Done and installed.

 

I've always just done two thin coats of flat black on aluminum colored coolers that I've had in the past...just one side, since as you mentioned, nobody sees the other side anyway, and it's easier to just lay the cooler on a piece of cardboard and not have to wait for it to dry and flip it over.

 

Budhayes3 that's actually exactly what I did. Since the other side really doesn't matter cosmetically I just laid it down on a piece of cardboard and shot with with 2 light coats of flat black engine enamel. Thanks again for the tips guys!

 

I painted mine with regular flat black spray paint about 7 months ago. Didnt prep it or anything just painted it. Now theres just a few tiny paint chips. Only thing that looks bad are the bugs stuck in it

 

Yea, I didn't prep the one that I'm currently running either (PermaCool 17k), and it's been holding up fine for almost 6 years of daily driving (minus the past year since the trans blew...so make it 5 years of daily driving lol)