Coating Aluminum (bellhousing, T-case, etc...)?

[DanS HJ-45]

Basically, I've got an aluminum bellhousing that I want to clean up. The red dirt from Australia is just plain super tough to clean. I've soaked it in the parts washer (solvent), I've scrubbed it with solvent, scrubbed it with purple power, and it just doesn't get clean enough for my anal-retentive self. So, I've lightly hit it with the abrasive cabinet (glass beads), and it gets the dirt off without a problem, but obviously it needs a coating to stay clean for years and years.

So that's my question here. What sort of coating should I use? I have a powder coating oven that it should fit in, and I generally prefer to PC parts over paint, but I'm not dead set on anything.

• Just clear coat over the aluminum?
• Silver
• One of the cast aluminum paints from Eastwood or something

Here's how it looks with a little blasting right now:


Keep in mind that I would likely do the T-case in the same finish at some point. I see that Georg uses a paint on his setups (and they look great), but I was just wondering if anyone had ever PC'ed clear over bare aluminum.

Dan

 

[MANUCHAO]

I have dealt with the Utah red clay here in the USA and used easy-off oven cleaner with great result..
I would go with a clear coat if I were yah..
Clean, flat/mate alum looks uber cool...

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I have dealt with the Utah red clay here in the USA and used easy-off oven cleaner with great result..
I would go with a clear coat if I were yah..
Clean, flat/mate alum looks uber cool...

I should have mentioned: the easy off (yellow can) didn't work either. That stuff is CRAZY hard to get off.

I really prefer it to look "stock," but super easy to clean just to keep the dirt and grease from building up down there. Otherwise I probably would put a satin or matte finish on it, because it really does look cool.

Dan

 

[rusty_tlc]

Mothers or McGuire's aluminum wheel cleaner works pretty well on most stuff made from aluminium.

I'm not sure about Powder coating but from the research I've done on painting you need to prep AL by alodining, applying a protective chromate coating before painting. It provides enough tooth for paint to stick.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Update:

I decided to do a little test with some spare T-case parts (PTO cover) just to see how it does...

Here's the cover after abrasive blasting (composite/glass beads in the cabinet).


I then used a clear powdercoat layer on it (Caswell's clear, I think)


And just a comparison, the PTO cover setting next to the to cover, which did clean up very well using solvent and purple power.


I think that will work. I like that the coating doesn't end up absolutely uniform.

Dan

 

[DanS HJ-45]

And just to follow up....

Clear powder over non-blasted aluminum...


I like this finish more, but it takes a LOT more scrubbing.

Dan