Really tough Paint ??

[BucketOKarma]

I'm looking to make a modern/retro Army Wrangler out of a Rubicon after my next deployment. I plan on using the AEV highline kit, 4" lift, 35" tires, and ALOT of armor. My question is, I'm looking to make it OD Green, but I want the paint to be "tough as nails" I don't need CARC, but I want it to withstand tree and rock abuse. I don't care about cleaning it, or how rough it is, it just has to be tough, and durable...... Anyone have some insight?

[usnavymitchells]

Only way to make it that tough is to paint it and leave it home.LOL The best thing you can do after you have it painted is Clear Coating. It is really what protects your paint. But really nothing stands up to a heavy branch dragging across your paint. I have seen Jeeps that were Rhino lined on the outside. Now that would hold up. I am going to the Jeff Daniels Jeep Show on the 20th and they always have some there. I will take some photo's and send them to you so you can see what it looks like.

[metalcd]

well you could lay a base of POR-15 and rattle can the OD Green. that way when you do get scratches you can just rattle can to cover it up.

[BucketOKarma]

Well what about something Mil-spec? I know the crap on my M915 was rough and quite tough, but it was all tan, and I'm looking for OD....

[highlandercj-7]

Get the entire exterior covered in LineX that's the toughest but not the cheapest. If you go OD paint do not go flat, the flattening agent is very expensive and removes the durability. Leave it glossy. The new vehicles here are that way. The dirt penetrates the paint when it's flat and tears it up, with the gloss it falls off / washes off easier. I was going to paint my last YJ in Desert Camo till I found that they wanted more for flat paint than real paint. At the time it was 150.00 a gal for the flattener, my gal of paint was going to take 3 quarts and they were charging me for the paint and agent so it was like 250.00 or better for a gal of desert tan.

[pankake]

I used Krylon Ultra-Flat OD Green on the bumpers, fender flares, side steps,...if it was black and on the outside, it went OD. After one trip wheeling I found several rub spots, including the front wheel into the flare, and just a couple spots where the Krylon didn't hold up.

Check this site out, they have a selection of what era OD Green to choose from:
http://www.armyjeepparts.com/order_p...t_bottom_1.htm

[irish1371]

hey bucket I noticed your gonna highline with a 4" lift for 35" tires. Unless I'm mistaken all you will need to run 35" with a hiline kit is a 1" BL max to just make sure nothing rubs at full stuff. I think the highline is rated for 34" tires on stock suspension.

Reason I noticed is i'm starting a brute with highline on my ome 2" lift for 36-37" tires

[BucketOKarma]

hey bucket I noticed your gonna highline with a 4" lift for 35" tires. Unless I'm mistaken all you will need to run 35" with a hiline kit is a 1" BL max to just make sure nothing rubs at full stuff. I think the highline is rated for 34" tires on stock suspension.

Reason I noticed is i'm starting a brute with highline on my ome 2" lift for 36-37" tires

That is true, but I'm looking to get good fender clearance on rocks, and I would like give myself as much room as I can for articulation. Plus I think it's a good look. I might go for 4" of overall lift, by doing 3" suspension/1" BL, so I can do a MML & tummy tucker too. I want to maximize ground clearance while keeping a low COG......


As for the original post; I have heard of people using Rustolium blended with a hardening agent. Anybody heard of doing this? As for doing a gloss finish, I would really rather not. I want it to look official (to the untrained eye at the very least), and would like it to be matte olive green with white, or black stenciling (I'm still undecided on the secondary color)

[CrazyHorse6]

Ever tried Rustoleum's "Hammered Enamel"? I used it on several high friction areas and although it has a hammered look with ripples and circles (so don't expect a nice smooth shiny finish), it really holds up to abuse and resists scratches. I'd imagine they might have a OD green color or an olive drab.
It may be worth checking out

[SemperFry]

I was researching the same thing a few months ago.
I got some actual two-part CARC paint touch-up aerosol kits (only 3 oz. each) which had the really nice, dark green I was looking for. From the Mil-Spec label, I went to the company's website (www.milspray.com)
and ordered a quart of the NON-2-part paint- same color, but I didnt want the 4 hour pot-life the hardened paint had (so I had some spare for use later)

I called them, fearing they might be a Mil contractor who wouldn't want some schmuck from AZ who wanted only 32 oz of paint. Totally impressed- they shipped it out quick, took my credit card, and UPS brought it a week later.

The 2-part epoxy is a LOT tougher, I'm sure, but I went with the single component, water dispersable polyurethane coating. They are the same price.

I have yet to find an adequate place to paint it (I have the HVLP paint-gun, but no compressor)- but I have sanded it all down, and covered the Jeep in Multi-Color(tm) Self Etching Primer, so its ALL OD green now, but much lighter than what it'll end up- see VAJeep's color.