CRG Discussion Forum
Camaro Research Group Discussion => Restoration => Topic started by: mrdetails on September 19, 2006, 04:24:18 PM
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Does anyone have any experience with restoring the original die cast appearance to transmission cases? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thks.:
Sam
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Clean it well and spray it with Krylon Dull Aluminum. Looks very close. Good luck!
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If youre having it rebuilt, the trans shop should be able to bring the case back to clean aluminum like it should be.
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For gods sake don't let the transmission shop glass bead it or blast it with steel shot or something like that... they will ruin the finish and it will never be the same.
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My trans guy uses a type of "hot tank" cleaning on the cases. Not sure of what it is exactly, but non abrasive and definately no paint. I think its fairly common.
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Thanks for the info...the problem realy is corosion (I live in upstate New York) which leaves the aluminum case pitted. No amount of cleaning can fix that. I believe the cases were die cast which would leave a smooth finish, mine looks as if it were sand cast. Does anyone know if new cases are available? Maybe I should try to find a case (or whole trans.) from out west. Any sugestions?
Thks.
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Talk to Jerry MacNeish about re-skinning the transmission. I don't know if it's been done before, but why couldn't it.
If you're thinking about a new case, or a donor case from out west, money must not be that big of an object for you.
Try Jerry and see what he has to say. I've heard good things about his re-skinning process.
BTW, what car are you restoring this THM400 for anyway?
Steve
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Steve: Thanks for your reply. The problem with the trans case is as I stated, corosion from being in NY state. The case was all pitted and almost looks like it was sand blasted. I'am going to have to sand it with 220 then 500 then scotch-bright, being carefull not to lose detail, I guess. Then I will use something like phosphoric acid to return the gray as cast finish.
The car is a 69 los-angeles car 01d. It spent most of it's adult life in Arizona. I thought that would be a good thing (no rust to speak of) but I have never seen a car so worn out in my life. Next to nothing was re-usable except sheet metal. No two bolts matched on the entire car... most were missing.All rubber and palstic parts were totally dried out and would break apart in your hands.
The car has a work order no. on the cowl tag of P116, which, I gather, means nothing. It appears to have been a rs-ss car (12 bolt, dual exhaust, front disc and large hole in fire wall for vacuum hoses or cowl ing. wiring) hard to tell for sure.
I found an aluminum 427 (my friend at the engine shop had it, he got it from someone in PA) I got it from him and plan to do the car as one of the one's Fred Gibbs had made. I even got a column shift for the automatic. Some people would call it a clone..I pefer Frankenstine, sense nothing will be done on a celular level. I just collect parts from the grave yards.....
This site has been a great help to me and I'm curious how John Z keeps the bottom of his car so nice being an original non-restored car?
Thks again:
Sam
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This site has been a great help to me and I'm curious how John Z keeps the bottom of his car so nice being an original non-restored car?
Thks again:
Sam
As I posted in that thread, the photo isn't my car; the underside of my car doesn't look anywhere near that good - looks like you'd expect to see under a 37-year-old car. :)