Mike's Journal
 

My car was supposed to get into port in Jacksonville yesterday and to me by the 16th, but now it looks like the ship isn’t due in until the 14th, so I won’t get the car until late next week at best.

It is a black base with sport.

To pass time, I am starting my build thread

Already have:
Springs:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5599/eibach.jpg

Stillen Sways:
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2465/sways.jpg

Nismo Wheels:
(bought them from Mushashi, he is looking into why the dealer didn’t include the required lugnuts, as they were supposed to, and they use a shank and washer style, not the typical conical lugs)
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9027/lugholes.jpg

Starting the powdercoat process:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2796/nismo1y.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1346/nismo2.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1267/nismo3.jpg

The lips are a dormant color, so they won’t show their true hue until clearcoated and fully cured.

Very nice, do you have a picture of what the end-product will look like with the wheels?

Oh, and the stock rays lugs might be the same style as what is required for the Nismo, so you may be in luck. I haven't actually pulled them off myself, but there were a lot of issues with wheel locks because of the style of our lugs.

I'd also love to see a finished product on the wheels. And I see you are in GA, where are you having the wheels done?

After looking a little closer it looks like you are going for a red lip and you haven't coated the center with the powder yet, so maybe matte black center with a red lip??

I'm in Loganville and doing them myself. I have a powdercoat business.
This is the final color for the lip, will have a picture of the entire wheel in about 2 hours.
Going gloss black centers. Satin would be nice, but since the lips have to be clearcoated, it would be much more work.
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9797/sparklecopper.jpg

Very nice, looking forward to the results! So how much do you charge for wheels?? =)

Awesome stuff Mike, those wheels are coming along nicely!

I have been looking at doing small parts powdercoating at home, do you have some recommendations on small guns/equipment?

Thanks,

I started with the Eastwood Hobby gun, a small compressor and a used household oven. I have since upgraded everything to professional stuff. For starting out though, the eastwood gun is no longer one of the best. I would look at Powder Buy The Pound | Powder Coating Equipment and Supplies , Columbia Coatings and Plating Kits Electroplating Kits Aluminum Anodizing Kits Powder Coating Systems Metal Polishing And Buffing Supplies - Caswell Inc. for starter hobby guns that are a little better. I have a friend who uses the hobby gun from Caswell in his business. A small used house oven and 20 gal. compressor should get you started though.

Cool, looks like you know what you are doing. I'll be following this one.

The stock 370 sport and G37S uses the same shank with washer lugs so you can use what it comes with to start with.

:pics:so it's been over 3 hours now, where are the pics of the final product?

Finished product, at least the 1st wheel. Lots of masking time.

Flash makes it look a little more brighter orange than they actually are.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/858/finishednismo1.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8969/finishednismo2.jpg

Flat with no taper where it meets the wheel? Sharif @ forged said the GTR is similar, but they still have some taper. This is the inside of the lug holes, notice how the seating surface is flat?:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9027/lugholes.jpg

The stock wheels look the same. There is a flat top and a flat bottom in the hole, yet the lug nuts still have taper at the end and a flat washer in the middle.

Very nice look. I'd also like to know about your business. Cost for wheels, etc.