re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish?PIC

[Brandon T.]

Here are some pics below of what it looked like when I took it off I believe this to be the original finish but not sure..just curious whats the correct LOOK, all orange, bare, or overspray.

technical guide seems to lead towards overspray but if this is infact the original finish..looks like it was painted more than an overspray.

[Joe L.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

Here are some pics below of what it looked like when I took it off I believe this to be the original finish but not sure..just curious whats the correct LOOK, all orange, bare, or overspray.

technical guide seems to lead towards overspray but if this is infact the original finish..looks like it was painted more than an overspray.

Brandon-----


I have little doubt that the paint finish you see is the original, Tonawanda-applied paint. This "complete coverage" paint finish is typical of many Tonawanda-painted bellhousings. Understand, of course, that it was painted with the engine and not separately.

So, these photos provide you with a "perfect model" of how the paint coverage should be on restoration.

Although the factory didn't get it right in this case, I would leave any paint OFF the transmission mating surface.

[Brandon T.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

I understand that you also believe this to be the original finish and think I should fully paint it EXCEPT for the area that mates to the tranny.

thats what I had planned to do and thats what will look best IMO I just figure do it correctly while I'm doing it so thought I'd ask!

when you say "Although the factory didn't get it right in this case" are you meaning they got a little paint on the tranny mating surface which they shouldn't have done?

[Joe L.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

when you say "Although the factory didn't get it right in this case" are you meaning they got a little paint on the tranny mating surface which they shouldn't have done?

Brandon-----


Yes, that's what I meant. And, even though in your case the paint on this surface would be "original", I wouldn't restore it to be that original.

[Thomas N.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

Brandon:
In your title, you mentioned that you blasted the bellhousing. Are these pictures before blasting? If so, if you partially painted the bellhousing, the remaining exposed bellhousing would show a finish (blasted surface) that is not typical of factory production.

[Brandon T.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

Brandon:
In your title, you mentioned that you blasted the bellhousing. Are these pictures before blasting? If so, if you partially painted the bellhousing, the remaining exposed bellhousing would show a finish (blasted surface) that is not typical of factory production.

Those picture were taken before I blasted it.

I blasted it because well you can imagine it was BLACK on the inside..so I just threw it in my cabinet and it came out like new!

I have it painted up now..I painted it a nice soild even coat of orange except on the mating surface I taped that off.

looks great!

[Nick M.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

Brandon

What type of cabinet and media are you using for blasting ? I've been thinking about getting a cabinet but do not have any experience with them.

[Brandon T.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

Brandon

What type of cabinet and media are you using for blasting ? I've been thinking about getting a cabinet but do not have any experience with them.

I bought mine from nothern tools...I also have a I believe 10 gallon wheel around tank I bought from there also for doing things like the frame etc..

you def. need a cabinet and a wheel around blasting tank when messing around with jobs like most on here do with these cars.

I use glass beads for most of my work.

[Scott S.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

We have soda blasted many cast aluminum components and they come out like new. Well worth taking to the pros. Not expensive. $20 per piece. Cast iron comes out like new also. Our Ontario Chapter will be touring www.blastermaster.com on May 2.
Scott

[Terry M.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

I can't tell you how many AIR pumps and alternators I have judged that I took a finish deduction because they have been "blasted." I no longer discuss what kind of "blasting" was done. If it is not TFP then finish = -20%.

I see so many blasted aluminum pieces I am beginning to think few people will know what a die cast aluminum piece looks like. I just cringe when I read these kinds of threads.

Be careful.

[Sal C.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

As Thomas and Terry have said, blasting with certain media, such as sand or glass beads, is not restoring an original finish. It is actually destroying it. Once you break through the "skin" of a natural aluminum part its game over. You can do much better with plastic media or walnut shells in your cabinet.

[Michael H.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

I just cringe when I read these kinds of threads.

Be careful.

The clutch housing in the pictures has definitely been repainted at some point in it's life.

[Brandon T.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

I can't tell you how many AIR pumps and alternators I have judged that I took a finish deduction because they have been "blasted." I no longer discuss what kind of "blasting" was done. If it is not TFP then finish = -20%.

I see so many blasted aluminum pieces I am beginning to think few people will know what a die cast aluminum piece looks like. I just cringe when I read these kinds of threads.

Be careful.

thats with people who don't know what they're doing.

if you blast at low pressure it does NOT affect the aluminum.

glass beads are made for blasting aluminum..I have walnut shells if I want ot be real gentle but my bellhousings finish looked like it should after I blasted it.

[Brandon T.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

The clutch housing in the pictures has definitely been repainted at some point in it's life.

So, you're thinking my bellhousing had been re-painted before?

[Terry M.]

Re: re-finishing my bellhousing on my 68 I blasted it, now what is the correct finish

As I said, I quit asking the owners what the part was blasted with.

If you didn't damage the original finish -- good for you. I didn't have that understanding from the earlier posts. I hope the almost 200 people who looked at this thread had a better understanding of the process than I did.