Questions of a 16 year old...

[Sanctus]

Well first off id have to say that the gt is fast enough for me so i believe i am ready after a few months now to "personalize" my tungsten grey gt coupe. first off i am going to get my windows tinted because thats an inexpensive way to get some good looks. after doing a search or two i looked for the simplist mods i could do being 16 and have 0 experiance with automobiles i really just want to get my hands on my car and go to work on her!. Unfortunatly my dad knows less than i do and has even less tools. I want to paint the calipers blue because i think it will look really good with the tungsten color.
ok just to clarify i DID A SEARCH!

so dont lock the thread just yet... please im a newbie at doing these things so bare with me.
I just got back from the local auto shops in town and they all offered no help in suggesting the course of action for painting the calipers. i have seen threads before saying that its easy and requires nothing more than the duplicolor kit, a brass toothbrush, and cleanser and some masking tape. however the mechanics seemed to be against this idea and beleived that the Calipers MUST come off to do it properly and that the brake lines must be bled.

now let me tell you my dad was less than thrilled to hear that. so i would not want to paint the calipers if it entailed all that removal... draining.. and brakework. If anyone could offer any info for a first time modder who is anxious to start out somewhere that would be more than welcome.
also i would like to know if you "need'' power wrench or you can just do it by hand because that would greatly determine the plausability of this actually happneing. i really want to do some stuff to my car that requires some mechanical work but really nothing an amature couldnt do in a few hours. i also plan on doing an axle back bassani system, but im really not looking for any performance mods because its too d*** fast already.. i dont want it to be any faster than the gt aalready is however this seems like a good idea, if anyone has painted their calipers and has some advice for a novice like myself that is greatly appreciated


--Sy

 

[Dyoct]

If you're going to do something, it's worth doing right, and when it comes to painting calipers, the best way is to take them off and yes you'll end up having to bleed the lines once that happens. You don't want to get overspray on the way or somewhere on the car do you? You also don't want them to turn out crappy and miss spots due to places where you can't angle your painting source. You're young and said have zero experience. I'd suggest putting your 'Stang on some ramps or jacking her up and just start looking underneath for the hell of it. Change your own oil once, it's an easy and straightforward job and a good place to start. Also, a friend once recommended taking a driving class after getting this car, I really wish I would have done that. Heck, I know some insurances will cut you a break if you complete courses in advanced driving skills.
And go with the tint, it makes any car look better.

 

[Sanctus]

If you're going to do something, it's worth doing right, and when it comes to painting calipers, the best way is to take them off and yes you'll end up having to bleed the lines once that happens. You don't want to get overspray on the way or somewhere on the car do you?

i was under the impression that the paint was a brush applicator so i dont think that it would have any spray get on the car unless your talking about the cleaner.. then i dunno

 

[Dyoct]

Whoah whoah whoah, brushed on paint? I've never heard of anyone brushing on their paint to paint the calipers, although I've seen some on ricemobiles that looked that way...spray it on, just my two cents.

 

[Sanctus]

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliper.html read the product info

 

[CA Lightfoot]

Here's a thread with lots of links to solid info:
http://www.mach1mustang.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6756

 

[Ara]

Bleeding your brakes is no biggie and is a regular maintenance item on any car ( I don't care what the interval listed in the manual is, I do it once every spring). You should be replacing your brake fluid once every year anyhow, especially DOT3 fluid which I think the Mustang uses, it boils easier than DOT4. Good to learn it while you're doing your first mod anyhow. Actualyl a useful mod would be some SpeedBleeder valves on each of your wheels so you can bleed and flush the brakes without the use of an assistant.

 

[Sanctus]

Bleeding your brakes is no biggie and is a regular maintenance item on any car ( I don't care what the interval listed in the manual is, I do it once every spring). You should be replacing your brake fluid once every year anyhow, especially DOT3 fluid which I think the Mustang uses, it boils easier than DOT4. Good to learn it while you're doing your first mod anyhow. Actualyl a useful mod would be some SpeedBleeder valves on each of your wheels so you can bleed and flush the brakes without the use of an assistant.

im trying to do this one step at a time my friend.. thats alittle bit over my head... and not something i want to mess with as my first mod...

