I soda blasted my carbs, tried a little polish, not much improvement in the looks department. Just got stainless screw kits, thinking about painting while apart. Let's see what you have and what you used. before
In passed/as in long ago, I didn't have any luck painting carb body *,just paint base now,those seemed to stay OK. But really,I use 94's, I don't own any 97's even though I think they are a bit better. Run my car too much to keep it super clean an shiny carb wise. I did add stainless screws an nuts{Acorn even @base}. I enjoy seeing others all cleaned up nice,it is very good detailing for sure. Last time I cleaned my 4x2's up,made a new gas rail out of stainless steel box,it made less hose's hanging around an added shiny.
Chromate the castings first to protect the INSIDE of the castings. Paint the exterior with epoxy paint, and bake at 125 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Don't use the wife's oven that she uses to bake brownies! Chrome the linkage and the screw HEADS. A really sharp carburetor engineer drilled into my head to NEVER use stainless screws on pot metal bodies if I wanted to remove them without destroying the body. Just passing this on. Sample: Jon.
Are you experiencing any paint damage from exposure to fuel? My carbs were done by Clive in England earlier on at the beginning of when Stromberg started offering finishing in paint. They aren’t done with catalyzed paint and it’s bubbling and lifting in a couple of spots on the top edges where the top gaskets are. Seems that they seep a little fuel even when new. Not enough to make a leaky flow but enough to affect the paint. I can see myself removing them and redoing them over next winter possibly. Did you paint them yourself ?
when you send one to uncle max it comes back looking like new. all the linkage replated, and i'm not sure what he does on the body, but its coated or treated with something, looks great
Yeah what's that greenish gold tint Holleys have? I searched a bit on coloring zinc: https://chestofbooks.com/crafts/art/Artisan/Coloring-Zinc.html I have some allodine around here somewhere.. But paint is probably safest. Thanks for the warning on the SS screws. Mine were in my mailbox today.. Guess I'll use never seize and keep a close eye on it. 90 sets sold from the Ebay seller I got 'em from and several others selling the kits.
I’ve given up painting the tops. I don’t care what you use if you drive it the paint will lift. Leave the tops bare and keep’em clean they look better than crinkled paint. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The greenish gold tint is the residue from dipping the castings in a combination of nitric, sulphuric, and chromic acids. The color is a residue of chemical etching from the process. This is the chromate dip I mentioned in my first post. This is not a DIY process!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chromic acid (according to professionals, this is not my field) is a carcinogen, and also causes dementia. Leave it to the professionals. Once dry, it is harmless. Jon.
Does this car run? Not being hateful, but my carbs/intake are all stained up from leaks. I haven't ordered the rebuild kits yet. Still trying to decide if it is worth trying to keep them all painted up etc.
Much easier to wipe the gas drips off a shiny surface than rough cast aluminum. That's why you need to polish and chrome everything.
Clive also advised me to remove the float pivot screw and add some sealant to the threads and reinsert. This is a leak spot. Just FYI I see they added a new finish
I powdered coated mine at home with a chrome look powder + clear. Used the Eastwood gun. Holding up after year and a half. A little discoloration near the fuel inlet hose on one there had been a consistent leak, now fixed.
Yes it runs. The intake is now stained from the leaky jet and bowl plugs which I had to fix. No leaks now but the stains are impossible to get off the intake. I think it’s worth it
Well I'm waiting on two things: some paint coming in the mail and my bulging lumbar disc to quit bulging. I once painted a motorcycle carb with leftover silver Caswell gas tank sealer. It held up great but not really what I want to use on these.
Chrome is the answer. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/mobile-gallery/affcb9f17de755e9f08402993a527587.jpg