wheel center caps...need new ones or paint>?

[ebaybrad]

Do these look good repainted>? Using what paint>? Or am I better off just getting new ones? I cannot seem to find them anywhere in good condition...not even on ebay...

thanks

[Szalkerous]

I have the same issue.... I'd like to find some automotive spray that matches the silver...

[svxcess]

Originally posted by aredubjay:

Also, for those who need to paint their center caps, I found that Plasti-Kote Import Color paint code Datsun 5412 matches the 94-97 silver wheels perfectly.

Also, for the 92 "gray" wheels, the color "Burnished Silver" works well. I was a little upset with the Burnished silver when I first painted them, because it looked just a little darker than the wheels themselves. Then, when I bought my second 92, it had brand new centers and they look just slightly darker than the wheels, so, I guess I chose the correct color.

Both of these colors should be available at Advance Auto or Autozone.

The thing to do is to sand the old caps down to the yellow, or very close. Then, "mist" them with XIM sealer/primer/bonder (available at most hardware stores, Lowes or Home Depot). I say "mist," because if you put a heavy coat on them, they immediately "blister" and the bonder gives you problems. After you've misted them with the bonder, let them set for a day for a good "cure." Then, paint. I used toilet paper tubes to sit the caps on for easy painting. Spray the caps as directed. If you're adventurous, you can try painting the "Subaru" in the middle black, by thinning some black paint, and using a very small brush to apply the paint, then "tilt" the cap to allow the paint to flow into the letters (I, by the way, was NOT adventurous).

My caps have been painted for two years now, with no signs of wear

.

[bwb3]

Don't your center caps also say "SVX" instead of "Subaru"? How did you do that?
Gene
See post #53 http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40674

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by bwb3

Don't your center caps also say "SVX" instead of "Subaru"? How did you do that?
Gene

The center caps were filled for me by another member, Mike "nubs" Novosel, on the network.

Basically, he roughed up the outer edges of all of the letters SUBARU with a Dremel tool and filled them in with epoxy. He layered it so that it was higher than the top of the center cap and then sanded it down when it was dry to the original contour. A little body filler putty to fill in any imperfections left after sanding and then a few coats of automotive primer.

When I sent my wheels to Transwheel for powdercoating, they refinished my center caps in matching acrylic lacquer with an acrylic enamal clearcoat. So now I had beautiful silver wheels and matching BLANK center caps.

I had created an .eps version of the SVX logo on my computer and scaled it to the size I wanted. I then took it to a sign shop, who computer-cut them out of silver (high-performance) automotive vinyl. The high performance stuff is thinner and holds up much longer than the regular stuff)

I made a template of the center cap so that each decal was applied exactly on center. They have been on for almost 5 years and are still perfect in every way. I still have a few spares in case they get damaged and I have to replace them.

They are very subtle and the color and metallic is a very close match to the wheel itself. Under different lighting conditions they appear and disappear.
.

[mohrds]

Originally Posted by svxcess

The center caps were filled for me by another member, Mike "nubs" Novosel, on the network.

Basically, he roughed up the outer edges of all of the letters SUBARU with a Dremel tool and filled them in with epoxy. He layered it so that it was higher than the top of the center cap and then sanded it down when it was dry to the original contour. A little body filler putty to fill in any imperfections left after sanding and then a few coats of automotive primer.

When I sent my wheels to Transwheel for powdercoating, they refinished my center caps in matching acrylic lacquer with an acrylic enamal clearcoat. So now I had beautiful silver wheels and matching BLANK center caps.

I had created an .eps version of the SVX logo on my computer and scaled it to the size I wanted. I then took it to a sign shop, who computer-cut them out of silver (high-performance) automotive vinyl. The high performance stuff is thinner and holds up much longer than the regular stuff)

I made a template of the center cap so that each decal was applied exactly on center. They have been on for almost 5 years and are still perfect in every way. I still have a few spares in case they get damaged and I have to replace them.

They are very subtle and the color and metallic is a very close match to the wheel itself. Under different lighting conditions they appear and disappear.
.

That would be awesome with the SVX "Horns" from the JDM Badge.

Anyone have an .eps of the SVX "Horns"?

Doug