Big question is do you polish the clutch housing or paint it. As with everything alloy and old it's got corrosion and isn't attractive at all, but it's going to take almost as much work to make it ready for paint as it is for a polish.
So what's everybody's opinion should I spend days polishing it or should I give it a good scrub and paint it with a good engine paint?
If you've polished it before how much of a PITA was it and how many hours am I looking at.

This is car is a gift for my wife so I want it to look special, and it has to be different from th rest.

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If its got tits or wheels its gonna cost you

1973 Solid side Leyland Mini Panelvan 1100 in Hairy Lime(Elma)
1976 Clubby project in progress
1966 Morris Mini Deluxe in need of a full resto
1971 Mini K Garden Art

Clean it up and paint it silver.. looks nice and stays that way.
If you polish it, it'll corrode again, unless you keep the elbow grease up to it.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

But what about if I polish it and give it a clear coating that will preserve it.. Or even have it chromed. I like shiny bling..

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If its got tits or wheels its gonna cost you

1973 Solid side Leyland Mini Panelvan 1100 in Hairy Lime(Elma)
1976 Clubby project in progress
1966 Morris Mini Deluxe in need of a full resto
1971 Mini K Garden Art

Give it an initial polish then just use alloy cleaner on it won't be a mirror finish but it will be better than nothing.

There's plenty of 4x4s getting around with unpainted front bars that have never been polished.

Probably cost $$$$,but why not anodised/powdercoated???

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1974 1150cc Leyland Mini S racer,
1975 No motor Leyland Mini "ute"
1991 IPRA Honda Integra (in the build)
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi

CAMS Scrutineer

Now if I can get a chrome look in powder coating then it could be a goer.. Just want some shiny bits in the engine bay to make the wife go ahhhhh pretties..
Then wet her pants when she hits the loud pedal.. 'Insert evil laugh here'

I'll check out powder coating colors and see if any get my attention.
Cheers brilliant idea

_________________
If its got tits or wheels its gonna cost you

1973 Solid side Leyland Mini Panelvan 1100 in Hairy Lime(Elma)
1976 Clubby project in progress
1966 Morris Mini Deluxe in need of a full resto
1971 Mini K Garden Art

liquid chrome it
http://www.fantachrome.com.au/index2.html

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

Paint it, as the factory intended.

Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

Why does every build/rebuild "have to be as the factory intended"??

Want to restore a car to factory spec...fair enough.

Want to add some custom "bling"...same comment.

Dr Mini's cars aren't how the factory intended either.

Our 2 cars are those "ugly Leyland things" & if you saw what we have done

to them & were a Leyland lover you would probably cry yourself to sleep.

... We like them as they are.

Each to their own.

The "ute " was a Sedan, now has a 200mm wide "B" Pillar,no boot [full weld], LED lighting....

The "S" Racer has 1/2 doors 300mm high,perspex windows [sides& rear],200mm steel flairs,gutted bootlid & bonnet & weighs in @520kg

...It's ours & we get a lot of enjoyment from the Racer[ the ute is only a roller atm]

Apologies for the above rant.

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1974 1150cc Leyland Mini S racer,
1975 No motor Leyland Mini "ute"
1991 IPRA Honda Integra (in the build)
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi

CAMS Scrutineer

...

...

In answer to the original question I would go along with Doogie and say paint it. The reason I give for paint is that it is the easiest way to get a good finish.

Powder coat is probably not a great idea. You have machined surfaces that you don't want powder coat on, you have the inside that you don't want powder flaking off and blocking the oil system and most importantly is the possibility of the aluminium housings distorting in the baking oven.

I know someone a few years back that tried to powder coat a set of twin SUs. After about 10 destroyed carbies later they gave up and painted them.

Think outside the square people ..

yes you can Powdercoat the transfer case and clutch housing..





This has been done in a Chrome look powdercoat and then clear coated ( powdercoat) to .. speak to your powder coater and they wont get stuff everywhere .. mask up before hand and replace the bearings inside the housing ..

i also did my inlet manifold ..





Beanie

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I am the son of the STIG

HOTBRICKS
http://hotbricks.org.au/

'65 NCF MINI.....
'69 MINIMATIC.... 9 year resto still on the go

Beanie, thats the look I'm searching for.. Perfect and easy to keep clean, wont flake like paint and just adds that little bit of bling to the engine bay that would otherwise look bland on that end of the engine. After all the radiator will be polished alloy with all brackets etc chromed and shiny. Why not add bling to the otherside to balance it out.
Thanks mate. Off to the powder coaters i go in a week or so.
Should i have it soda blasted before hand to make it ready

_________________
If its got tits or wheels its gonna cost you

1973 Solid side Leyland Mini Panelvan 1100 in Hairy Lime(Elma)
1976 Clubby project in progress
1966 Morris Mini Deluxe in need of a full resto
1971 Mini K Garden Art

If you take something to a powdercoater they will say whether it's too dirty or not.
So most likely, yes you should blast it first.

Don't forget about the bearings and seals, they will need replacing

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You're so square
Baby I don't care