VHT Wrinkle Paint
 

Recently installed a set of K&N intakes and the silver color wasn't doing it for me. I came across VHT Wrinkle paint and thought I would give it a try. Its good to 350 F so it should have no issues in the engine bay. A similar wrinkle style coating is available in powder coat, but I wanted a nice easy DIY solution.

I think it came out great, it's a really clean almost OEM look to it with the textured surface, it's really durable as well, smacked it with a wrench that slipped a couple times putting it on and no damage at all.

I would recommend the oven fast cure listed on the can, otherwise it does take a long time to cure fully.

I did mask off the area that engages with the couplers, MAF's and the filters to provide a smooth sealing surface.

Really pleased with the look.

(engine bay is a little dusty from winter storage)

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/...pssizphuxk.jpg

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/...psprn3qylv.jpg

http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/...pslt3x8jci.jpg

:tup:I approve!

I may just give it a go. :tiphat: good work

Interesting.

Looks good. I have had excellent results with their products as long as you follow the instructions..

Yes, you need to follow the instructions on the can closely, coats need to be thick, and it can take up to 2 hours for the wrinkles to appear, they recommend 3 coats minimum.

A question about cleaning. Since it is no longer a smooth surface, dust and grime will sit in those crevices. Would it be harder to clean?

I don't think so, the wrinkles aren't that deep and the wrinkles themselves have a smooth hard surface.

I think a deep pile rag or a soft brush would do the job nicely, time will tell but I have seen a lot of cars with a similar finish on the valve covers and they clean up nicely.

That looks nice! Wish I knew of this before I installed my intakes.

i like it, GJ!

I think it looks good. I wonder if doing the strut bar would look ok http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...ages/think.gif

im not sure about strut bar.. i'd use semi-gloss engine enamel for that if changing color.

I was thinking about just changing the texture. Keeping it dark.

But I'm not convinced it won't be too much.

I thought about using the rest of the can on the strut bar, but came to the same conclusion, it would be too much.

Might use it to accent some small pieces here and there, say the exterior of the power steering cap, etc.

It looks like those short tubes were installed from factory. :tup:

Thanks, that's the look I was going for nice and clean :tup:

Clean up is easy once paint is cured. Soft bristle brush with soap and scrub :tup:

If you get tired of the black, try red! I painted an intake wrinkle red on a previous car and it looked amazing.

Also, the paint lasts a long time.

I thought about the red when I was buying the paint. Decided to go with the black for a toned down look. The red would be good for a more aggressive look.

I think it would be VERY hard to get the black off the tubes now that it is cured

Wow that does look good. I wonder if that protects from any radiant heat. I have all my turbo intake pipes in my bay wrapped with DEI reflect-a-gold now, but like the look of that.

I don't think it would protect as well as the gold foil tape. The coating is fairly thick, 1mm - 1.5 mm if I had to guess final thickness, so it likely does slow heat transfer but won't reflect radiant heat.

It is better than a non-coated tube, I did see IAT data showing closer to ambient temps but I have to see if I can find the link.

Just thought I would give a quick update after a year of use.

The tubes still look the same as the day they were coated. No flaking or degradation of the coating at all. The coating is very durable.

:tup: