I'm embarrassed to even ask...

RonZwanson

...but I figured I should anyway.

I've searched around on the forum, and even asked some other members via PM. I couldn't find any answers, unfortunately, to this lame question.

I'm planning on blacking out my sport rims, but I don't want to do the center cap. I just want to know if the center cap pops out easily, say with a small flat head screw driver. I know this may be a pathetic question, but I don't want to booger up my rims.

Thanks, and apologies in advance.

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It's a racing hen!

bdavis89

I'm sure it pops out easily. I've seen people with powdercoated wheels and the centercap is still stock because it's plastic and can't be powdercoated. Not sure how it actually comes off though..

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pedZ

Yes, it pops out easily. Just use the handle side of a screw driver to pop it out from the inner side of the rim.

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2011 Brilliant Silver Touring/Sport/Nav/6MT --- Build Journal
F.I. SS 18" CBE | Takeda CAI | Z1 25-Row Oil Cooler | Swift Springs | Hotchkis Sway Bars | H&R 15mm DRS Spacers F&R | RJM Clutch Pedal | UpRev Tune

NickTurnon

Are you blacking them out with plastidip?

If so, you can actually spray the entire wheel. Then when you are ready to remove the center cap piece, just scrape the middle with your fingernail and pull up the dip off it.

The plastidip molds around the cuts and slits inside the wheel so it wont rip any of the plasti dip off the wheel. Just make sure you let it dry.

If you are powdercoating, a flathead will pop out the center piece.

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2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT | TEIN S-Tech Springs | K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes | AAM S-Line Short Tails | 5% Tint | 20MM Spacers | Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

RonZwanson

Thanks for the quick responses.

@ pedZ: Good to know. I would not have thought of that. (Knocking it out from the inside) I would have just dug into the rim like a cave man.

@ Nick: Yeah, I'm using plastidip. And I thought it might be possible to just cut the plastidip around the crease, but I figured if I'm taking the wheels off, I might as well just knock them out, and not risk tearing it back too far and effing it up with my stupid meat hands. I'm going to black out my door handles too. Any tips from your experience?

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It's a racing hen!

kenchan

i usually take a flathead screw driver and gently put pressure on the clips inward as i push it out from behind the wheel.

NickTurnon

Emblems:
Tape around the emblem leaving 1-2" of space to spray directly on the paint. 1 light coat. 2 heavier coats. Let dry 10 minutes in the sun. Peel. Use toothpick for inside parts.

Handles:
Use 5 inch pieces and tuck the corners into the crease of the surrounding handle. Then paper for the area around the handle. I like to spray the handle down completely with a light cover and then hit the creases and interior parts of the handle. Then once that dries, I actually open the handle with my hand and spray into the part where your fingers go. Make sure you get on your knees and spray up and down into the creases. Dont worry about taping off the lock/open button or keyhole.

Wheels:
Can be done on the car or off. Even though you can spray on the tire, it comes off in pieces if you dont spray enough, so throw an old deck of cards into the area where the rim meets tire. Itll make sure you are only spraying rim..

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2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT | TEIN S-Tech Springs | K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes | AAM S-Line Short Tails | 5% Tint | 20MM Spacers | Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

NickTurnon

I will do a HD video for everyone on how to dip each portion of the car haha!

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2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT | TEIN S-Tech Springs | K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes | AAM S-Line Short Tails | 5% Tint | 20MM Spacers | Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

Grindkiezer

Take the wheel off and pop it out from the inside, just push on it.

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Z

tefft19

I don't know if I would dip the handles. First off, it is a real pain to get the door handles out. The wires that control the keyless entry are attached with screws that strip easily and have lock tight on them. Second, I feel like the plastidip would easily peel off of our handles.

If I were you, I would pay a shop to professionally paint the handles. it cost me 50 bucks at a local shop to have mine painted and they were ready the next day. Just my .02

NickTurnon

With all due respect, you should try something before you make assumptions.

I dipped my handles properly over a year ago. They still look great and are slightly peeling on the inside finger area. If you spray the handles with 4-5 coats PROPERLY, the dip will last. Not only that, but if it does chip or scratch or come off, you can take the can- Spray the area- And 30 seconds later it looks perfect again.

Black Door Handles:
Plastidip- $2.50 for half the can
Paint/Powdercoat- $50-100
CF Handles- $200

They all look awesome. Save your money. & Listen to someone with actual experience.

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2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT | TEIN S-Tech Springs | K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes | AAM S-Line Short Tails | 5% Tint | 20MM Spacers | Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

tefft19

You told me not to make assumptions, but yet you assumed that I had never plasti dipped my door handles before. The first time I took off my door handles I plasti dipped them and they looked awesome for a month and a half. After that, it began to peel up pretty bad where the part of the door handle that turns meets the base. I also do not want you to assume that I did not do it properly, because I have plasti dipped my buddies entire car before, along with several sets of wheels. I know how the product works. Im not looking for a fight, but I dont like being called out.

My advice: If the surface you want to plasti dip moves in a manner that it touches another surface, I would not use plasti dip.

But hey, it is your car and you should do what you want with it! I was just offering some advice that I thought would save you time in the future.

Good luck to the OP, and Nick, I hope your plasti dipped handles continue to look great!

JARblue

If your handles started peeling within a month and a half, something isn't right. I have seen plasti-dipped handles that are 2 years old without any touch up required, and I know there are people on the forum who have sported them for more than a year without any problems. You don't want me to assume you didn't do it properly, but I don't know what else to think

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tefft19

Maybe I am just very aggressive when getting in my car..

On a serious note, I have heard about all kinds of good stories with plasti dip. In the end, it isnt my favorite product. Maybe that influenced my response.

JARblue

There's also the consideration of whether it's a DD or not.

I agree with your explanation of plasti-dip. It's not my favorite, and frankly, I was surprised when I saw door handles that held up under the use. But it's proof that it can be done if done right. The door handles are complicated, which is why mine are still stock. I want to color match them, but I have no doubt I will screw mine up in the first attempt.

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