from there and order more if it comes out alright. I'd also have to order Acura's stickers as well. I also have white dip left over and could try using that to paint a cover and then decide from there which looks better.

When I was originally ordering the purple I was thinking I should have just used their glossifier and not a different type of clear coat, but that didn't happen. Of course ordering a metalizer was an after thought as well. If I do the RDX covers purple and wind up ordering more, I may highly consider ordering some metalizer an adding it to the engine covers. I just don't want to go too overboard, especially on the engine covers because If I don't like the metalizer, I don't want to start over from square one. I'll have to research the metalizer over the purple and see how it looks before I decide. Thanks for the suggestion though!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Know what I love about you, Chip? Aside from how handsome and big and burly you are...I love how you come up with an idea and you immediately tackle it. I love your tenacity and especially your bias for action. I'm being serious too.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

Well done Sir....car is looking SICK....

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Aww thanks man.

Thanks Anil!


Well J, speaking of tackling ideas immediately, I can't say that I came up with this idea, or resident Admin Steven Bell did, but I decided to do what he suggested and do a test of painting the RDX covers purple. Now I didn't spray any clear on them and no black dip base, I just sprayed right over the cover itself. So in the second pic the dip is going to seem dull because that's just the way it dries. When I go to do the project for real, clear coat will be added so they pop a lot more.

I would also like to that Austin (Undying Dreams) for doing a fantastic photoshop of the ACURA logo on the caliper cover so everyone can get a better idea of how it will actually turn out. Thanks buddy I appreciate it!

Let me know what you guys think!

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

I think they'll look great but I'm a bit biased

sockr1

iTrader: (5)

The engine covers came out great! How many cans of the purple did you go through for all those covers? Did you paint over the CF main cover? I thought it looked awesome wrapped, wish I could get that done!

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Thanks man! I bought 3 cans of Blaze purple and went through about 2.5 cans to do 4 coats over all the engine covers. I peeled the 3M wrap off the main engine cover before painting. The heat of the engine was causing some of the wrap to ripple around the edges even with putting black RTV silicone around it, it still did that. 3M makes an edge sealer that I wish I would have known about sooner because I would have used that instead of the RTV silicone. However, the edge sealer is $18 so if that didn't work either I would have been kinda mad I spent that much on it. There is a couple things I would have done differently in retrospect, as you know hindsight is 20/20, but it's ok, it's all trial and error and you find what works and what doesn't.

ebelp

I still approve of this progress thread. Fwiw. Grape clappers are gonna look nice!

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Thanks John! But what are clappers? LOL

boy9enius

i think im going to steal your purple plasti dip idea for my covers as well!!!

FREAKING AWESOME vehicle! i did my rdx covers as well over the weekend. ill prob throw a pic in the rdx cover thread. also on the lugs, are those varrstoen? got the same ones if so

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Thank you sir! The lugs are Project Kics R40 neo chrome reps. No way was I paying $200 for lug nuts, lol. The Varrstoen lugs are really nice too. I was considering getting them myself until I found the one's I have on eBay for a great price.

boy9enius

whaaat!!!! u and me both... i went on nlmotoring's site and they had neo chrome for like 157 i was like wtf?!! i got my varrstoen lugs off ebay for 55 shipped. nonetheless awesome job on the car. im sub'd

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Outstanding Chip!


Now, let's get a picture of the "clapper covers" (thanks Jeremy) with the engine hood up!

joey06tl

iTrader: (1)

man... that is one sick looking tl! just pure sex!


both sets fogs look awesome, any tips on how to re-wire the stock fogs to come on solo?

poormans_tl69

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

In for more pictures, Chip...I love the idea and I love the execution.

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/g-029-diy-independent-fog-lights-stock-switch-772633/

This thread ^ look through the pages though. The DIY was performed on an 06 and if you have an 07-08 I believe the wiring is different.