New Mods - shortshots chrome to black
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: hotdog
New Mods - shortshots chrome to black
So I wanted black shortshots. They are expensive (which sucks). I happened upon a deal here in town and got some EFI chrome shortshots for a shade over $200. I decided to document this, because I havent seen too much of this done.... I bought some flat black engine enamel good to 2000*F, some 1500 grit sandpaper, and did my install.
A few pics to get things rolling....
Mirror flip (was worthless until I rotated the handle bars forward about 15 degrees... now I can see better than if I were in my truck.
Just pictured for posterity....
So the swap.
Pipes on:
Long heat shield (unsanded or painted)
Short shield sanded and painted
So the 1500 might be a bit conservative.... 800 grit may have been better to get some good swirls going in the chrome for the paint to stick to. The panted shield only has 1 coat on it. I will check it out tomorrow to see where we are at... if it chips too easily I will resand with a lower grit and try again.
anyways, this is not something I have seen too much on around here... and with the black pipes costing significantly more than the chrome ones... if this works out we may all end up with a viable option that saves $50.
I will post more pics over the weekend as I get this put together. worse comes to worst... I will just wrap the pips without shields and ride that way... kinda digging the naked shortshots on the 883N
A few pics to get things rolling....
Mirror flip (was worthless until I rotated the handle bars forward about 15 degrees... now I can see better than if I were in my truck.
Just pictured for posterity....
So the swap.
Pipes on:
Long heat shield (unsanded or painted)
Short shield sanded and painted
So the 1500 might be a bit conservative.... 800 grit may have been better to get some good swirls going in the chrome for the paint to stick to. The panted shield only has 1 coat on it. I will check it out tomorrow to see where we are at... if it chips too easily I will resand with a lower grit and try again.
anyways, this is not something I have seen too much on around here... and with the black pipes costing significantly more than the chrome ones... if this works out we may all end up with a viable option that saves $50.
I will post more pics over the weekend as I get this put together. worse comes to worst... I will just wrap the pips without shields and ride that way... kinda digging the naked shortshots on the 883N
Last edited by SpecterGT260; Mar 31, 2012 at 01:39 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 2
From: Western Washington
Yeah, keep us posted on how it holds up. I've been thinking about removing my stock mufflers, welding on straight pipes, and painting black. I can weld but I've been a little nervous due to the painting. Do you have to bake the paint afterwards, or can you just run the bike to bake the paint on?
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: hotdog
So, the paint from last night didn't work out too well. The 1500 grit paper was too nice. While it looked fine, a fingernail was all it took to remove paint (1 coat). So I took the paint off with scotchbrite and went after it again - this time w 220 grit.
See below:
By appearances alone, this gave the paint much more to hang on to.
I got both pipes painted up. This stuff has a tendency to go on thick and to spray unevenly.... but when it dries you cannot really tell anything happened.
I am ~4 heavy coats in (emptied 2 whole cans onto these guys over the course of the day) and the logo lived!
So I think I will let them sit for the next week in the back of my garage an set up before installing them. There were some parts of the instructions about heating them in an oven.... that isnt an option. So hopefully a few short trips when on the bike will do the trick.
If this doesnt work, I saw a can of spray on bed liner
I will see if that does anything and then just wrap them up in dark heat wrap and call it a day.
The GF has been all over me about "why would you do this to a bike... that isn't classic harley". We are having a "date night" and watching Mad Max to get her in the proper frame of mind for where this bike is headed.
See below:
By appearances alone, this gave the paint much more to hang on to.
I got both pipes painted up. This stuff has a tendency to go on thick and to spray unevenly.... but when it dries you cannot really tell anything happened.
I am ~4 heavy coats in (emptied 2 whole cans onto these guys over the course of the day) and the logo lived!
So I think I will let them sit for the next week in the back of my garage an set up before installing them. There were some parts of the instructions about heating them in an oven.... that isnt an option. So hopefully a few short trips when on the bike will do the trick.
If this doesnt work, I saw a can of spray on bed liner
I will see if that does anything and then just wrap them up in dark heat wrap and call it a day. The GF has been all over me about "why would you do this to a bike... that isn't classic harley". We are having a "date night" and watching Mad Max to get her in the proper frame of mind for where this bike is headed.
Last edited by SpecterGT260; Mar 31, 2012 at 08:41 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 7
From: Texas
Typically, the grit doesn't matter. I always just scotchbrited my pipes and they held up great. 220 grit is kinda harsh.....
Minimum - do 3-5 coats of paint. Let them sit for a day, not a week and they will be fine. Also, they would looks better black without the heatshields, IMO.
Minimum - do 3-5 coats of paint. Let them sit for a day, not a week and they will be fine. Also, they would looks better black without the heatshields, IMO.
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 7
From: Texas
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: hotdog
I'm after the black w the chrome tips poking out. Just couldn't find anyone selling a set. Thanks on the derby cover. I was hoping it would mate up. Apparently I get to keep the awkwardly chrome cover on my otherwise black bike
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: hotdog
So, because I am not one to argue paint issues with a guy who has a DIY chameleon paint scheme, I slapped the heat shields on todady. They got a few little nics in them while putting it on. That 1500 grit paper came in handy again and I buffed them out. However the sanding turned the paint a little darker, with almost a metallic glint to it. Otherwise looks fine. I am going to have to go over everything evenly with the fine grit sand paper to make sure it looks right. I may coat with a clear coat eventually..... probably not
