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BE hood strut finish

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lbcfan

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I've had my struts sandblasted without thinking about the new finish. Do these need to be powdercoated, or will paint work? I'm not sure that paint will hold up with the sliding action, and I don't want to gum up the mechanism.

Thanks.

Michael
 
The struts were not painted from the factory. They had a bright steel like finish. They may have been cad or nickel plated, but at the rate they rust, they may have been uncoated.
Scott in CA
 
I think they were cad plated, in any case not painted.
 
Paint certainly won't hold up, and I doubt that powder coating will, either. You probably don't want to leave them unfinished; they'll rust. Mine were galvanized. I'd get them galvanized or cad plated. Galvanizing probably will show wear least.
 
Am I missing something.. are you talking later style windshield struts?..if so the Works finished them by anodizing as well as the windshield frame, the upper door and back cockpit trim.. That being said, restoring a beat-up surface for plating can be a challenge.. choose your plater with care.. (front CPT was covered with the same vinyl as the dash) Many a car owner has chromed instead which leaves a completly different look...It's all through the eyes of the Master
 
I believe Michael meant 'bonnet' not 'hood'
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

I indeed meant bonnet, not hood.

Thanks for the feedback. Plating seems the way to go. Unfortunately, the downside of making everything new is that I can't count on a film of oil and grease to preserve the parts anymore.

Michael
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

They are cheep enough, why not buy new??
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

It hadn't even occurred to me to me to buy new. Thanks for the thought.
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

Y'know, looking at the action of these struts and the way they operate, it's a very simple but ingenious design. I don't have my Horler's at hand, but I think the originals were nickel plated. Obviously the plating doesn't stand up very well either - witness all the struts with the plating worn off. I would say if you don't want to buy new, clean them up well and paint them with https://www.vhtpaint.com/products/platefinish/
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

Thanks for the source. I was also thinking about a coat of clear lacquer to keep the finish thin and to hide any wear- the metal cleaned up pretty well.
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

Give us some pictures when you're done. I'd like to see how it turns out.
grin.gif
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

I use hi temp clear coat for protection under the hood. Seems to work well. Comes in a spray can.
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

I did the same as Jack. For the struts, I let the soak in EvapoRust for about 24 hours. Cleaned up nicely.
 
Re: BE hood [bonnet] strut finish

I need to figure out how to upload photos. Considering that I've refinished the engine compartment with spray cans and gel filler it looks ok. Never intended to go this far though...
 
Button at bottom of quick reply. says full screen, click. Then at bottom of entry square find file manager, click. click, choose file to select one from your computer, click, open file. click add file, click done. click submit.
 
jlaird said:
Button at bottom of quick reply. says full screen, click. Then at bottom of entry square find file manager, click. click, choose file to select one from your computer, click, open file. click add file, click done. click submit.
Click to expand...

and note that you may have to resize your photo size depending on your level of membership. None paying restricted to 100kb, Silver - 150kb etc.
 
Thanks all for the info re photo uploads.

I wanted to mention that I finally used a flat clear "paint" on the struts and it works fine. Plenty of room in the channels to avoid gumming up the works with the paint.

Michael
 
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