Can I "un-polish" a polished housing?

1002 Views 16 Replies 7 Participants Last post by n20junkie, Apr 13, 2002

toady

Discussion Starter · Apr 9, 2002

Just curious. I have a ported stock turbo that came with a polished compressor housing. It looks great, kinda like the pix I've seen of Turbonetics' Cheetahs.

http://www.turboneticsinc.com/catalog/gn.html
http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/pictureguides/turboguide/Cheetah.html

But, I'm going for a "sleeper" look and the shiny snail is out of place. Is there a way to make it look more like the matte, as-cast finish?

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Rhett Lee
Had to leave Hawaii for Oregon, but now I have a Turbo Regal!
white/blue '86 T, 170+k mostly stock daily driver
If only I could get it to run right...

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Steve Wood

· #2 · Apr 9, 2002

yeah, give to the guy that gets all the attention on this board. He will keep it under the double wide for a few years!

Spoolin suggests that you take some 2000 grit paper (wet) and sand it down to remove the polished look and go with satin which is in this year.

Nasty Wendy

· #3 · Apr 10, 2002

or you could trade with me for a stock one. I like polished stuff.

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The Radius Kid

· #4 · Apr 10, 2002

Yep.Fine media sandblasting.Be there,done that.

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Give em' hell!

toady

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 10, 2002

Steve - sounds interesting. I like satin. Oops, too much info. Can't you get in even one post without mentioning Zap? One might wonder if you are obsessed in some way...

RK - there's a local TR owner who does powder coating. I think he has access to media blasting.

but...

Nasty W. - let's e-mail about that trade. I have considered it before, but the main reason I've been reluctant to give it up is this one has the inlet opened up for a billet bell.

The Radius Kid

· #6 · Apr 10, 2002

There you go.Just be sure to mask off the areas you don't want blasted,ie,machined surfaces.I've done this on a few compressor housings and it comes out looking like sand blasted rock if you use fine sand.Really cool.Of course if you mask off other areas,you can have your initials,etc.

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Give em' hell!

Steve Wood

· #7 · Apr 10, 2002

I guess ugly is in.

The Radius Kid

· #8 · Apr 10, 2002

Originally posted by Steve Wood:
I guess ugly is in.

You would know.

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Give em' hell!

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Steve Wood

· #9 · Apr 10, 2002

Yes, indeed! You and Zap still attract flies!

toady

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 10, 2002

Originally posted by Steve Wood:
I guess ugly is in.

I prefer the term "stocker-chic."

Steve Wood

· #11 · Apr 10, 2002

Is that as in Stocker Channing....?????

Sounds like a Greasy concept to me.

Old Buzzard

· #12 · Apr 11, 2002

I'd use glas beading to remove the shine.. Use of sand will erode a considerable bit of the surface, while the glas beads only knock off the polished surface.
Steve, I wonder if Chris has thot of glas beading his dome to cut the glare?? Hope he does it B4 BG!!

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Steve Wood

· #13 · Apr 11, 2002

He uses his head as dry storage for his sand.....he has not learned about glass beads, yet.

The Ol' Coot has been quiet lately..

The Radius Kid

· #14 · Apr 11, 2002

Originally posted by Old Buzzard:
I'd use glas beading to remove the shine.. Use of sand will erode a considerable bit of the surface.

Nope,it won't if you use fine sand.I've done it more than once.

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Give em' hell!

toady

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 11, 2002

Originally posted by Steve Wood:
Is that as in Stocker Channing....?????

Sounds like a Greasy concept to me.

Um, that's "Stockard," Webster, and she's about as old as you, so you should know.

Be interesting to run the ol' Buick against the famed Greased Lightning, chrome-plated rods and all.

Back to the topic (!), here's the options I've assembled so far: media blasting, powder coating in a matte silver, painting in a matte silver. Choices, choices...wonder if Canadian Tire will sell me a ported as-cast housing.

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GNBILL

· #16 · Apr 13, 2002

Hey Rhett I can do both Sand blast and powder coat it for you.Just let me know when your ready.
Bildo

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Reregistered once again.
Formerly Gnbill2
Liberals suck

n20junkie

· #17 · Apr 13, 2002

i will tell you a way to dull that thing in 2 minutes, castrol super clean, that stuff will dull any aluminum finish wuicker than youcan say oh s**t believe you me, been there done that one, a buddy of mine did it to his alum heads , valve covers and intake, all polished, now dull, for 5 dollars and no removal nessesecary, its the way to go
Grant J Farmer

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