I am rebuilding the calipers and will post teardown and cleaning pics tomorrow. In the meantime, I am looking for some thoughts as to the color to paint them.

Here's the long-term plan: The car will stay original color (920 - gold) and I expect to install Panasport wheels in a natural alloy finish. The rear drums will eventually be painted in high temp silver with high temp clearcoat. What to do with the front calipers?

Paint them silver to match the drums? Not a lot of show behind the Panasports.

Paint them gloss black? Should provide some contrast behind the Panas and will be low maint.

Paint them in body color? This will not be a high temp paint (a concern) but should provide excellent show effect behind the wheels. I previously painted the Boxster calipers high temp yellow (very close to the Speed Yellow body), the results were great.

Other options?

Some input please!!!

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Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class

Gold like the car, or red is my opininion. Then do a disc brake conversion in the rear.

Yeah, Paul ~ I can picture that. Really nice.

What about powder coating or ceramic coating them? Heat and brake dust are always factors, and coating helps with both. I always liked the big, red Brembos, but I can also picture them painted Gunmetal Grey or Copper, showing thru the wheels.

Frank

I expect that "real" autobody paint should hold up, so your plan to use the body color is probably sufficiently durable.

I used aerosol BBQ Grill paint on my brakes, which I cooked on the BBQ (in a slight of irony) to set the paint. It has held up reasonably well, except for the occasional chip from who knows what debris under the car. I would do powdercoat next time for the added durability. I obtained the rebuild kits from rockauto on the cheap.

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280zx NA to T... http://z.modeltrainguide.com

BBQ Grille ~ what a great idea. I never considered that when using hi-temp engine paint for my parts. I sure will from now on, thanks.
Frank

Gives all new meaning to "What's that smell - overheated brakes?".

"Nah, just the KC Masterpiece sauce!!!".

A lot more spouse-friendly than using the kitchen oven. Great idea.

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Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class

HaHa! You did that too, huh Jim?

Oh, what a story THAT was ~ I won't do that again.

Frank

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions (more are welcome). I am inclined to give the gold body color a try, and copper is absolutely intrigueing. Nothing is final until the paint goes on.

As to powdercoat, I am not inclined to try this as a DIY and it is an expensive outsource job in context to the total $ commitment I already have planned for this car. My effort to paint these guys is very low cost and much more rewarding by comparison.

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Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class

I recently bought some POR15 products for a few home and car projects.
They make some pretty magical paints and products for dealing with rust etc.
I've used their paints and patch materials with great results over the years. POR PATCH fixed a few muffler leaks for a very long time. They make many automotive restoration products which are well recognized. To save space here, check them out on web on what they make and why it works so well. and yes it works very well!
Along with my order came a full catalog. In there I noted a Caliper Paint Kit for $39.50. 5 colors... Black, Silver, Yellow, Red, and what looks like Frank's Z Blue... "Flashback Blue" perhaps?!

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'87 Z31 5 spd N/A in Red Pearl (~stock)
'90 Z32 5 spd N/A in Azure Blue Pearl (~stock)
'91 Z32 TT 5 spd in White Pearlglow (enhanced)
'03 Z33 Touring 6 spd Chrome Silver (~stock)
'09 GT-R Super Silver... Lusty Enough As Is!

I think it's Mazda Miata blue. Not sure what the PO was thinking. He probably got the paint for free.

Flashback blue. That does sound cool tho, doesn't it?

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1970 240Z

Jim, I painted my calipers with hi-temp silver. The black centers of my Revolution wheels made a nice offset. Here's a pic of front.

If you are using silver wheels, and you want a nice contrast, then black is the way to go. Silver would also give a "neat" appearance, but almost no contrast.

I respect your doing what you want with your own car, that is what this is all about, but I would vote against painting the calipers body color. A bit too cheesy for my taste.

And red screams to the world "Hey look at me, I have COOL brakes!". LOL

In the end, do what YOU like. It's YOUR car!


JT

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John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

The calipers went to body color some months ago, a pic is posted to my member rides area. As to wheels, I'm planning for Konig Rewind 8-spokes in silver and looking for that contrast to come thru from the rear. If it doesn't work out, a new paint job is not all that difficult.

My prior ride was Speed Yellow, I painted the calipers in HT yellow - a very close match, and received a lot of positive feedback on the look. So, we'll see how this effort turns out.

Thanks for the fresh input.

Oh, and John... is that a fine NY Cheddar or perhaps a smooth Colby you are talking about?

Jim

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Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class

You guyz crack me up.

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1970 240Z

NY Cheddar all the way Jim!

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John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

When I painted my toyota 4-pistons, back in the day, I painted them red. Then I made a "Z" template out of card stock, and sprayed a silver "Z" on the outer face of the caliper. It looked great. I don't have photos handy, and I sold the calipers on ebay a few years ago.

More conservative now, I painted my 240Z resto-mod calipers a cast iron gray to make them look original and keep them clean at the same time.

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-Dave
76Z Turbo'd
72 In Progress---DONE!