The Beautiful Puzzle: 1987 3.3L 930 EFI Build

[CaptainCalf]

Got 3 of the slugs ringed tonight and using a gapless CR in second groove.

[CaptainCalf]

While waiting for some green through bolts o-rings I removed the ball joints and control arm joints and added a missing spacer to a spindle up front. Also greased rack & pinion and replaced all A-arm and sway bar bushings up front.

[350HP930]

That car's going to be better than new by the time you are done with it Rick, lol.

[CaptainCalf]

once i started rubbing the fan I couldn't stop

I'll clear coat it so I wont have to do it every other week

[350HP930]

LOL, I've been down the road you are already on with that fan.

Word of warning about trying to clear coat it. Magnesium alloy is notorious for being difficult to paint and paint coatings debonding and flaking off over time.

For that reason I'd highly recommend just enjoying the shiny surface till the flat platina slowly but surely returns.

[WERK I]

+1 Amen brother!

Fan and housing now showing the "classic" patina.

BEFORE:

[350HP930]

Hey Dave, you forgot the after pic, lol

[CaptainCalf]

Originally Posted by 350HP930

Hey Dave, you forgot the after pic, lol

I think we all know what the after pic looks like

I'll try some 2K epoxy primer to seal it. I really wanted the lighter grey color anyways

[WERK I]

Originally Posted by 350HP930

Hey Dave, you forgot the after pic, lol

Originally Posted by CaptainCalf

I think we all know what the after pic looks like

I'll try some 2K epoxy primer to seal it. I really wanted the lighter grey color anyways

LOL
Yeah, pick a fan.....any fan and you'd probably be spot on as to the condition of mine. By the time rebuilt engine was broke-in, the patina had returned in all its glory.

[JFairman]

Originally Posted by CaptainCalf

I think we all know what the after pic looks like

I'll try some 2K epoxy primer to seal it. I really wanted the lighter grey color anyways

Marine epoxy primer will seal it from moisture, but I think zinc chromate primer will stick and etch into the scuffed magnesium better. You could spray on a coat of zinc chromate primer from a puff can and then a layer of epoxy primer over it before the color coat.

When sanding painted aluminum I've seen 2 different color layers of primer under the color coat. Aluminum street signs are an example of that.

or... just powdercoat it

[CaptainCalf]

Originally Posted by JFairman

Marine epoxy primer will seal it from moisture, but I think zinc chromate primer will stick and etch into the scuffed magnesium better. You could spray on a coat of zinc chromate primer from a puff can and then a layer of epoxy primer over it before the color coat.

When sanding painted aluminum I've seen 2 different color layers of primer under the color coat. Aluminum street signs are an example of that.

or... just powdercoat it

Can't powder coat it cuz wifie wont let me use her oven

[350HP930]

Yup, +1 since I was going to warn you to google 'magnesium alloy painting' since a chromate based surface prep treatment is essential to anything sticking to it.

Depending on what kind of abrasive you used an acid wash or media blast may also be required since contramination from other metals and some ceramics will also reek havoc with trying to make something stick to it.

Originally Posted by JFairman

Marine epoxy primer will seal it from moisture, but I think zinc chromate primer will stick and etch into the scuffed magnesium better. You could spray on a coat of zinc chromate primer from a puff can and then a layer of epoxy primer over it before the color coat.

When sanding painted aluminum I've seen 2 different color layers of primer under the color coat. Aluminum street signs are an example of that.

or... just powdercoat it

[MBruns]

The bottom line is that the fan moves so much air (and sand) that nothing will stay, over the years we have found powder coating does the best, but you have to skin the OD on the lathe and mask areas to keep the build up of material out of those areas, etc... and even then its not going to stay on the leading edges.

Mike Bruns

[350HP930]

Yeppers, if I were you Rick I would just keep it plain metal.

I'm biased, but I think unblemished grey mag looks better than any artificial coating anyways.

There will be a nice, big, shiney intercooler setting above all of that if you feel the need for some permanant bling-bling in your engine compartment, lol.

[JeremyD]

I personally am a fan of powdercoating in Florida. Especially anything al or mg that tends to break down with the salt that we have in our air.

I know that it will wear over a period of time - but I'm much rather blast and repaint than buy another fan or housing.

[350HP930]

If I remember correctly Jeremy you live right on the water which tries to corrode anything you own that is metal.

At least rick lives out in the sticks and I'm pretty sure will keep his car in a garage, so he has much less reason to be concerned about corrosion, especially once the patina forms.

[CaptainCalf]

Originally Posted by 350HP930

If I remember correctly Jeremy you live right on the water which tries to corrode anything you own that is metal.

At least rick lives out in the sticks and I'm pretty sure will keep his car in a garage, so he has much less reason to be concerned about corrosion, especially once the patina forms.

Sticks is right

I think I'll paint it with WD-40 and be done with it!

[CaptainCalf]

Okay, so I'm ready to seal up the cases and look around for some nice green viton rubber orings, but instead I find a nice set of blue silicon orings that came with the gasket sets. No prob, I went to our host's catalog and ordered the GREEN vitons. They came in today, but are BLUE! I double checked the part# and it's correct, but they are still blue

I got to looking at these new blue orings and I'm no silicon expert (oring or implants), but I've seen a few and these babies look like rubber to me and not silicon. Can it be true that I have a set of viton orings that are blue? If so, that will confuse a lot of folks who are looking for green only to have blue ones show up

[JeremyD]

Originally Posted by 350HP930

If I remember correctly Jeremy you live right on the water which tries to corrode anything you own that is metal.

At least rick lives out in the sticks and I'm pretty sure will keep his car in a garage, so he has much less reason to be concerned about corrosion, especially once the patina forms.

I do - around 75 feet... But still - I like the protection that paint/powdercoat offers.

Hmmm - blue ... It's been years - but I remember the viton being green... strange - and always fun - too keep you up an night...

[CaptainCalf]

Mystery solved...EDIT: supplier sent Pelican the correct viton rubber o-rings, just wrong color, so I'll be using these afterall

EDIT: Not returning the blue orings for green ones.

Part#s were all correct on packaging just wrong Edit: COLOR orings...
RC