BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint or Clear Coat?

[mjobrien]

OK another one of those detail questions for the team.... Trans is about done and need to decide Paint it Silver or just clean up the case and clear coat it with some high temp clear? Any opinions on this.

More worried about correctness than anything else.

I'll get some pics loaded this weekend so you can all help me critique this build a little as well....

Many Thanks,
Michael

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat?

Hi Michael,
I think either would be ok. The BN1's were originally just bare aluminum although possibly, a "few" were painted engine color.

It would certainly give better corrosion protection to paint it with "something". I guess if in doubt, the more correct would be a clear coat.
D

 

[62BT7]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat?

Michael: I assume you're familiar with the concours guidelines, but if not they say that BN1 gearboxes were "not painted with engine paint (i.e. they were left base aluminum)." There's a footnote that some may have been painted along with the engine, at least one example has been found this way.

So I suppose that, strictly speaking, bare aluminum is the best way to go if, as you say, correctness is the worry. I can't see any advantage to a clear coat, but maybe it'd be easier to keep clean? That's speculation on my part. Good luck!

 

[vette]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat?

Hi MJ, I've been painting clear coat for about ten years now, (of course that's only about 5 or 6 cars,) and I'm not a chemistry major, but I'm not sure clear coat will stick to aluminium with out some sort of base product under it or some primer. At least not the clear coat that is used as a top coat on finish paint jobs.

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat?

PPG has a clear that applies directly to bare (cleaned) aluminum; it's either Delclear or Delglo (one does, the other doesn't). They're both from the PPG Delstar line and are catalyzed, yielding an exceptionally durable finish resistant to most chemicals.

This is bare, clearcoated aluminum:

 

[vette]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat?

Hi Randy, I'm guessing you mean the engine turned dash. It looks good. I've never tried it. How long has it been on?
While we're still on the subject. Do you see any advantage to clearing the trans case, verses just making it cleaned up real good and leaving it natural. Maybe it would be slippier? What about heat retention? Do you think it might be measurable?

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat?

Hi Randy, I'm guessing you mean the engine turned dash. It looks good. I've never tried it. How long has it been on?
While we're still on the subject. Do you see any advantage to clearing the trans case, verses just making it cleaned up real good and leaving it natural. Maybe it would be slippier? What about heat retention? Do you think it might be measurable?

Yes, the instrument panel portion is bare, clearcoated aluminum.

I'm not that fussy, nor is my car a showcar, so Healey Green paint was good enough for me.

I doubt the heat in that area would affect a catalyzed clearcoat.

 

[John Loftus]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat

Another supplier for a clear coat designed to go over bare aluminum is made by Por-15. It's called Glisten and you should be able to find out more about in their website. It comes in both gloss and satin.

Also, VHT (and perhaps others) makes a clear made for brake caliper applications. This could also be a bit easier in that it comes in spray cans.

Cheers,
John

 

[mjobrien]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat

For items that I want to keep from getting that nice Reddish brown tint over time... I have been using this Eastwood product. Some of the parts have been coated for 3 years and not a sign of rust so far. It also allows for easy clean up on parts from what I have seen so far...

Eastwood Diamond Clear Metal Aerosol 11 oz

Protect metal parts with a crystal clear, tough, flexible coating that keeps brass, aluminum, steel, die-cast, even cast iron looking great. This self-leveling formulation, resists chips, cracks, fading and yellowing. May slightly dull reflectivity. Resists fuels and temps up to 300ºF. Ideal in underhood applications except exhaust manifolds. Great for polished wheels, aluminum valve covers as well as items around the shop and home. Diamond Clear for Bare Metal is a solvent-based clear in a 12 oz aerosol can. Ensure surface is grease and oil free with PRE Painting Prep (10041Z).

 

[vette]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat

Just to close a thought, I was wondering if the layer of paint such as a clear, which is usually thick, could hold heat in... on the trans case. Not allow it to dissipate as easily. Also except for a slipperier surface, I don't see any advantage to clearing. Now if you want it coloured... hey, green looks good.

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: BN1 Transmission - Silver Paint of Clear Coat

I think clear or bare depends on the driving & climate conditions. Wet climates & or salt air can make bare aluminum look pretty shabby in a short time.

If holding heat in was a problem, you shouldn't paint the engine either?
D