paint or powdercoat carbs

[garion]

And 50 degrees yesterday, and 12 inches of snow today Gotta love the northeast. Thats why i"m in Phoenix.

[Ken]

I powder coated the carburetors on one of my cars, it doesn't work the way you would think, it doesn't like gas, not as bad as paint but not that good, and you will have a lot of problems. If you like grief do it
Ken

[fiat218]

And what wrong with gold plated carbs or even cam covers

[bradartigue]

any opinions on painting or powder coating weber carb body...they are completely disassembled
would be done for purely cosmetic reasons, no intention to sell the car

Once complete you'll have a bad time getting it back together (the powder coating being thick) and then you'll have a bad time keeping the coating on the aluminum. Spend the powder-coating money on refinishing a set of 14" Chromodora or Speedline wheels. Of course these comments are made by a guy who thinks painting the aluminum bits of a TC is a crime. Clean it, drive it.

[toplessexpat]

Of course these comments are made by a guy who thinks painting the aluminum bits of a TC is a crime.

... even the cam covers?

You must really hate my little icon then

[cormac]

I powder coated the carburetors on one of my cars, it doesn't work the way you would think, it doesn't like gas, not as bad as paint but not that good, and you will have a lot of problems. If you like grief do it
Ken

then how does it work exactly?

so what is the reaction with gas...peel away, fade, change color??? lots of problems...like what???, if the problems are only cosmetic than how bad can the grief be

[cormac]

any opinions on painting or powder coating weber carb body...they are completely disassembled
would be done for purely cosmetic reasons, no intention to sell the car

Once complete you'll have a bad time getting it back together (the powder coating being thick) and then you'll have a bad time keeping the coating on the aluminum. Spend the powder-coating money on refinishing a set of 14" Chromodora or Speedline wheels. Of course these comments are made by a guy who thinks painting the aluminum bits of a TC is a crime. Clean it, drive it.

Thanks Brad for the response...I have thought about the difficulty of putting it back together, and am a little concerned...but I think it can be worked around, not as critical with some parts, like cover with gasket, but can powder coat with bolts or dummies (like me, hehehe) in place and then remove so no interference with assembly

keeping the coating would be a serious problem IMO...to the point of why do it at all, if the aesthetic (strictly personal preference) result is very temporary. One of my dilemmas is that for every comment about powder coat (or paint) being a problem, I have heard or talked to people that it has worked for...go figure

I am not trying to be naive or ignorant, I see the inherent problems...but it is logical to me (and maybe part of my downfall), that the carb works from the inside and there will not be paint or powder coat on the inside workings of the carb, and all fasteners, bolts, nuts etc will be fastened as if no powder coat, except where use of gasket nullifies potential problem

sorry, am not trying to be contrarian, and I expect to get flamed a bit, but I almost get the feeling that responses are a result of dogma and not first hand experience...oh and those that might be inclined to say "then I guess you should experience it first hand then" save your typing...let me waste mine

and I realize that the work of Inglese and others tend to be on show cars but...I just don't want to disappoint and squash the ideas of my kid, as said earlier, I would like to keep them au naturale

this brings me to some of the other stuff that we might do to the ol girl...he has other plans that some will object to...it will not be a "restored" Fiat. I told him some will object, and if you keep the car long enough you might regret some modifications, and the loss of "originality"...but bottom line I told him to make any changes he wanted with this thought and point of view - pretend you bought the car in 1980 and want it to look (subjective) and perform better (not entirely objective) and more to your liking, (if it was 1980, it would be the rare individual that would take the car and be entirely committed to keeping it entirely stock)

I don't come to this world of sports cars as a johnny come lately, I have been fascinated with European cars since my teens, my first car when I was 14 was a 1960 Bug-eyed Sprite...My dream as a 12 year old was to go to the Jim Russell driving school in England...I am 60...I love these cars and their idiosyncrasies and their form...their essence, and whatever changes we make will be done in that spirit

yikes...I did go on didn't I, guess I might have been a little defensive...but not at all to your post Brad

Brad, thanks for your response and all that you have contributed to the Fiat world over the years...I have been a fan of you and many others on this site over the years a

[narfire]

What would putting the carb's through a series of buffing/ polishing compounds on a proper polishing wheel look like?
I can see some prep work and plenty of cleaning after, but might be a compromise....

[cormac]

What would putting the carb's through a series of buffing/ polishing compounds on a proper polishing wheel look like?
I can see some prep work and plenty of cleaning after, but might be a compromise....

Thanks...compromise is a good word, and I am going to put the case to the boy (it is his money and he is a struggling college student) that it will cost more money and with questionable and arguable results, I expect he will be prudent and opt for the original finish

and I have access to polishing wheel (and have just read a guide on polishing aluminum), so can put in a little extra labor, good idea

thanks and be well

[georgeramos]

I'd think the powdercoating would plug up some of the tiny holes in the carbs exterior some of which are for linkage parts some for setting screws etc. How would you prevent it from getting into threads and stuff? I think this is a good question for Denise as to how they even plated the carb without having similar issues. I know from bicycle parts that plating aluminum is done but even there it doesnt seem to be the most compatible thing long term.

Maybe polishing then anodizing but the shop has to be VERY skilled cause I tried this on some vintage campagnolo cranks and they F...ed them up bad and accepted no responsibility for it. They said the ridiculous amounts of pitting were already there! But I digress.

I'd stick to cleaning and/or polishing it as much as possible and get a sweet custom air cleaner which covers a lot of it from view anyhow! Then polish the valve covers as other have said and generally clean up everything else in there.

[cormac]

I'd think the powdercoating would plug up some of the tiny holes in the carbs exterior some of which are for linkage parts some for setting screws etc. How would you prevent it from getting into threads and stuff? I think this is a good question for Denise as to how they even plated the carb without having similar issues. I know from bicycle parts that plating aluminum is done but even there it doesnt seem to be the most compatible thing long term.

Maybe polishing then anodizing but the shop has to be VERY skilled cause I tried this on some vintage campagnolo cranks and they F...ed them up bad and accepted no responsibility for it. They said the ridiculous amounts of pitting were already there! But I digress.

I'd stick to cleaning and/or polishing it as much as possible and get a sweet custom air cleaner which covers a lot of it from view anyhow! Then polish the valve covers as other have said and generally clean up everything else in there.

am leaning towards no powdercoat...but ultimately not my decision, I did communicate with Denise and if she had it to do over she wouldn't...but had no problems mechanically (thinks it might have been a little luck), and had difficulty keeping clean

the plan was always to fill all threaded holes with bolts, screws etc (dummies) that will be removed and replaced with either cleaned existing, or new brass, or new stainless hardware where applicable

again thanks for the input...bummer about the campy parts, now those are a piece of art...I love bicycles as well