brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
I have been wondering if there is an accepted way to get B drums, engine cases, and trans cases looking original again. I definitely do not like the way glass-beading makes them look. Being in Ohio, my parts have some corrosion on them too, fortunately not much. I have thought maybe shot-peening with the correct material and pressure would be good, but I have no way to experiment. Any suggestions?
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Steve Harrison
- 356 Fan
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- Location: Auburn AL
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
For brake drums, I took Lowell Sivey's advice. (Fellow Buckey neighbor to you over in Fredericktown.)
Take the studs out, and chuck the drum up in a drill press. Use sandpaper in ever decreasing grits to get down to the shine. Then polish.
To chuck mine up I used a piece of all thread with big washers and double nuts on both ends. Worked great once you get it centered. You have to use a file first to dress out any big dings.
Take the studs out, and chuck the drum up in a drill press. Use sandpaper in ever decreasing grits to get down to the shine. Then polish.
To chuck mine up I used a piece of all thread with big washers and double nuts on both ends. Worked great once you get it centered. You have to use a file first to dress out any big dings.
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
That only works on Pre-A and A drums, and gets them prettier than original. The B drums have sideways cooling fins, and sort of a sand-cast texture, although it is probably a permanent mold or something.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Mike Wilson
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Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
Has anyone tried blasting with walnut shell or plastic beads? I did mine with a brass wire brush. The fins were a royal pain!
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Steve Harrison
- 356 Fan
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- Location: Auburn AL
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
I didn't know when the fins started with the B's. Looks like you're left with some sort of blasting regimine.
As for case finish, I have seen where Joe Ruiz posts that he has his cases done to mimic factory finish. You might try and contact him and see what process he uses. Worth a try.
As for case finish, I have seen where Joe Ruiz posts that he has his cases done to mimic factory finish. You might try and contact him and see what process he uses. Worth a try.
- Vic Skirmants
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Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
Ruiz does the magnesium early cases.
- Dennis ODonnell
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:44 pm
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
Another blasting media is baking soda which removes paint and varnish build-up but supposedly doesn't peen or polish the metal.
- Jim Nelson
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- Location: SoCal
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
I taped off the backside and wheel bearing portion of the drum and used aluminum oxide. That removes the machined portion of the drum, though, so after you need to polish that part up. Here is the before and immediately after (before polishing the lip). It goes pretty easily, though a thorough cleaning of the taped area after all that's done is still the safe way to go.
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- 356 Fan
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Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
Brake drums and engine cases can be refinished to look new. Send Brake Drums and rear grills to Larry Thomas. He tumbles the brake drums and grills to make them look new with correct surface look. The grills he coats in a ceramic material. Not sure if he coats drums or not. He is in the Santa Ana, CA area. 714-258-0342 Used by many of professional restoration shops. Not cheap but worth it!
Engine cases can be tumbled in media to achieve a like new finish. Caveate is that they must be completely professionally cleaned with removal and replacement of all case oil line plugs to insure removal of all media or you risk destroying a new engine.
Leave it to pro's contact George at Ollie's engineering, Lake Havasu city.
Don't contact me for numbers or further info, work those fat little fingers and google it!
Michael Foster
Engine cases can be tumbled in media to achieve a like new finish. Caveate is that they must be completely professionally cleaned with removal and replacement of all case oil line plugs to insure removal of all media or you risk destroying a new engine.
Leave it to pro's contact George at Ollie's engineering, Lake Havasu city.
Don't contact me for numbers or further info, work those fat little fingers and google it!
Michael Foster
MICHAEL FOSTER
- Matt Kreeve
- 356 Fan
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- Tag: truckin' on
- Location: Cape Town, SA
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
thanks for this informative thread .... I see Jim Nelson took the advice in ^above^ post and the results are stellar.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=41099&p=268318&hili ... ms#p268921
once the drum is polished is it coated at all to preserve it or will that interfere with cooling and hence it's just left bare?
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=41099&p=268318&hili ... ms#p268921
once the drum is polished is it coated at all to preserve it or will that interfere with cooling and hence it's just left bare?
Currently working on two nut+bolt resto's in Cape Town
'56 A RHD 5606 Silver Met) over Green - delivered Nairobi (Cooper Motor Corp)
'64 C RHD 6406 (Irisgrun) w Fawn (rehbraun) - delivered Johannesburg (Lindsay Saker)
'56 A RHD 5606 Silver Met) over Green - delivered Nairobi (Cooper Motor Corp)
'64 C RHD 6406 (Irisgrun) w Fawn (rehbraun) - delivered Johannesburg (Lindsay Saker)
- Alan Winer
- 356 Fan
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- Location: St. Augustine, FL
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
I bead blasted my A drums and then rubbed down the bead-blast finish with very fine scotch brite pads. I thought they came out looking like the original finish. It will be some more work with the B drums.
Alan
Alan
- Phil Planck
- 356 Fan
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- Location: NE Michigan, lower penn.
Re: brake drum, engine case surface finish/cleaning
Is there a clear coat of some sort that can be sprayed on the finned drums to protect them after all the cleaning/restoration?
Phil Planck