 

[Ara]

If you're afraid of taking your calipers off to paint and then bleeding the brakes (putting in speedbleeders is just as simple as bleeding brakes) I don't know what mods you will be able/or want to do... it is natural to be nervous at first, I suggest if you're just starting out with automotive/mechanical things then you work on an older, much cheaper car or take an Autotech class at your community college.

 

[Mach1Run]

I used brushed on duplicolor for mine on the mach, and I used spray for the ones on the GT i used to have. Never removed the caliper for either one, just masked everything off and did it in the garage so no wind to blow overspray around.

 

[66Satellite]

Why don't you learn to change the oil or something more constructive first? I don't know why anyone wastes their time with this stuff. I thought it was for the Honduh crowd.

 

[Sanctus]

haha alright thats a good suggestion but id have to counter that suggestion and ask you to make another post cause that number is buggin me. haha

 

[05retro]

If you want a suggestion for an easy mod I would install a cold air setup, maybe find one that doesnt require a reflash. They come with detailed instructions and if you dont like it or mess up you can easily put the stock airbox back in. The only way to get rid of the paint on calipers would be to take them off and have them bead blasted. Besides if you want colored calipers save the money and upgrade your brakes with a new rotor and billet calipers.

 

[exindust]

You do not need to take the calipers off.

The Dupli-Color kit is definetly the way to go... no overspray.. VERY easy to do... and you do NOT need to cover the entire caliper in paint just the visible parts so taking it off really isnt required it just makes it easier...

 

[exindust]

And No it isnt part of the Honduh Crowd... @ss

 

[official_style]

this is the paint kit everyone uses. i know someone who did it 2 years ago it it sill looks perfect. i dont like painted calipers however. i like a sleeeeeeper. i cant belive u got a gt when ur 16 . i thought i was cool when i got a 16v VW GTI when i was 19, i did mod the hell out of it however. be careful with that car. its fast, but to me it seems slow.
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/g2/caliper_paint.jsp

 

[Fast05]

You're never going to be able to mod the car if you're too afraid to do take anything apart. Do what I did, start off changing your own oil, put the car up on jack stands and get underneath and just look around. Get an idea of what everything under there does and familiarize yourself with the vehicle. My first brake experience wasn't a good one but that's because I didn't have the proper tools to complete the job and my car (my old '01 V6 stang) got to sit in the driveway overnight. I've gotten to the point to where I'm perfectly comfortable with installation (and unfortunately, reinstallation) of my headers and h pipe. I also replaced my motor mounts. Doing the 4.10s though, that was scary I would never do that again unless it was a professional, talk about a pain in the ***. Anyways, I've also done a CAI and shifter, nothing you do to your car is difficult, it just takes common sense, patience, and basic mechanical knowledge. If you're worried about screwing up, start early in the day so you have plenty of time to go buy supplies if you need to

Good luck!

 

[Kyle F]

I dont want anythgin too flashy. I think I wam going to do mine in Black.

 

[Sanctus]

I dont want anythgin too flashy. I think I wam going to do mine in Black.

haha yeah... thats why you got a yellow mustang right?

 

[StangCollecter]

As long as you have no problem masking everything off, it should be fine. Even take plastic bags and cover the disc, etc.

I'd take sheets of plastic (cut garbage bags will work) and cover 1/2 the hood/the entire fender.

Then use a coat hanger and bend it up to hang the caliper, tape off the inside (where the piston/pads go) and the brake line, then have at.

If it is brush on, then make sure you clean it up very well.

I've never painted calipers, but if you just take your time and use your head, you should be fine.

If you mess it up though, I will laugh at you.