Aluminum Finish

[honda_gord]

Hello gentleman;
I have recently purchased a 1971 N600 Sedan locally. It sat in storage
in a semi trailer with poor ventilation for several years. The
aluminum parts have spots of what looks like mould on them. It does
wash off but the finish is very dull. I am considering pulling the
engine to paint the engine compartment anyway, and am open to methods
& suggestions of restoring the finish on the aluminum. I don't think
that it's the original engine as the tag on the fender and engine #
don't match. It has perhaps been rebuilt and the lower part looks to
have been painted. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

[mterrens]

One answer would be to paint the engine.  Bill Hirsch hi-temp aluminum exhaust paint in an aerosol can.
Look - shiny!
http://www.honda600coupe.com/ready_for_install.jpg
Call Hirsch paints at XXX-XXX-XXXX.  Of course the engine has to be c-l-e-a-n before you start.
Steve

> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> honda_gord
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Sent:
> Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:42 AM
> Subject:
> [2cylinderhondas] Aluminum
> Finish
> Hello gentleman;
> I have recently purchased a 1971 N600 Sedan
> locally. It sat in storage
> in a semi trailer with poor ventilation for
> several years. The
> aluminum parts have spots of what looks like mould on
> them. It does
> wash off but the finish is very dull. I am considering
> pulling the
> engine to paint the engine compartment anyway, and am open to > methods > & suggestions of restoring the finish on the aluminum. I don't > think > that it's the original engine as the tag on the fender and engine #
> don't match. It has perhaps been rebuilt and the lower part looks to
> have been painted. Any ideas or suggestions?
> Thanks.
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[friend]

Hi Steve;
    How is the paint holding up?
    Bill

> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com] > On > Behalf Of > Steven Michelsen > Sent:
> Tuesday, May 16, 2006 6:11
> AM
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:
> Re:
> [2cylinderhondas] Aluminum Finish
> One answer would be to paint the engine.
> Bill Hirsch hi-temp aluminum exhaust paint in an aerosol can.
> Look - shiny!
> http://www.honda600coupe.com/ready_for_install.jpg
> Call Hirsch paints at XXX-XXX-XXXX.  Of
> course the engine has to be c-l-e-a-n before you start.
> Steve
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From:
> > honda_gord
> > To:
> > 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent:
> > Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:42
> > AM
> > Subject:
> > [2cylinderhondas] Aluminum
> > Finish
> > Hello gentleman;
> > I have recently purchased a 1971 N600
> > Sedan locally. It sat in storage
> > in a semi trailer with poor ventilation
> > for several years. The
> > aluminum parts have spots of what looks like
> > mould on them. It does
> > wash off but the finish is very dull. I am
> > considering pulling the
> > engine to paint the engine compartment anyway,
> > and am open to methods
> > & suggestions of restoring the finish on the
> > aluminum. I don't think
> > that it's the original engine as the tag on the
> > fender and engine #
> > don't match. It has perhaps been rebuilt and the
> > lower part looks to
> > have been painted. Any ideas or suggestions?
> > Thanks.
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups
> > Sponsor --------------------~-->
> > Home is just a click away. Make
> > Yahoo! your home page now.
> > http://us.click.yahoo.com/DHchtC/3FxNAA ... /fnTolB/TM > > --------------------------------------------------------------------~->

[Steve]

Painting the engine retains the heat and doesn't cool properly.
Annodizing the engine would be an option, but an expensive one I
think. Bead blast the parts if you want to brighten them up. I think
only the valve cover was clear coated.
Your stuff that looks like mold is actually oxidization on the
aluminum, kind of like rust on steel.
Miles

[friend]

Hi Miles;
I have to disagree that paint on the engine keeps the heat in. A
dirty engine keeps the heat in, a engine without a fan or one that is
missing the shrouds will also heat up. But, as I have had guages on Honda
600 engines to watch the temperature of oil and cylinder head on both
(painted and not painted), I can't tell the difference. If you bead blast
the aluminum it will corrode/oxidize with time and that too will result in
captured heat. If the issue is a smoother surface when painted allows the
air to move faster over the engine fins that may be true but then bead
blasting will initially give the same effect. I paint my engines with a
high temp (cures with the heat of the engine) and developes a nice aluminum
color with an aged patina after a few years. And I like the way they look.
Bill