Bracket Finishing Ideas?

[Seymour Snerd]

I just finished some alternator and compressor mountng brackets for my FE SPF GT40, mostly of 1/4" aluminum sheet and can't decide how to finish them. I could powder coat them (obviously) or paint them (obviously) or anodize them, but wonder if anyone has other suggestions. For example, would the scotchbrite + wd40 finish people do on aluminum Cobra bodies look right in an engine room? Or, engine-turned for the Duesenberg look?

I guess what I'm really asking is, what's your favorite way to finish engine brackets?

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

I vote anodize.....

 

[Jack]

I would prefer to anodize as well.

 

[Pat Buckley]

Aluminum, Alan, really?

I could be all wet on this, but I would think you would want to make them out of steel.

My vote for the finish is also anodizing.

 

[Mike Pass]

Anodize X4. Blue to match the block in Ford blue. It hardens the surface, helps corrosion, looks good.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Seymour Snerd]

Anodize X4. Blue to match the block in Ford blue. It hardens the surface, helps corrosion, looks good.
Cheers
Mike

OK, everybody likes anodize. I was avoiding it only because I'm not set up to do it myself. For better or worse, my block's black (not my decision), so the "theme" of the engine room is black and silver. Car's blue though. Do I introduce a new color at this point? I'm thinking black anodize...

As for aluminum... I like it: cheap, light, easy to machine, doesn't rust. Very similar to what Randy did at GT-Forty.com. The original SPF brackets, even the short pieces, are 3/16" or 1/4" steel; my only thought was "why?"; we're transmitting a few HP over a few inches.....However, I could easily reproduce the whole thing in 1/4" steel. But then i couldn't anodize it....

 

[Jack]

Black is good. So is gold anodize..

 

[Seymour Snerd]

Just found this: Anodizing Aluminum

Anybody done DIY anodize, or know someone who has?

 

[Damian]

^ Yet another reason why I love this site.

 

[Doc Kaler]

Try: www.caswellplating.com

they have a forum as well...

 

[Bob Stoeger]

Hi,
Why don't you polish them they will look like chrome, and really look good next to black. Like this.
Bob

 

[Seymour Snerd]

Hi,
Why don't you polish them they will look like chrome, and really look good next to black. Like this.
Bob

Do they stay that way without repolishing?

 

[Bob Stoeger]

Sure just use Sharkhide on them
http://www.sharkhide.com/index.html

 

[Seymour Snerd]

Sure just use Sharkhide on them
Sharkhide

Expensive. Is this stuff really the miracle they imply?

 

[Jason]

Just found this: Anodizing Aluminum

Anybody done DIY anodize, or know someone who has?

Very useful link, thanks for posting that.
Cheers,
Jason

 

[Mike Pass]

If your colours are silver/black then anodize those colours. I would use silver as it would brighten the engine bay. I wouldn't bother with DiY anodizing as the equipment is a bit industrial and the chemicals messy - just find a local company. The turn round should be quite quick.
Cheers
Mike