What's people's thoughts and opinions on whether they spray there parts for the car with a spray can after it's been blasted all filth removed or whether it's powder coated? Is it worth the extra money for powder coating or is painting just as good ? Cheers in advance

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1964 smooth roof panel van
1967 Mk 1 X-Police cooper s
1970 mini k
1975 leyland

Powder coating will last longer and be more durable. You can get a good result with spray cans but stuff will chip easily. Depends on your budget I reckon but to me a spray can of subframe black works wonders. Lets face it you dont really see the subframe or control arms etc. If its a show car powder coat for sure.

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1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

I always powdercoat the subframes - it makes them easier to keep clean and resists stone chip damage better than paint. Suspension components are done with a 2-pak paint or an epoxy such as VHT Roll Bar and Chassis Paint which is quite tough as well.
Interior stuff I tend to use Killrust spray cans - they give a good finish, but take ages to dry.

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Curly
'64 Cooper 'S' (Group Nb spec)
'67 Mini Marcos GT www.mm7056.wordpress.com

I could go either way.

Powder coat for the reasons above; or,

POR15 also looks very good and can be repaired if need be with another coat over the top unlike powdercoat which will need to be taken back. It pulls itself smooth as it dries if you intend to use a brush, and no primer is required (except over zinc plated stuff, which will need an etch prime).

However its pretty messy stuff, and if you get it on your skin you will wear it for a week. Also not cheap either at about 70 dollars per litre.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I would go with the paint ,powder coating is expensive and if it gets chipped its hard to repair. POR15 is brilliant ,I have used quite a bit of it ,I did a complete bare shell in POR 15 .The only problem is you need to top coat it , as it doesn't fair too well exposed to sunlight,so not really suitable for subframes unless you paint over it ,which sort of defeats the purpose ,so you may as well just use the paint .

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1965 Morris 850
1966 Morris Mini Minor
1967 Morris Cooper 'S'
1977 Leyland LS

I find Killrust is good for parts (black) being an epoxy it dries hard and gets harder the longer it cures . I always prep with the appropriate primer even though they now say you don't have to. Other brands just don't cut it.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

ok fellas thanks for your thoughts. i think i may go with some good quality stuff like killrust or something. not the 2 dollar stuff

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1964 smooth roof panel van
1967 Mk 1 X-Police cooper s
1970 mini k
1975 leyland

just another question what sort of black is the subframes painted? is it satin black

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1964 smooth roof panel van
1967 Mk 1 X-Police cooper s
1970 mini k
1975 leyland

Yes it is a satin finish. With Slacko's Cooper S, John Schmidt and Slacko came up with a routine of coating the subframes in gloss, and then giving the final coat in satin. It might have been to do with the specific products Slacko and John were using however, but the original factory finish was their aim.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

ok cheers mick appreciate it.

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1964 smooth roof panel van
1967 Mk 1 X-Police cooper s
1970 mini k
1975 leyland