Engine Fan & Housing - Glass Bead Blast Options near Seattle?

[RV Flyer]

After many years of little use, and then just sitting in the garage, my old 78 SC is finally getting the love and attention . . well, OK, money too … that she deserves. Perhaps the timing of this has something to do with our children now finally being more or less financially independent.

I’ve had the car since 1985, bought it with ~70,000 miles on it and now at ~200,000. Since the early days I’ve done almost all of the work on her myself – with lots of help from our host and fellow Pelicans, and the search tool of course. In the last few months I’ve made a few pilgrimages to Snohomish County to see the Maestro of Marysville, John Walker, who has gone through the transmission and also rebuilt the engine, delivering me a nice, clean, professionally assembled long block. So now I’m in the process of getting the engine ready to install.

One item I am trying to pin down is how best to clean up the fan and fan housing. I’ve looked at various threads here, and there seem to be many options. Dr. Walker suggested just a glass bead blast followed by some rattle can satin clear, to give a nice clean look without too much expense. But, in checking around the Seattle/Puget Sound area, I cannot find anyone doing glass bead blasting; best I can come up with is garnet blasting.

So, what say you experienced Pelicans? OK to garnet blast? Is there somewhere in the Seattle area to get glass bead blasting done? Should I ship it somewhere else? I know there are options like Cerakote that look great but as with most of these old 911 projects, budget is continually being expanded to cover unplanned or “while you’re in there” items, and saving a few $$ on this task would be nice.

Here's pic of the fan, to give a general idea of condition.



Thanks for your suggestions -

John

[john walker's workshop]

Should have brought that with the engine. Aker's has a bead blaster too. 1414 broadway. 206 329 5253. VHT satin clear.

[RV Flyer]

But that would have required me to be thinking ahead!

I'll give Akers a call. Thanks JWW.

John

[mepstein]

Garnet is too aggressive. Send it out to get vapor blasted. Fits in a usps large priority box with padding. Shouldn’t be much money for just a fan. Or diy with scotch brite. I can vapor blast for you but there’s probably lots of people closer to you. If you just want it bead blasted, look for a place that does powder coating.

[RV Flyer]

Thanks, that squares with my impression so far - garnet too aggressive for this job. Appreciate the tip on the USPS box, that has proven to be a pretty cheap way of shipping things in many cases.

[gtc]

I'd suggest taping off the pulley so the plating doesn't get removed. I accidentally bead blasted the plating off of mine, and it didn't come out looking as nice as it could have.

[917_Langheck]

There are also a couple of cerakoting gurus on the board that can do magic to that engine compartment focal point.

[werke1]

Who is doing the best fan and housing restores these days? I have done some in the past but might want to just send some out for top level work to someone with a good reputation and turn around time. Advice appreciated

[Nditiz1]

Flynn hawn out in CA is pretty good

[911obgyn]

I used scotchbrite grey pads and hit it with ACF 50 before and after the rainy season.

[FunWithPaul]

Hello Mr RVFlyer,
(is that as in an RV8?, or you just fly in your Winnebago?)

I decide to "clean up my fan and housing" (a'74 magnesium set) years ago.
I took everything apart.
I hand wet-sanded them.
They looked AWESOME!
They looked like a turbine inlet.
I sprayed them with clear coat (rattle can).

That didn't work.
The paint curled and shed very quickly.
Now it looks just like it did, before I spent 10 hrs working on it.

I don't know what the solution is.
Maybe powder coat?
(higher temp resistance, but it will still corrode underneath, in "worm trails" and then it is a BEE-OTCH to get off).

[mepstein]

If you are going to “paint”, use cerikote. Much better than paint or powder for many reasons.

[RV Flyer]

Originally Posted by FunWithPaul

Hello Mr RVFlyer,
(is that as in an RV8?, or you just fly in your Winnebago?)

It's an RV-6 Paul, I've got about 800 hours on it since first flight in 2004 - hopefully will get a lot more as I wind down my practice and move into retirement.



Good to see input from everyone on the fan refinishing issue, as with so many things 911 it seems there are a lot of ways to skin this cat. I've gone ahead and sent the parts over to Mark at Akers in Seattle for blasting, should have them back soon.

John