Engine Powder coating_Chipped

[kaijumax]

My 1990 ZR1's throttlebody powdercoating has chipped. The aluminum body was oxidizing, bubbling the coating. Anybody deal with this? How did you repair it? I want the stock apperance. Can powder coating companys match the right color. I believe I can still get new gaskets when I take it a part.
Thanks

 

[tomtom72]

T/B paint

Hi & welcome to CAC! You have powder coating on your LT5? Usually the factory just painted them with regular paint. Anyway, where is the pitting & bubbling, at the top cover plate? The gaskets are ava. from papergaskets.com or P & G chevy.com or kurtwhiteracing.com. The paint comes in spray cans from LPE.com.
There is a thread on CF about this in the ZR-1 "throtlebody paint corrded". I know it's not a good thing that the corrosion occurs. I have a tiny bit of it on my T/B cover plate also.

I figured to take it apart, sand the pitting and use a resin based filler to do any "body work" too smooth it out & paint w/LPE's paint. Also I know from owning a boat that this is usually caused by "electrolysis". Stray electrical currents in water that touches dissimilar metal. You can check for v in the top tank. Stick one probe in the coolant & ground the other & set the scale to mv/dc. If you get anything over .05mv the coolant is shot or there is a voltage leak getting into the cooling sys somehow. Rad Cap .com has a cap with an anode you can buy.

Sorry I don't know too much as I'm a new Z owner & this car is a bit over my head. Good luck & welcome!
Tom

 

[kaijumax]

Thanks tomtom72,
I read about the powder coat Here:http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_tech_tips.htm#Cleaning
I check out LPE's site and it wouldn't hurt to flush the cooling system, as I just bought the car, so I'm a new Z owner too. I check the coolant too with a D.M.V.
"kaijumax"

Hi & welcome to CAC! You have powder coating on your LT5? Usually the factory just painted them with regular paint. Anyway, where is the pitting & bubbling, at the top cover plate? The gaskets are ava. from papergaskets.com or P & G chevy.com or kurtwhiteracing.com. The paint comes in spray cans from LPE.com.
There is a thread on CF about this in the ZR-1 "throtlebody paint corrded". I know it's not a good thing that the corrosion occurs. I have a tiny bit of it on my T/B cover plate also.

I figured to take it apart, sand the pitting and use a resin based filler to do any "body work" too smooth it out & paint w/LPE's paint. Also I know from owning a boat that this is usually caused by "electrolysis". Stray electrical currents in water that touches dissimilar metal. You can check for v in the top tank. Stick one probe in the coolant & ground the other & set the scale to mv/dc. If you get anything over .05mv the coolant is shot or there is a voltage leak getting into the cooling sys somehow. Rad Cap .com has a cap with an anode you can buy.

Sorry I don't know too much as I'm a new Z owner & this car is a bit over my head. Good luck & welcome!
Tom

 

[tomtom72]

I forgot about that statement! Yes it is powder coated. I'll say it's the weakest powder coating I've ever seen! If you look at it wrong it may stain.

Tom

 

[91VETTEZR1]

the paints currently available don't match the exact color of the powder coating. the bubbling on the throttle body is very common. you can try the paint but i would suggest taking it to a powder coater and having it redone. there is a huge color selection with powder coats and it won't be a problem matcing the factory finish. gaskets are still available.

 

[kaijumax]

Thanks,
I just have to a competent powder coating vendor in my area. I'll try the paint for a quick fix and when I the remove the housing for a full detailed cleaning I'll powder coat all the items necessary.

the paints currently available don't match the exact color of the powder coating. the bubbling on the throttle body is very common. you can try the paint but i would suggest taking it to a powder coater and having it redone. there is a huge color selection with powder coats and it won't be a problem matcing the factory finish. gaskets are still available.

 

[tomtom72]

I've seen some nice powder coating done on American Chopper. I'd like to know who does their work, even their chromer's work looks great on TV!

I think Jeffvette does or has a place to do powder coating. I've seen some of that work & it looks real sweet. I wonder if a two stage, base coat/ clear coat, type paint would stand up to the engine heat?

I've got to do some restoration work under my plenum & after buying all the parts I doubt that I'll have any $ left over for a pro paint job. I ordered the LPE paint & figure to try it myself. If it doesn't come out too badly I'll live with it till I can afford to have a proper powder coat job done.

What I don't get is will another powder coating job be the same way with stains or is it just the original coating that has the problems? I was thinking back then the technology was new??

Tom

 

[Jeffvette]

Kind of glad I stumbled back into the CAC tonight. Been a long time since I've been here.

The factroy engine finish is not really a powdercoat. It is more durable than paint due to it's thickness but is prone to discoloration from chemicals, and even straight water if it's applied while the engine is hot. But it's not as drable as a powder is. Powder will resist oil, coolant, gas, etc. Just keep acetone and aircraft stripper away from it and you'll be good.

Finding a powder that will match the factory color will be tough. The factory finish will not consistent with the powder. As it ages, it will change colors. The powder will stay bright and have a nice luster to it.

I have done a motor in a factory (original gloss and hue) and it looks real good. But IMHO, it's better to go a little above and beyond and make the motor a eye catcher, as we all know the LT5 is a work of art.

I'm running powder on calipers as well, and after several autocrosses and a couple of track days, they still have the original gloss to them. So the heat is not a issue with the powder.

Tom, shoot me a email, you'd be surprised on the cost that I do this at. jeff2577 (at) yahoo (dot) com


Stock look (old camera forgive the poor picture quality)

http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/IMG_0306.JPG

Here are some other colors.

Black with Silver
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/IMG_2117.JPG

Yellow with Black
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/IMG_2119.JPG

Black Chrome no lettering
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/IMG_2392.JPG

Admiral Blue no lettering (don't ask about the blanked
out letters)
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/admiral.JPG

Silver Fleck/Red Lettering
www.pnwzr1.net/Nick/Plenum/IMG_0223a.JPG

Red/Black lettering
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/DSCN2726.JPG

Black Wrinkle/Red lettering
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/MichaelM/IMG_4259a.jpg

Black Chrome no lettering
http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/Powdercoating/JohnP/BlackChrome.jpg

 

[tomtom72]

Hi Jeff! I will do the e-mail as soon as I get a new budget for my car.

Thanks for the explaination about the motor coating! I knew I was pointing Kaijumax in the right direction because I've seen your work. Sweet stuff!

Tom