Full Body Powder Coat?

[Critter]

I have an idea that I don’t think I will ever get around to doing so I figured I would share and see if any of you guys have ever done it/like it. Has anyone ever COMPLETELY powder coated a truck body? Obviously, it would have to be done during a frame off when the cab is bare, bed can be disassembled (maybe not depending on oven size), etc. I don’t think it would be quite pretty enough for a show truck, but a 4x4 that actually sees some trail time but still gets shined up from time to time might be pretty awesome like this. Anybody have any thoughts? Would the finish build up too much for the door and fender gaps? I would consider doing this to my Blazer, but I don’t know if it would be possible because of the size of the tub.

[Jtrux]

I was wondering when you were gonna ask this.

[ColoradoK5]

Thats a good idea. I don't think build up would be a problem. I think the effects of the amount of heat the panel is exposed to would be my biggest concern. but if it is going to be an off road beater/dd qualtiy + i think it would be ok. Might want to test a few decent bedsides and see how they react to the heat. Good luck!

[big_al_71]

I think it would be awesome. I have had motorcycle frames, swingarms powder coated and never had an issue I cant see how it would be an issue on a body....

[panhandler62]

How well will powder coating hold up to little dings and panel flex?

I usualy see pretty solid parts powdercoated. It's extreamly scratch resistant but I wonder if it will stay conformed to parts that aren't entirely rigid.

[SactoJim]

A couple other things that come to mind that may or may not be an issue to you.....

Powdercoating is electrostatically applied (bare metal) so panels would have to be as straight as possible without any fillers (bondo). If any body panels ever got damaged, you may have to replace the entire panel no matter how small the damage is unless you are very good at metal finishing. The whole panel would have to be powdercoated again and I would wonder how well color match would be.

Automotive paints have UV protection in them and I would wonder the same about powdercoating......will it "chaulk up" over time due to exposure.

Just some thoughts that come to mind with my limited knowledge of powdercoating.

That said......it sure would be as durable finish as you could get short of bed lining the whole truck!

[mr48chev]

The local powder coater has a hood that his shop did as a demo unit for the show room and to take to car shows. It looks good but magnifies every flaw in the metal. As the other guys said, it will only work on bare metal.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by SactoJim

A couple other things that come to mind that may or may not be an issue to you.....

Powdercoating is electrostatically applied (bare metal) so panels would have to be as straight as possible without any fillers (bondo).

Originally Posted by mr48chev

It looks good but magnifies every flaw in the metal. As the other guys said, it will only work on bare metal.

I did think about that, just forgot to post it. I believe they make metal body fillers, right? As long as it could conduct the electrical charge and handle the heat it would work. The heat might be the biggest issue with this. Either way, it would be hard to get it as straight as a traditional body filler plus it would probably be more time consuming and costly than regular paint. I still want to see it done...just with someone elses money!

http://www.automedia.com/Getting_the...es20041001ld/1

[d10s69c10]

More thoughts.

Never have to wax it again.
Almost scratch proof.
Copper/Silvervein.... or even nuclear lime..

yes powdercoat is somewhat flexible as far as body panels flexing. dings im afraid it might be a bit brittle for that..

im still stuck on color possiblities.

[nightmare]

critter take a look at this: poison dart

this car was at the lone star nationals for the goodguys show. has a hemi too!

[Critter]

Originally Posted by nightmare

critter take a look at this: poison dart

this car was at the lone star nationals for the goodguys show. has a hemi too!

DAMN! Apparently I have good ideas...I just have them after someone else has already done it.

[Longhorn Man]

hot rod magizine did this 2 years ago or so.
Personally, if it is a driver, i think it is a bad idea.

[ulakovic22]

With Longhorn on this one. Look up Project F-Bomb and you can read about what has to be done to make a powdercoated body work. It's good if you have the body sandblasted and then powdered to stop any rust, but to do body work etc you have to grind it all the way down in that area and then prep for paint. As far as I know painting over it isn't that big a deal and the whole body will be protected just like when you dip a car. It will get in places that a spray gun can't.

[Aunt-Jemima]

If you can get the bondo thing to work it would be a great investment. I've powdercoated all of my quads and it's pretty much scratch proof it will withstand bends and such. Great investment

[ulakovic22]

I agree if you are good with metal work do it. You can't powder once you have done any body work with filler. When you bake the powder to cure it you will soften the filler. If you want to finish the car with powder then everything has to be metal work.

[Longhorn Man]

If it is a driver, I recomend looking at the frame rails of a semi (18 wheeler) before spending the money.
Powder isn't as good as what so many people think it is.

[kernsey]

Yes it can be done...were doing it now

www.facebook.com/87pitstop

[StingRay]

An ambulance manufacturer that I worked for many years ago powder coats entire ambulance bodies. They have a powder oven you could drive a semi tractor unit into. They use an epoxy based filler with excellent results. I have a can of it at home.

[66C10LB]

A friend of mine (who has several C10s) just used this method for his cab...
Sand blast then powder coat as a primer layer
Send off to the painters to
Scuff, prime, block, base coats, clear coats.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by panhandler62

How well will powder coating hold up to little dings and panel flex?

I usualy see pretty solid parts powdercoated. It's extreamly scratch resistant but I wonder if it will stay conformed to parts that aren't entirely rigid.

Makes some sense to me. That and if it's dinged you have to pull the part. If it's the cab then big BUMMER.

[special-K]

This is pointless. Just use good paint. Why over complicate things? Powder coat is not the immaculate invincible end all coating some like to see it as. It has it's place

[66C10LB]

Originally Posted by 66C10LB

A friend of mine (who has several C10s) just used this method for his cab...
Sand blast then powder coat as a primer layer
Send off to the painters to
Scuff, prime, block, base coats, clear coats.

......for me, I am not planning to powder coat body parts. Just good primers, high build, blocking, base and clear.

[chewychevy67]

Originally Posted by kernsey

Yes it can be done...were doing it now

www.facebook.com/87pitstop

I don't have Facebook so I can't view this. I wonder how it is looking now?