ok, so Im building this engine and I want to get the timing cover, PS bracket, and alt bracket powdercoated that electric anodized blue color. I was thinking about the passenger engine mount too. do you thik the rubber center will survive the oven?
also, I dont wnat the nasty bolts looking ugly on the powdercoated pieces and I want to nickel plate them. should I just do the heads or do the whole bolt? will the coating be thin enough so I dont have to enlarge the holes?
You only cook the parts at about 500 degrees for 15 minutes when you powder coat. If you think then rubber will be okay, then don't sweat it. I don't know the melting temp of that stuff off the top of my head. I think that you will have to enlarge the whole if you plate the bolts, unless you only do the head.
yeah, that seems to be the opinion of my informal coworker poll. The only reason I thought about coating the entire bolt is because it strengthens the bolt and prevents corrosion. it also hods torque better and is easier to remove multiple times without damaging the hole. (Thank you NASA web site)
guess it dosent really matter, Im not worried about the alternator bracket breaking under boost.
Is there any type of portable oven that can be had that would reach that temp. to do powder coating? I was thinking along the lines of a toaster oven or something slightly bigger. I know a toaster over wouldnt work itself, but something about that size.
Then, how much is the powerder to coat the parts and where can you get it. I think manninej mentioned once that it stinks to high heaven so I take it this is something that you wouldnt necessarily want to do in a household oven, correct?
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
yeah I wouldnt use your stove. it needs to get hotter anyways. the metal needs to be from 375 to 450 for 15 minutes. usually the oven is hotter though so the metal gets up to temp quicker. otehrwise you have to "soak" it for about a half hour.
There are a number of places on the internet that will coat stuff for you but Im sure you can find something more local. There are 3 powdercoat shops in San Antonio and 11 places that do various kinds of plating. (excluding chrome, otherwise the number goes to like 50 billion)
powdercoating is relatively cheap. You can do a valve cover for less than 50. Its like getting a tattoo, there is a minumum pricewhere no matter how small it is, it wont cost any less. but then the bigger stuff does not necessarily increase in price at the same rate as size. does that make sense?
in any case, I am going to take the timing cover, alt bracket, ps bracket, and mount to the coaters monday. (I hope) I need to call the plating shop and find out about the bolts.
Let us know how that goes, cost and pics would be great. I would love to see the results. I was thinking of getting my springs and rear sway bar coated. I wanted to pain them first, but if powder coating wont be all that expensive Id rather go that way.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Im not sure if springs will take a powdercoating. I think they need to be plasticoated. powdercoat is just like paint, only different. it still chips and scratches.
how about just getting some eibach springs. they are red.
Im gonna have to wait on the powdercoating till next week. I remembered I wanted to do the fuel rail too and I wont have it till at least wednesday. I think I'll go down to the shop and pick a color though.
SS-You can get little ovens just for powder coating. My dad uses one that is about 12x10x6 or 8 inside. This is where all of my and my dad's powder coating stuff came from http://www.eastwood.com/
Thank you manninej. I didnt realize it was that inexpensive to get set up. $99 for the Hotcoat Powdercoating Gun doesnt seem like a bad deal to me. I may have to look into giving that a shot and see what I can do with it. Thanks.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
I have loked into powder coating and as for bolts the guy recomended not doing them unless its just the heads because you will have to find larger nuts to fit on the bolt due to the mm or so of powder on the bolt. You also have to make sure it is bare metal and no rust on pieces to be coated.
As for powder coat pricing I was quoated about 1.5 years ago $900 to coat a truck frame 12' Long and kinda guesses that another $200 would cover the cost of rear end and other odds and ends pieces.
A was also thinking of getting the eastwood setup and I have an old kitchen stove to use as long as it goes hot enough. I'v heard that 500 deg is all it needs so it should work.
As for the Eibach stuff I shipped the front sway bar putting it in and the so-called powder coating came off like it was regular paint. I would find a shop that deals with hot rods and bikes because those customers are verry picky and like the work on there babies done right the first time.
I think they need to be plasticoated. powdercoat is just like paint, only different. it still chips and scratches. 
