21 replies to this topic

[Brandon]

Okay, so with the brouhaha over the painted intake manifold (and respectively, anyone who wanted to protest a painted valve cover), what has been the general opinion regarding painted calipers?  I've got another set in the garage in need of a rebuild and I was considering a full-on blast/paint of the non-sealing surfaces (pin/slider holes, piston & bleeder bore).

 

As I cheekily commented in another thread about using Kia lifters, is this protest bait since they were bare metal from the factory?

 

And all of this is without double-checking the current GCR too...

[James York]

I would say it is ok, because you are allowed to paint parts.  In the GCR, and I am going by memory here, you can't paint or coat the manifold because it explicitly says it is not allowed.

[Alberto]

You're in Jersey.  If someone protests you for that, they should be taken out back and whacked.    Their man card should be instantly revoked as well.

[Bench Racer]

SCCA rule:
"Assembly, rebuild, and refurbishment procedures, and all ssociated dimensions must adhere to the published factory service procedures, except as otherwise stated in these rules."

Other than the stated rule, why would anyone want to insulate/capture heat within the calipers by coating/painting them.

[Keith Novak]

I bought mine from the guy who owns this site and his are painted. 

 

The rules specifically say you can paint the car any color but primer, that you can paint the chassis, and what you can't paint but it never specifically mentions the brakes.  Technically, I'd say "maybe" but if someone gripes I'm with Alberto.  Just don't plunge cut them.

[Bench Racer]

 

I bought mine from the guy who owns this site and his are painted.

Does that ^ make painted caliper legal?

What part of the SCCA rule in post #4 do you not understand?

[Alberto]

Other than the stated rule, why would anyone want to insulate/capture heat within the calipers by coating/painting them.

 

 

I do it to keep the calipers from getting surface rust.  Especially with the brake dust from race pads.  

 

Beyond that, I paint my calipers b/c:

- I live in CA where anything rusty is looked at in a similar way as a mangy dog or leper. 

- looks nice

- if you paint them red, they add 10 HP.  Sadly, they don't add torque

 

Is it 5:00 yet? 

Sorry couldn't resist...

[Keith Novak]

 

Does that ^ make painted caliper legal?

What part of the SCCA rule in post #4 do you not understand?

 

It's a commonly known legal principal in writing technical specifications that you only say what is allowed, because when you specify what is not allowed (like in the part about painting the engine internals, transmission internals, etc.) that everything else is implicitly allowed.  Now that I looked again, it doesn't say you can paint the interior or exterior of the car in the SM section so bite my  .  

[dc2696]

You call it paint, I call it a heat shedding coating! lol

 

At least I would assume that could be someone's concern.

[Johnny D]

DC, would love to see some close racing video from up north if you have it.

Doesn't have to be on this thread but could be, I'm not picky. We have a section for videos.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport park), Circuit Gilles Villeneuve,? not sure what you run.

J~

[Steve Scheifler]

Many (most?) remans are painted, usually silver. Don't stress over it.

[Ron Alan]

I do it to keep the calipers from getting surface rust. Especially with the brake dust from race pads.

Beyond that, I paint my calipers b/c:
- I live in CA where anything rusty is looked at in a similar way as a mangy dog or leper.
- looks nice
- if you paint them red, they add 10 HP. Sadly, they don't add torque

Is it 5:00 yet?
Sorry couldn't resist...

Paint or powder coat is pointless...sales gimmick or ego. I have buckets of used street calipers and brackets...they are not rusty!!! I realize to some looks means something...for me it just has to function.

[Mark Drennan]

um, fu

[dc2696]

I'm out west and sadly we only have one track available to us, Castrol Raceway, SM is in its infancy here but there are decent videos I could post up in an appropriate thread.

[Ron Alan]

um, fu

Fair enough Mark...maybe I should avoid the computer after late night cocktails?
I fixed the poking fun comments aimed at know one in particular.

[Bad Rusty]

Paint or powder coat is pointless...sales gimmick or ego. I have buckets of used street calipers and brackets...they are not rusty!!! I realize to some looks means something...for me it just has to function.

hey! What exactly are you saying my calipers look like? Stock!?!?

[Ron Alan]

There is only one Rusty!

[Brandon]

Now that I've gotten everyone's attention, what are your thoughts on using Por-15's engine paint product on them?

 

They have Chevy orange which is one of the two colors on my car's exterior...

[Steve Scheifler]

You WAY over estimate attention spans. See the hub failure thread if you doubt it :-/ However, the best color is probably black. Although it absorbs radiant heat better it also radiates (sheds) heat better. No style points in racing unless there is zero performance advantage to another option. Besides, brightly colored calipers are positively ghastly.

[Brandon]

Ghastly - that's the adjective I'm going for!

 

Seriously, my car has the Mazda prototype (787B) paint scheme and getting the calipers orange I think would make pictures pop...

But that's just me.  :-)