Need Alternator Cleanup/Paint Suggestions
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 10
From: Kulpmont PA
Need Alternator Cleanup/Paint Suggestions
I'm working on getting a number of things cleaned up in the engine bay. The alternator has a couple of greasy fingerprints that won't completely clean up. I'm open to suggestions, but I think to get it right, it's going to need to be painted. Any suggestions on what paint should be used?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 15
From: Confusion
There are lots of metal cleaners out there, they draw the filth out of the aluminum. If you want to paint, Eastwood makes an aluminum cast paint, problem is it LOOKS painted. If you want to spend 150 or so dollars, tear the alternator apart and contact me, I know a place that will make the aluminum look new, not a reskinning process but a 5 step cleaning process......................they did my 69 shell and thermostat housing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I wire wheeled and clear coated mine, then hit the pulley/impellar with a fresh coat of satin black. If needed, a little more black on the center laminate. While maybe not exactly NCRS, look's pretty good. Alternator was out of the car, so easy to mask off. I agree aluminum silver paint isn't the proper look, and at least go with with some resto stuff from Eastwood, or maybe Rust Oleum stainless steel finish.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you just clean it and remove the oxidation, the aluminum casing will just dull-down again. Take the alternator apart, clean the housing really well, then paint it with VHT flame-proof header paint (aluminum color). It is ceramic-based paint that requires a baking process to cure it properly. I did it in a toaster-oven...but couldn't get it to the final 600F temp for max curing. No matter, it only sees engine compartment temps. Rebuild it if needed with new diode sets, brushes, etc. and reinstall it.
It worked out great, the alt always looks like it just came out of the box, and IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ITS PAINTED!! Been on the car almost 2 years and it looks the same as the day I did it.
It worked out great, the alt always looks like it just came out of the box, and IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ITS PAINTED!! Been on the car almost 2 years and it looks the same as the day I did it.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Feb 17, 2011 at 11:43 PM.
