ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

Active Member

• Dec 7, 2016

• #1

Just in the process of cleaning all my alloy engine parts up with a wire brush in a drill ready for painting. Suprisingly they've cleaned up really well, and i was wondering...

What is it that land rover use out the factory to protect the bare aluminium (or the whole engine evem) that eventually goes discoloured (yellow).

Looking in my engine bay, I think a painted engine will look a bit overkill and too blingy (bare alloy looks more modest and genuine) So I was wondering If a clear lacquer could be used on the bare alloy parts that I've cleaned up? Is this possible? Will it stick to the bare alloy?

Any recommendations?

Thanks guys

 

flat

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2016

• #2

I am sure a clear lacquer can be used, depending on the part likely needs to be heat resistant.

Don't know how well it will stick to the shiny ali though, you might want to test on an inconspicuous part first.

 

Rattlegun

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2016

• #3

Bare aluminium corrodes to dull grey which is the standard finish for alloy engine parts, you can polish to a mirror shine (eventually) or just a brighter grey silver but it will go back to grey fairly quickly without regular treatment. You can lacquer it but corrosion will get in at the edges (like alloy wheels) and spread underneath leaving that white powdery residue which will all need stripping, removing and repolishing to rectify. Unsurprisingly, it usually just gets left! Something easy access, like a rocker cover on a ohv valve engine is not too bad as you can keep up the polishing on it.

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Dec 9, 2016

• #4

For alloy. Just clean it every few weeks with Autosol metal polish. That's all I used to keep my alloy rocker boxes clean and shiny, when I had classic Triumphs.

 

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

• Dec 10, 2016

• #5

If you have a big enough bath you could anodize them. A simple process in any colour. I couldn't be bothered mind............

 

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

Active Member

• Dec 10, 2016

• #6

Thanks a lot chaps.

Forgive my lack of knowledge here. I've wired brushed with an electric drill all the alloy parts. They look great. If I leave them bare will they corrode any quicker than how they left the factory?

The alloy isn't treated on new items such as water pumps and ancilleries etc and that holds up reasonable well when new ones are fitted. Is it the same principle?

 

boguing

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Dec 11, 2016

• #7

I've just consulted Google. There are loads of lacquers, so could you try one and report back - I might do mine....

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=u...i57j69i64l3.5688j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8