Im into this dark theme for my car...anyway here are some pics

scuffplates before:

http://members.aol.com/zerobanger/scuffplatebefore.jpg

scuffplates after:
http://members.aol.com/zerobanger/scuffplateafter.jpg

mainifold, intercooler and intake before:
http://members.aol.com/zerobanger/enginebaybefore.jpg

mainifold, intercooler and intake after:
http://members.aol.com/zerobanger/enginebayafter.jpg

just an interior pic

http://members.aol.com/zerobanger/interior.jpg

New straight through exhaust:
http://members.aol.com/zerobanger/newexhaust.jpg

 

nice

 

Since you are into that "stealth" looks, you should paint that mp3 player or whatever it is black too

 

DUDE!!!!

That rocks, I'll let u know how it turns out!!!

EDIT...Should I leave the glass display as is or paint that black too?

 

What kinda paint did you use? Looks very nice !

 

Thanks..

For the intercooler, airbox and Manifold I used Duplicolor High-Temp ceramic coated paint. You can pick it up at pep-boys. It will with stand 500 F. For the scuff plates I just bought Dupli-color Gloss black.

 

I really like the scuff plates... Hell I like the whole thing. Looks very professional and sleek...

 

Looks awesome!

 

DAMN YOU ZEROBANGER...I got my aluminum scuff plates, and loved them...but after seeing your black ones, I'm split as to what color I want to keep them. Polished aluminum, or black with RX-7 written in silver...*sigh*

Your entire setup looks awesome though. Good job.

 

thanks! to me the aluminum looked good, but it sorta stood out too much. The black looks better with my car, since everything is dark.

the lettering is actually gold, turns out to look real nice. If you paint it, just go over the brushed aluminum with real fine steel wool (thats the hardest part...to do that to the beautiful scuff plates!!) but of course dont sand the letters with the wool, then paint it several coats what ever color you like. I did not clear coat, but you can if thats what you like.

After it dries when you think the paint is perfect, the RX-7 letters have a coat of thin plastic protectant, you just peel those off and the lettering will be exposed. It looks 100 pct better than trying to paint the letters.

Good luck!

 

I like it.

 

I have a black FD too, and I was kind of going for a black and silver look. After seeing how well the black door sills blend though, I'm really debating if I want to go black or, just polish my exsisting ones.

Yeah, I know. It's just that I didn't want to directly copy you, plus I'm going with a black on silver look like I said above. I figure if I keep the RX-7 logo silver, I can at least keep some of what I originally intendid to do.

Thanks...I'm honestly considering doing them. All I'm hearing is good opinions in favor of going black, so I'll probably do it. (Plus I heard the aluminum gets scratched and dirty quickly.)

 

yea, in 1 week the drivers side scuff plate was scuffed real bad when it was alum color. The black ones get marks from when you close the door, but you can clean them off with mineral spirits or soap and water pretty easy and they look like new again. The paint stays on, i'm pretty happy.


Since you want to paint the letters silver, I would not paint them by hand, when I tried that it wasn't nearly as nice as the factory finish. this is the way I would do it, but I have not tried it so you take a risk.

I would carefully peel off the sticky plastic protectant that covers the letters RX-7 on both of the scuff plates. I would save them, just put them aside. I would then spray paint the scuff plates over the RX-7 in the color you like for the letters. once they are completely dried, I would put the plastic protectants back on the letters. Make sure they are on the letters exactly. Then I would spray paint the entire scuff plate what ever color you like on the plaste, put on several coats. in 3 or 4 hours when its dry I would peel off the plastic from the RX-7 and you should have a nice looking scuff plate.

Just don't paint the RX-7 by hand with a small brush, it doesnt look as good.

David

 

Sounds good, but where did you get your scuff plates? Mine didn't come with plastic covering over the RX-7 lettering. In fact, they are already silver, and I had planned on just spraying around them after blocking them off, then touching it up some. I bought mine from one of the guys on the forum who made them.

Btw, what spray paint did you use? I have some nice black glossy paint here that I'm planning on using.

Thanks.

 

Mine are the Factory Installed Accessory scuff plates. I bought mine from Rx7fasion/ricks rotary performance. They are the same one's that mazdatrix sells. Originally when the 7 came out, they were a dealer installed option. It would be cool to see a pic of yours if you have them.

I used duplicolor high gloss black auto paint. I think they make a good product.

 

I don't have a digi cam, so I can't take any pics. (I seriously need to invest in one...). Basically though, they look exactly like unpolished aluminum would, and are very similar to your originals, but the rx7 logo is the same color as the rest of the piece. Also, I can't tell by the depth of your pictures, but mine or indented into the scuff plate. Otherwise they are identical.

I've been using duplicolor high gloss paint on other applications too. That stuff has worked wonders on the other parts. It's great...I'm definately going black now.

 

Did you ever paint your Archos?

I love mine.

 

No some loser STOLE mine while I was parked in the driveway of my HOUSE. so I got a different archos, the one that is a 20 G HD, MP3 player+recorder, Cam Corder, Video Player and digital camera. It has alot of black on it.

http://www.archos.com/lang=en/produc...tml?country=au

 

That new archos looks bad *** hell. Yeah, I had some ****** steal my 6 gig and I got a 20gig for ~ $150 after a rebate.

 

i like the black in the engine bay and stuff but on the scuff plates... Idk, i guess its just me but i like the shiny stuff

P.S. is that the stock intercooler?

 

No its the Blitz SMIC. Kinda nice cause its very clean.

The shiny scuff plates didn't go well with my car cause it was way too loud for my tastes. I think the shiny looks better with a silver or light color car. JMO.

 

I like it

 

I had mines powder coated wrinkle black since the alluminum was starting to show scratches........