Transmission Cover Plate Dress up

Discussion in 'Car Builds, Projects, Idea's Experiments' started by Nitrominis, Apr 1, 2010.

  1. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    A small MINI project with the wife.

    Remove cover from transmission
    Bead blast
    Sand off factory casting marks
    Bead Blast again
    Polish
    Paint
    Replace factory bolts with stainless steel fasteners
    Re install

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  2. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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  3. RonsMinnie

    RonsMinnie New Member
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    Nice work!
     
  4. jhiggs26

    jhiggs26 New Member

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    That's over the top Lynn! Looks great!

    Good work on your wife doing the bead blasting!

    Jeremy
     
  5. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Very nice work.:Thumbsup:

    I would be interested in the steps you took with the polishing of the aluminum. Something you might share?
     
  6. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    #6 Nitrominis, Apr 1, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2010
    Thank you.

    She likes to get involved which is nice!

    After filing off the casting letter I used 220 wet sanding until all the flaws from filing were gone. I than switched to 600 wet and than 1000. At that point I used Blue Magic Polish and a soft rag on the kitchen carpet.
    I actually got a really good shine but realized that it would last so I clear coated the completed work. It did diminish the shine a bit but at least it will remain looking that way and much easier to clean.

    Here is what it looked like polished to a mirror finish before any painting. The M/U decal seemed to be a perfect fit and it was RED.

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  7. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    This is all good info. I've been impressed with your pictures of the IC horns and some of your other polishing work.:D

    So wet sanding with water. Are you using a RO polisher or on a flat surface with hand pressure? How would you deal with nooks and crannies (like polishing in the fillets of say reinforcing ridges on an aluminum casting)?
     
  8. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    A block sander for this project. No polishing aids just rags and arm horsepower:lol:

    The other stuff I did use a grinder with an 8 inch flapper polishing wheel for the tight area's but most was all done by hand/fingers. If you saw my intake I actually rework and reshaped the exterior measurably to get the more rounded shape and it made it easier to polish out.
     
  9. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Lynn
    So here's my problem. I want to smooth out the aluminum tig welds on my custom gauge bracket before I send it out for powder coating. As you can see in the pic, I don't have a lot of room. The welds I want to dress are around my FES light holder and the gauge cup holder. I was thinking maybe emory cones on a Dremel? Any suggestions?:idea:

    Thanks!
    Chuck

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  10. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    Wow ! Matt FES Shift Light | Automotive Modules | OBD-II Products | FES-Auto see that bracket for his light? :Thumbsup:

    It is easy enough to smooth out the weld. You just need to be careful if you were not the one that welded it. Not knowing how much penetration was made for the weld you may sand/smooth the weld right off?
    If you are going to powder coat black most of your work will be hidden within the color where a lighter color in that area will show more of the weld. If you do remove the weld and need to re weld it you can dremel a small trench and than fill weld so when you go to refinish you can remove all the weld that shows and it will appear as if the work was CNC'd.

    Please post a picture of it I would like to see the finished work!
     

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