Date:         Tue, 21 Oct 1997 22:44:16 -0800
Reply-To:     Todd Francis <tbf@PACIFIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:         Todd Francis <tbf@PACIFIER.COM>
Subject:      Re: heads - anti-corrosion
Comments: To: Tom Brunson <TABRUN@CLASSIC.MSN.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Tom Brunson wrote:
>
> Another possibility I've been meaning to try is "Tufram" - a hard-coat
> anodizing with TFE infusion that I believe was developed by American
> Magnaplate for NASA. It makes aluminum amazingly corrosion resistant, hardens
> the surface,  repels about anything and is wear resistant to boot. I've used
> it in several designs for "emergency" equipment in industrial environments,
> and it has already been used on cylinder heads for 2-cycle engines. On heads a
> plus is the combustion chamber surface stays clean with minimal build-up.
> While the anodizing wouldn't coat all the interior coolent passages as
> strongly, that's usually not a high corrosion area.
>
> I think if Mark Stephens were to do this to their heads and then put in valve
> seats by their process you would have heads that would last as long as the
> car.

Hi: I have heard of the finish American Magnaplate has developed. I was
interested in trying it on a wear surface like on aluminum crank
pulleys. Do you know who does it? The beauty of the ceramic coating is
that it,along with not able to corrode, is also a heat barrier. It
should keep the rubber head gasket a little cooler than whihout the
ceramic (Maybe not. I havn't set up any sort of test to check out the
theory). They say some of the heat that would be absorbed into the head
will be blown out the exhaust if you also coat the combustion chamber. I
would think that is a good thing also.
--
Todd Francis           Ridgefield, Washington USA
'86 Westy Syncro
'91 Tristar