Powdercoat, paint, or anodize aluminum engine covers?

I've been playing around with the dremel and really like the way my old aluminum engine cases have turned out.

How can I protect the look I've acheived? It has to be a clear so the metallic surface doesen't look different.

I have an anodizer and a PCer in my town. If clear paint is a better option, I can do that myself.

Here is what I've done so far. I'm going to repaint the YICS on the oil pump cover.




I'm working on the cam cover now. I had a friend sandblast it, now I'm polishing the fins and YICS. Bolts are obsolete, so the stockers are being rechromed with all the other chrome bits.





I'd appreciate some advise so I dont have to polish all the time. :lol:

 

WOW! Nice work Dude.

Been putting off polishing for the same reason and am very interested in the answers you get. With my lack of success in intake manifold bolt removal, pulling parts to get the job done well is off the list, so I am hoping the XJ guys with experience can light the way for all of us shiny bike wannabees.

Keep going - your results will be worth the effort.

 

Looks good! I want to do this as a winter project, pull the engine out, and be able to stand and walk around it. Plan on sand blasting it clean, then polish, then clear.

 

VERY nice!

i didnt do ANYTHING that nice...

d

 

clear or color anodize would be the best, don't know how much it would cost though and it's kind of a permanent thing unless you paint over it
powdercoat is nice and i think they have chrone now, heat might be a problem
http://www.kgcoatings.com/gunkote.html
can be done at home and is tougher than Chinese algebra, no heat problems
http://www.eastwoodco.com/index.jsp
has all kinds of paint
http://www.caswellplating.com/index.html
has buffing stuff and paint

 

Hi
Maybe you should check out how die cast aluminum and anodizing works together. There might be some issues regarding the silicon(SI(not silicone)) in this kind of aluminum.

Andersen

 

Thanks for the compliments, gentlemen! 8)

I can't tell you the hours I have in cleaning, polishing the old girl up, but it's alot.

I can tell you my arm, wrist, hand , and elbow don't work like they used to 25 years ago when I was young.:wink: :lol:

Polock, thanks for the links. Eastwood was really helpful. I think I may give this a shot. It looks promising.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?item ... =15&KICKER

Thanks Anderson. From what I can tell, anodizing works better with machined aluminum than cast. I do like the anodized look, but I don't think it will work with my cases.

Here are a few more pics of the progress. I still have alot to do to get her the way I want her. It is showing signs of progress.

 

Looks real good!!! How does it sound without the pipes.

 

Thanks.:lol:

Waiting on the Mac 4-1.

 

I'm thinking of trying to buff out my engine over the winter. Can you tell me how you did this? It really looks great!

 

I'd say clear powder coating would be your best bet. The new powders they've got available are amazing -- and tough as nails. I've seen that some of the powders melt for curing at one temperature (~300°) but then once cured, they won't melt again until a much higher temp (over 500°) -- thus heat isn't a problem.

 

Very nice.
Which wheels did you use to clean her up.
I have no dremel but a drill yes. I would love to take your advise.

 

the heat won't hurt the powder coat but if enough of the engine gets covered with it cooling might be an issue

 

I never would have thought of gunkote for painting the engine, that's perfect!

Will it cure properly by just running the engine till it's hot?

 

any cover i could take off i did, cylinders heads and cases cure on the next good ride

 

Thanks again for the props.

I'll start a thread with details on how I did it. What's needed, along with some pics. You do need patience, and alot of it.

I talked to the guy who PCs stuff for me. He said that a clear PC would be ideal. The problem is when you get to the polished areas the PC doesent want to stick.

I may try some clear paint. That is what is on the fork tubes, and that what was on the passenger peg extensions. I also found some NOS oil pump covers and they look to have some kind of clear on them

I may try some experiments on the parts bike. :lol: