New Thread - What to do with fan blade and alternator housing (cosmetically)

[FinallyGotOne]

I started with a voltage regulator problem thread, now I am trying to figure out before I put my fan back in and alternator housing how to clean them up. (see pic)
I am waiting on a quote to sand blast them both. I'm in Colorado. Anybody see any issues with that route? I probably wont clear coat though. thinking just sand blast them and put them back in and occasionally wipe them clean. anyone do this? whats your recommendations?

I read pretty much not to paint it or powdercoat them.
Dont want a high polished look, just a nice satin grey would be good.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Just degrease everything and then glass-bead the fan. Follow that with a few coats of Krylon Clear and that looks very good.

[tobluforu]

Lots of people paint and powder coat these two pieces, but you can also have them cleaned up and apply something like gibbs.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

light sandblast and gibbs penetrant is great: nice satin grey nekkid mag finish.

gibbs prevents the surface from oxidizing so the finish doesn't degrade

[Winter]

good question and thanks for starting the thread, Steve's answer has me thinking that's what I'll do to mine.

Cheers!

[gregwils]

Originally Posted by FinallyGotOne

Dont want a high polished look, just a nice satin grey would be good.

I wanted the same look. I originally painted mine satin grey, then stripped and applied Gibbs. It's easy to re-apply and keep looking good. The Krylon clear would probably work too.

PS - There are a number of threads on fans.

[FinallyGotOne]

Okay, so found a company that will bead blast it, sd it will strip to bare metal. $60. Said they would recommend getting a clear coat on there immediately as mosture will rust it quickly. I drive the car in the rain all the time here in colorado, and am thinking perhaps stripping to bare metal is not the best way for me to go. If I do coat it with krylon clear coat and I go through a winter here, how often would I have to remove the fan to clear coat it?

[patssle]

I had mine powdercoated, but the tolerances between the blades and the housing are small - I had to grid down the paint on the ends of the blades. Which has been an aggravating process of doing so, putting the fan back on, then finding out I didn't remove enough.

[jwasbury]

I did au naturale for the fan, and sprayed the housing with Zinc Chromate primer for an aeronautical look.

[Justin@Athens]

Originally Posted by FinallyGotOne

Okay, so found a company that will bead blast it, sd it will strip to bare metal. $60. Said they would recommend getting a clear coat on there immediately as mosture will rust it quickly. I drive the car in the rain all the time here in colorado, and am thinking perhaps stripping to bare metal is not the best way for me to go. If I do coat it with krylon clear coat and I go through a winter here, how often would I have to remove the fan to clear coat it?

It won't rust, its an aluminum/magnesium alloy. It is pretty soft stuff, glass bead blast, or just let it sit in a hot tank overnight and krylon to your color of choice. If you powedercoat it, itll handle the heat better.

[FinallyGotOne]

Any special paint needed? High temp?

[Justin@Athens]

I actually used VHT engine enamel, they make different grades to withstand up to 1500 degrees depending on how much you want to spend. I went with a silver color, dirt won't be as big of a problem as scrathes.

PS get a rennline fan shroud strap from pelican to go on it after you get done with all this work!

[DRACO A5OG]

Bake it too at 200 degree for 15-20miutes, will help.

[FinallyGotOne]

To clarify: I'm going to pick up another can of brake cleaner. And nylon brush and clean up the shroud best I can. Then find some black engine enamel and paint it. Then after it's dry just stick it in my oven 200deg 15 mins . Correct?

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Justin@Athens

It won't rust, its an aluminum/magnesium alloy. It is pretty soft stuff, glass bead blast, or just let it sit in a hot tank overnight and krylon to your color of choice. If you powedercoat it, itll handle the heat better.

If you're referring to a generic "hot tank" as offered by various shops, including radiator shops... don't.

The chemical solution in many hot tanks will literally make your problem go away. Ask first to confirm.

If you want it looking like the factory just produced it, go to the Early 911S Registry forum and do a search on fan restoration or equivalent. Mark is known by his friends as the "fan boy" (guy).

Sherwood

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by FinallyGotOne

To clarify: I'm going to pick up another can of brake cleaner. And nylon brush and clean up the shroud best I can. Then find some black engine enamel and paint it. Then after it's dry just stick it in my oven 200deg 15 mins . Correct?

That should do it, Oven Baked Fresh!. If I may suggest, do a sample on a small cast alluminium or if available magnesium piece, any piece and do a test run on bake time. may need to go up to 20+ minutes.

I did this to my brake calipers and they seem to hold up fine in a more harsh environment but the calipers do not see the g forces exerted by the spinning fan.

Keep us updated.

[FinallyGotOne]

Before I painted it.





After I painted it.





So I am doing the same for my strap. I may get a rennlist one, but they seem way too shiny for my old girl. I think it may scratch putting it in just painted tho. I'm baking it too even tho it's probably just aluminum.
I'll post more pics as she comes back together.
Thanks everyone for all the advice.

[DRACO A5OG]

Oh no, you suppose to bake when wet.

[FinallyGotOne]

? Oh. Ummm I did not know that. I'm going to check clearance tomorrow. If good I'll spray another coat and bake wet. I used krylon BBQ grill paint. It dries in minutes. Ok?

[DRACO A5OG]

Hmm, try it, but keep an eye on it. It may start flaking. Sorry to be the bringer of bad news. I hope I am wrong.

The idea is you want the wet paint to bight the contact surface while baking with any paint.