Clear Cote on Offy Heads?

[Shoebox]

On my previous flathead engine build, I splurged a bit and had the Offy heads polished (sides & fin tops) for looks. On the current 276 build I have a nice new pair of Offy heads and am not springing for the cost of polishing, however I recall how easy it was to clean the smooth surfaces of those polished heads and the "as cast" finish of these current heads makes me wonder, would it be feasible to use a quality high temp clear coating on them prior to final assembly? I realize this is a kind of stupid cosmetic question but for what this last pair of heads cost, I thought I'd ask before I slather on something I shouldn't. Thanks guys.

[Bored&Stroked]

I'd think about using a Cerakote clear ceramic finish. They make one specifically for aluminum - worth checking out.

[drolston]

Or do like I did and spend a couple evenings with grinding and polishing compounds. It came out looking pretty good on both heads and intake manifold.

[Pete]

Everyone has a bench grinder.
Convert one end for polishing. Buy several cutting and polishing stick compounds, a couple of wheels and you are in the polishing business for under 30 bucks.
You do not need Dremel's or die grinders unless you want to polish between the fins.

If you go over the polished area with Lea type "C" compound first, it saves a LOT of time on the finish polish pass.

[Bored&Stroked]

The real challenge is keeping the polishing looking fresh! If you can't get to all the surfaces (easily), then things start looking stained and dirty quite quickly. I use ceramic coating on some of my carbs - can then take lacquer thinner and a brush and clean them right up.

[Shoebox]

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Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

I'd think about using a Cerakote clear ceramic finish. They make one specifically for aluminum - worth checking out.

Thanks Dale, will check that out.

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by drolston

Or do like I did and spend a couple evenings with grinding and polishing compounds. It came out looking pretty good on both heads and intake manifold.

Sometime back, while working on my "other brand" shoebox, suspecting that polishing might not be up my alley, I bought a cheap Harbor Freight polishing setup and polished MANY stainless button head bolts and although I was gratified with the results,... realized I'd rather be spinning wrenches.

[blucar]

From my point of view based on many articles I have read throughout the years, the kind of coating/color of paint that you use on an engine will directly affect the degree of heat transfer the metal will have.
When I was a teen, the common color to paint an engine in your "ROD" was red! Manufactures started to paint their engine in various colors to identify the engine size. The early small block Chevy engines were gray, some green then Chevy went to Chevy Orange (red).
When I had the 59 AB engine rebuilt in 1960 by a shop here in Ventura that specialized in engines for stock car racers in lieu of drag racers, the block and main engine assembly was painted Ford red, except for the heads which were left natural cast iron.
The engine had Offy heads prior to the rebuild. The A/B heads supplied by the engine builder are highly modified, the engine builder would not paint them because he maintained the paint would limit the heat transfer out of the heads.
In a few months the engine in my '36 is going to under go a complete tear down to freshen it up, the engine will be painted Ford dark green, just like Ford painted them.
I read an article several years ago that stated that the standard color for engines is BLACK, because black transfers heat better than any other color.
White is more reflective than silver, therefore white is a common color for the inside of light assemblies, (tail lights etc).

[19Fordy]

Shoebox: I know you said you really don't want to polish your new 276 heads. Yes it is very messy work but, if you have the patience of a toothache and the right equipment, it's doable.

Be sure to use a polisher that has experience buffing and polishing cast alum. heads as you don't want the LOGO deformed.

You can't beat the look of polish heads. It's worth the money and you won't regret it, especially on your beautiful shoebox. Read this thread:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...olish+aluminum

This company is 231 miles from you. May be worth a visit or a call.
https://ocontometal.com/automotive-polishing/

The heads pictured were bought completely polished from Motor City Flathead in 1999 and I
did the painting with Bill Hirsch paint. I keep them shiny with aluminum polish every 6 months. I never found any coating that would keep cast alum. heads nice and new looking as the cast alum. surface is too rough.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Shoebox: I know you said you really don't want to polish your new 276 heads. Yes it is very messy work but, if you have the patience of a toothache and the right equipment, it's doable.

Be sure to use a polisher that has experience buffing and polishing cast alum. heads as you don't want the LOGO deformed.

You can't beat the look of polish heads. It's worth the money and you won't regret it, especially on your beautiful shoebox. Read this thread:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...olish+aluminum

This company is 231 miles from you. May be worth a visit or a call.
https://ocontometal.com/automotive-polishing/

The heads pictured were bought completely polished from Motor City Flathead in 1999 and I
did the painting with Bill Hirsch paint. I keep them shiny with aluminum polish every 6 months. I never found any coating that would keep cast alum. heads nice and new looking as the cast alum. surface is too rough.

[petehoovie]

Watch > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYkqiwhtimU

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Shoebox: I know you said you really don't want to polish your new 276 heads. Yes it is very messy work but, if you have the patience of a toothache and the right equipment, it's doable.

Be sure to use a polisher that has experience buffing and polishing cast alum. heads as you don't want the LOGO deformed.

You can't beat the look of polish heads. It's worth the money and you won't regret it, especially on your beautiful shoebox. Read this thread:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...olish+aluminum

This company is 231 miles from you. May be worth a visit or a call.
https://ocontometal.com/automotive-polishing/

The heads pictured were bought completely polished from Motor City Flathead in 1999 and I
did the painting with Bill Hirsch paint. I keep them shiny with aluminum polish every 6 months. I never found any coating that would keep cast alum. heads nice and new looking as the cast alum. surface is too rough.

19fordy: Oh I agree, I like the shiny stuff and I have a fantastic restoration shop "Vintage Vehicles" that I have used for polishing, attached is a pic of the intake going on this engine that they did. Going to look into this clear ceramic coating,.... but we'll see. Thanks.

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Watch > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYkqiwhtimU

Good one Pete, as a regular viewer of Iron Trap Garage, I have watched that video a couple times, Matt did a nice job on those heads.

[Tim Ayers]

Recently, I used these 3M 3" discs to polish up some aluminum and they worked great. I bought a combo kit that had 1,000-5,000 grit discs.

They chuck up in a drill using a 3M rubber backer. All I used was water throughout the entire process. Next time, I would use some polishing rouge as well.

For heads, this would be ideal unless you want to get in between the fins.

This isn't the combo kit I bought, but it's the same product.


https://www.detailing.com/store/3m-p...box-of-50.html

[Roger/Sacramento]

Had manifold polished by a shop.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Roger/Sacramento

Had manifold polished by a shop.