Crankcase & Gearbox Finish

I wanted to get an idea what others do with respect to finishing their crankcase and gearbox during rebuilds. I have heard good things and bad about painting them. I would like to stay as original on my current '68 project as possible.

It's been covered here before. My preference is clean rough castings, scrubbed with a scuff pad and Simple Green. Easy to maintain. If you paint, be sure to use something that will survive petrol dripping from the carbs.

I had my crank cases media blasted, they looked like plastic when I got them back, but polishing with a small stainless steel brush brought back some of the shine. My gearbox and chaincase inners I just cleaned up with carb cleaner and the SS brush. My powder coater wanted to powder coat the crank cases, but I didn't think that would look right.

Dave
69S

Ive used aqua blasting (water & glass beads) on previuos projects and the finish I believe is secound to none. The alloy comes up shining like a new one and retains a long lasting shine. Highly recommended!

On the painting front, VHT brake caliper is probably the best bet as its durable, good finish and its ceramic element makes it resistant to fuel and other chemical spills when baked ( in the old girls oven ).

fOXY

A 3M scuff pad and/or a soft wire brush with Autosol polish works well for me. Personally, I don't like the look of painted alloy cases (too shiny!!).

850 Nortons in this neck of the woods (Oztralia) all seem to come with aluminium painted cases.
Factory finish ?

Seems very even, and quite similar looking to bare cases anyway, but preserves and protects them well - none of this turning white after a heavy dew, etc...

hth