Topic: 390 Bell Housing Restoration

[JeffWS]

What is the recommended procedure to restore a 390-428 cast iron bell housing (C6OA-6394-D) ?

I was thinking of sand blast and leave unpainted.

[Bob Gaines]

What is the recommended procedure to restore a 390-428 cast iron bell housing (C6OA-6394-D) ?

I was thinking of sand blast and leave unpainted.

I would try to chemically strip it first . If that doesn't work and you sand/bead blast it then I would consider having it lightly zinc phosphate (not manganese phosphate) to bring it closer to the fresh cast look plus you can coat it with a rust inhibitor like T9 or similar and the zinc phosphate will hold it on better.

[RoyceP]

They were bolted to the engine assembly before the engine was painted so they are nearly 50% covered in blue typically. They would have been bare metal only up to the point of installation.

[JeffWS]

Thanks for the suggestions. The bell didn't clean up so we media blasted and painted cast gray.

[bullitt68]

They were bolted to the engine assembly before the engine was painted so they are nearly 50% covered in blue typically. They would have been bare metal only up to the point of installation.

Do you have any photos showing the over spray coverage. I media blasted my bell housing first and then vapour blasted it. I may tumble it before painting it, or try zinc phosphate, however zinc phosphate will give a completely different look that bare steel

[J_Speegle]

Remember that the focus was not painting the bellhousing but the engine so the paint could be very thin (overspray) to fairly heavy. Depended on what was near by and the focus of the painting. as well as the angle of the paint gun at the time

An example of a FE bellhousing with engine color on it. Have seen plenty with less that this




I know you will not miss the point that the engine plate and bellhousing attachment hardware were in place at the same time the area got paint

Hope this helps

[bullitt68]

Remember that the focus was not painting the bellhousing but the engine so the paint could be very thin (overspray) to fairly heavy. Depended on what was near by and the focus of the painting. as well as the angle of the paint gun at the time

An example of a FE bellhousing with engine color on it. Have seen plenty with less that this




I know you will not miss the point that the engine plate and bellhousing attachment hardware were in place at the same time the area got paint

Hope this helps

Yes that is a great photo. I was thought they were left unpainted. I guess overtime all the paint wore off. Mine had no paint on it either. Interesting Most of it was painted, but I guess like everything else it was hit or miss, since it was not intended to be painted but just over spray from the motor

[J_Speegle]

Yes that is a great photo. I was thought they were left unpainted. I guess overtime all the paint wore off. Mine had no paint on it either. Interesting Most of it was painted, but I guess like everything else it was hit or miss, since it was not intended to be painted but just over spray from the motor

For some engine and manual transmissions combinations the bellhousing, flywheel, pressure plate and engine plate were installed on the engine before painting. Other years and options different patterns of what was installed prior to painting.  Paint does not hold up well in all cases, often a small percentage in my viewing, likely rust or poor prep of the metal helped the paint detach over the years. Plenty of owners/builders with rattle cans help hide some of the evidence