Question(s) on Powdercoating Engine
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Question(s) on Powdercoating Engine
I have finally decided to powdercoat my plenum, tubes and valve covers on my 89 L98. I have found a respected pc'er to perform the task, however I have a question or two:
1] do I pc where the part butts up and bolts against another part or should that area be clean of pc'ing?
2] is there any internal parts inside the plenum I need to worry about?
3] how does the pc look on the magnesium valve covers if they are not smoothed out. I have seen pics of the vc smoothed out and pc, but not the other way.
Anything else I need to know, besides doing an exceptional job of cleaning and preparing everything.
Thanks
1] do I pc where the part butts up and bolts against another part or should that area be clean of pc'ing?
2] is there any internal parts inside the plenum I need to worry about?
3] how does the pc look on the magnesium valve covers if they are not smoothed out. I have seen pics of the vc smoothed out and pc, but not the other way.
Anything else I need to know, besides doing an exceptional job of cleaning and preparing everything.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
2. Yep. Everything should be masked so the powdercoat doesn't get inside to disrupt airflow unless you port and polished afterwards while it's off.
3. No clue on this one..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
as agent said, PC is only as good as the prep... also have your PC put a Clear Coat (gloss or Satin) as the final, definately help save the PC and improves the look
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
Likes: 250
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Applied correctly, powder coat is super tough.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
Likes: 250
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
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From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Charleston SC
Depending on the quality of the powder and the application equipment, the part may not have to be preheated. If the coater maintains ground from the time the parts are sprayed to the moment the part enters the oven, the paint will stay on the part. Outgassing can occur on any substrate and is usually due to under curing (not enough heat or dwell time or a combination). Preheating the part causes the paint to gel on the substrate prior to putting it in the oven and can screw with under or overcuring the paint. Lawdog, if you have a good powder coater, you should have no problems.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 441
Likes: 2
From: Morristown TN
I do some powdercoating for myself and a little for my customers as well. Most of my work is on aluminum manifolds, and as such I always preheat to try to outgas and wind up with a better end product. I also like the wrinkle colors because they hide casting flaws and material texture very well and still look awesome. The wrinkle colors are semi-gloss which is nice for an engine bay, because full gloss colors look awesome to begin with but they show dirt, grease, and water spots very easily. Also the rest of your hoses, trim, wiring, etc. are going to be a dull black, and so putting a super gloss black beside it kinda makes everything else look blah. Putting a semi gloss wrinkle black beside it doesnt look so bad.
It is of utmost importance that any mating surface is masked/capped/plugged. It is painstaking work on something large and intricate like an intake manifold but it smooths reassembly later and is a requirement for a proper job.
Here are pics of my setup I just did. Wrinkle black and chrome.
It is of utmost importance that any mating surface is masked/capped/plugged. It is painstaking work on something large and intricate like an intake manifold but it smooths reassembly later and is a requirement for a proper job.
Here are pics of my setup I just did. Wrinkle black and chrome.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Depending on the quality of the powder and the application equipment, the part may not have to be preheated. If the coater maintains ground from the time the parts are sprayed to the moment the part enters the oven, the paint will stay on the part. Outgassing can occur on any substrate and is usually due to under curing (not enough heat or dwell time or a combination). Preheating the part causes the paint to gel on the substrate prior to putting it in the oven and can screw with under or overcuring the paint. Lawdog, if you have a good powder coater, you should have no problems.
If I read correctly you are saying that gasses that are in the metal will not escape under heat if the piece is grounded??
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
I do some powdercoating for myself and a little for my customers as well. Most of my work is on aluminum manifolds, and as such I always preheat to try to outgas and wind up with a better end product. I also like the wrinkle colors because they hide casting flaws and material texture very well and still look awesome. The wrinkle colors are semi-gloss which is nice for an engine bay, because full gloss colors look awesome to begin with but they show dirt, grease, and water spots very easily. Also the rest of your hoses, trim, wiring, etc. are going to be a dull black, and so putting a super gloss black beside it kinda makes everything else look blah. Putting a semi gloss wrinkle black beside it doesnt look so bad.
It is of utmost importance that any mating surface is masked/capped/plugged. It is painstaking work on something large and intricate like an intake manifold but it smooths reassembly later and is a requirement for a proper job.
It is of utmost importance that any mating surface is masked/capped/plugged. It is painstaking work on something large and intricate like an intake manifold but it smooths reassembly later and is a requirement for a proper job.
Bump for stand up person! Welcome to the CF
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 441
Likes: 2
From: Morristown TN
Hey man, I figured I'd bump into you over here at some point. I dont post much here but do some reading here and there. I'm working on restoring/repairing my old man's 85 slowly, and trying to avoid the corvette tax on parts.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 441
Likes: 2
From: Morristown TN
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Depending on the quality of the powder and the application equipment, the part may not have to be preheated. If the coater maintains ground from the time the parts are sprayed to the moment the part enters the oven, the paint will stay on the part. Outgassing can occur on any substrate and is usually due to under curing (not enough heat or dwell time or a combination). Preheating the part causes the paint to gel on the substrate prior to putting it in the oven and can screw with under or overcuring the paint. Lawdog, if you have a good powder coater, you should have no problems.
But a Bake out period will get a part to out gas to a degree that will help with powder.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
The Tax can be avoided on many accounts but you have to dig in here to find out where/what to buy. Sure there are some Vette only parts that cost you, but trust me, on my car building budget, I have saved thousands from using this forum. Your the same way I am, You'll dig into an electric motor and find the broken gear to replace rather than buy a new electric motor......so you'll save a ton of money over here.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Charleston SC
Second, what I was referring to with regards the subject of grounding, you are probably aware that powder is designed to be applied electrostatically requiring the part you are painting to be grounded. If you don't have a good ground, the powder won't stay on the part. You can cheat this by heating the part before you paint it. This causes the paint to pre-gel and stick to the part.
Go to www.powder-coaters.com to see more.
Finally, I am NOT a coater, but a supplier.