Tranny and diff are out; cleaning and painting.
I have cleaned and painted all of my driveline components on all three of my cars, won't hurt a thing. When engines are rebuilt most builders offer painted housings for free. I have a temperature probe and gauge on my transmissions - absolutely no problems with heat.
Later
Later
Yes - Go to NAPA auto parts and buy several of the small stainless steel brushes ( they are in the welding department ). They have wooden handles. Also get a good stiff paint brush. Get several gallons of kerosene from the filling station. Take the diff and transmission to a safe spot and place them on a sheet of plywood or something to support them without scratching/dirt.
Remove the three senders, taking note where they go back on each one. Plug the holes with a rag so dirt will not enter.
Pour about a quart of kerosene over the unit. Use the paint brush to work it into the crevices. Use the paint brush as a parts cleaner, brushing kerosene into the greasy spots to loosen them up. Use the small wire brushes on the harder stuff.
Cleaning up the cases to remove all the grease and dirt is time consuming. But well worth it when you are done.
Once all the grease/dirt is off then rinse the unit down with hot soapy water. Dry it off with a shop rag. Look for any spot you missed and hit them with the clean small wire brush. Everything - inside the bell housing, extension fins, bolts, etc should be dry and clean.
Then get the color of your choice ( I painted my trans silver aluminum - Walmart, and my diff cover silver aluminum. The diff case is semi-flat black ).
Dress them up and show them off to us.
And yes...maybe only you will know they are that clean and painted under there, but if you are into the "show and go" as I am, then you'll be proud knowing that you've done it. And someday someone will comment on your detailing
.
You saw my trans - here's my diff. All three cars are the same. And they are pushing over 400hp and have not melted down !
LAter
Remove the three senders, taking note where they go back on each one. Plug the holes with a rag so dirt will not enter.
Pour about a quart of kerosene over the unit. Use the paint brush to work it into the crevices. Use the paint brush as a parts cleaner, brushing kerosene into the greasy spots to loosen them up. Use the small wire brushes on the harder stuff.
Cleaning up the cases to remove all the grease and dirt is time consuming. But well worth it when you are done.
Once all the grease/dirt is off then rinse the unit down with hot soapy water. Dry it off with a shop rag. Look for any spot you missed and hit them with the clean small wire brush. Everything - inside the bell housing, extension fins, bolts, etc should be dry and clean.
Then get the color of your choice ( I painted my trans silver aluminum - Walmart, and my diff cover silver aluminum. The diff case is semi-flat black ).
Dress them up and show them off to us.
And yes...maybe only you will know they are that clean and painted under there, but if you are into the "show and go" as I am, then you'll be proud knowing that you've done it. And someday someone will comment on your detailing
.You saw my trans - here's my diff. All three cars are the same. And they are pushing over 400hp and have not melted down !
LAter
You guys are baddass, it's nice when you get to spend time working on the FD when she's running well just to pretty things up!
These pics motivated me!!!
Anthony
Yeah, I hope so... This isn't an easy task! But, I find enjoyment out of it. I know in the end it will be super nice. I took a break from the trans for a moment and just started on the diff... I find the diff MUCH easier to clean up!
Believe it or not; I never got a chance to pick up any kerosene, either. I got it all off with some smaller brushes and 'Simple Green'.
Believe it or not; I never got a chance to pick up any kerosene, either. I got it all off with some smaller brushes and 'Simple Green'.
Last edited by mrb63083; Dec 20, 2008 at 04:58 PM.
marshall... don't bother painting the aluminum stuff. just clean it up nicely with a wire wheel (like the guy that posted above)
just paint the front of the diff and the iron and stuff stuff that's going to rust.
the paint on the aluminum stuff will just fade and look like crap after a short period of time if you actually drive the car regularly.
just paint the front of the diff and the iron and stuff stuff that's going to rust.
the paint on the aluminum stuff will just fade and look like crap after a short period of time if you actually drive the car regularly.
Great Job ! Exactly the way I did mine. Now you have to use caution re-installing them. I took my time and plotted out every angle getting them back in. Oh I had to re-touch here and there with a touch up brush, but it looks nice.
I did this three times.....so far.
Later
I did this three times.....so far.
Later
looks great but seriously, if you have to be careful reinstalling it just to preserve paint on something that is open to getting knicked and what not by road debris...**** it. I would much rather just clean my parts that are rusted or oxidized and leave em at that. I mean I'm sure that in time that dirt and grime will mess up that paint. When that happens you will have to strip the paint and re-do that instead of just cleaning the part again.
I see black paint on the oil seals. You should replace them now. Paint on an oil seal causes it to shrivel and leak.
I would have mentioned that sooner but I hadn't read this thread until today.
To preserve the aluminum there isn't a whole lot you can do. Aluminum develops aluminum oxide, which is the dull grey color. When you wire wheel it you expose fresh aluminum and it looks super shiny, but within a few weeks/months the oxide develops again. The paint is probably the best option.
I always get a kick out of how pretty a rebuilt trans looks because they spray paint it. Then I open it up and find they forgot parts and other sad stuff and realize that some poor sucker paid hundreds for a trans with not much more than spray paint and new bearings in it. Keep in mind I wouldn't have even been rebuilding it if the job was done right. So in my (narrow) mind spray paint on a trans makes me think of that.
Dave
I would have mentioned that sooner but I hadn't read this thread until today.
To preserve the aluminum there isn't a whole lot you can do. Aluminum develops aluminum oxide, which is the dull grey color. When you wire wheel it you expose fresh aluminum and it looks super shiny, but within a few weeks/months the oxide develops again. The paint is probably the best option.
I always get a kick out of how pretty a rebuilt trans looks because they spray paint it. Then I open it up and find they forgot parts and other sad stuff and realize that some poor sucker paid hundreds for a trans with not much more than spray paint and new bearings in it. Keep in mind I wouldn't have even been rebuilding it if the job was done right. So in my (narrow) mind spray paint on a trans makes me think of that.
Dave
Last edited by dgeesaman; Dec 29, 2008 at 05:18 AM.
I see black paint on the oil seals. You should replace them now. Paint on an oil seal causes it to shrivel and leak.
I would have mentioned that sooner but I hadn't read this thread until today.
To preserve the aluminum there isn't a whole lot you can do. Aluminum develops aluminum oxide, which is the dull grey color. When you wire wheel it you expose fresh aluminum and it looks super shiny, but within a few weeks/months the oxide develops again. The paint is probably the best option.
I always get a kick out of how pretty a rebuilt trans looks because they spray paint it. Then I open it up and find they forgot parts and other sad stuff and realize that some poor sucker paid hundreds for a trans with not much more than spray paint and new bearings in it. Keep in mind I wouldn't have even been rebuilding it if the job was done right. So in my (narrow) mind spray paint on a trans makes me think of that.
Dave
I would have mentioned that sooner but I hadn't read this thread until today.
To preserve the aluminum there isn't a whole lot you can do. Aluminum develops aluminum oxide, which is the dull grey color. When you wire wheel it you expose fresh aluminum and it looks super shiny, but within a few weeks/months the oxide develops again. The paint is probably the best option.
I always get a kick out of how pretty a rebuilt trans looks because they spray paint it. Then I open it up and find they forgot parts and other sad stuff and realize that some poor sucker paid hundreds for a trans with not much more than spray paint and new bearings in it. Keep in mind I wouldn't have even been rebuilding it if the job was done right. So in my (narrow) mind spray paint on a trans makes me think of that.
Dave
Oh well, I think it should be ok. I probably would have ended up replacing them anyway.
Thanks for the comments.
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