Powder coating and heat properties...

[Gerard <gerard@poboxes.com>]

Hi!

These are more questions about coating engine parts along
the lines of what was recently discussed about coating
2-piece EMs.

My aluminium intake manifold off the MC is currently
with an electroplating company. They're going to clean it
for me. I am thinking of getting compounds after this
to smooth it off and give it a satin finish (deburr and
buff).

I was also thinking about powder coating the part, but
going by the discussion recently about the change of
heat retension and dispersion properties of a metal
I was wondering if powder coating the intake manifold
would be detrimental to the operation of the unit in
terms of heat retension. Would it stand up to the
temperatures of powder coating anyway? Should I just
clean it up, smooth and polish it, or coat the aluminium?
In the long run the idea is to prevent the part going
scaley and black as it has in the past (I suppose if it
has lost the rough casting surface it will be easier
to maintain).

Any ideas on this?

Anyone see any problems with cleaning up the wastegate
(not the cap) and powder coating that to protect it?
Would that be seriously affected?

I could have that part zinc coated, but that means the
inside gets done as well. That's no good, is it? :)

Any ideas of what to powder coat or zinc plate in the
engine bay to help it stand up to corrosion and
wear without affecting the operation of the part?

If the manifold is cleaned up properly then I am going
to drag alot of other stuff through to this company
to have them do. This includes the bits off the wastegate
and throttle body that don't need to be blasted clean to
get the filth/corrosion/rust off and several other shields
and pipes.

Thanks.
Sorry for WOB.

G.
1990 Audi 200