Minty - 1964 Aurora Gears Racing /Newtune 1071 Cooper S

[spoon.450]

Some nice additions there Pete.

[Pandora]

I seem to recall there is a process where the surface can be sealed / vacuum impregnated with epoxy or some similar resin to stabilise the surface, and I assume also help paint stay attached as a result.

My memory was of it being used in rear uprights, but possibly also wheels of a Lotus F1 car under restoration, maybe one of the Type 49s?

This was after crack testing etc.

Might be worth asking someone like Peter Denty or Crossthwaite & Gardner?

Al

[spoon.450]

The magnesium Manx Norton crankcases which I occasionally do machining work on have a black coating that I think is called Chromate ?? I’ll try to find out where this is done.

[OzOAP]

A lot of the Porsches engines I build have magnesium crankcase and need re-chromating after cleaning/blasting.
Contact Neil https://www.neilbainbridge.com/

[steve1071]

I had some mags blasted and tested years ago by AJC Metal Finishers in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire. Tony Calladine runs it and was very knowledgeable, he also mentioned Chromate.

[Pandora]

A lot of the Porsches engines I build have magnesium crankcase and need re-chromating after cleaning/blasting.
Contact Neil https://www.neilbainbridge.com/

never mind chromate coating - I just looked at their 914-6 for sale, (and horrid bumpers aside) I need to go for a lie down!

Anyone want to buy my kids?

Al

[OzOAP]

never mind chromate coating - I just looked at their 914-6 for sale, (and horrid bumpers aside) I need to go for a lie down!

Air cooled Porsches...the best investment in the last 15 years.

[Pandora]

yup, they really have jumped, and sadly 914's, even though they lag behind the others, are already getting out of reach. Absolutely brilliant cars.

The water cooled cars will follow, and soon

(he says, ducking for cover in Mini land )

[Pete]

The wheels are clean, crack free and blasted already. I’ll look at the rechromating route, thanks for the tips.

Came home from Nicks bodyshop in Sheffield yesterday, really pleased with the work Nick’s done.

[Aginley]

Such a cool car

[Nick W]

Must be one of the most historically important minis I've worked on todate....oh wait forgot about the next one
At least this covid pandemic allowed me to work on a few mini projects, instead of our usual crash repair work

[Pete]

And yes that manky steering wheel was on just to move it about!

[jay weinstein]

Looks great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[peasantslife]

You are looking for dichromate finishing. a common, easilly looked up trade name is Dow7. It gives a yellow/golden colour to the component. But its not common any longer due to environmental reasons so nowadays we get the grey/black chromate.
Except if you know platers doing military contracts who can still use the nasty stuff. I had exactly this issue when wishing to re plate my mag minilites a number of years ago. iirc I asked on this forum about what is the correct colour for these early minilites. I eventually concluded that Tech Del painted them gold over the golden colour they gained in the plating, but as a consequence of the variability chose to give them a consistent blow over. (I still dont know the 'right' gold colour though...) It took me some time to find a willing contractor. X-rayed first, though they rang like a bell when tapped, We blasted them in the afternoon, then poped them into a dry heat commercial oven over night to drive out any moisture, vac bagged them as they came out in the morning and drove them 100 miles for a noon time dip. Its only 20 mins in the bath. All done for cash - no receipt...

[MiNiKiN]

never mind chromate coating - I just looked at their 914-6 for sale, (and horrid bumpers aside) I need to go for a lie down!
Anyone want to buy my kids?
Al

Better sell your kidneys - you at least stand a chance to get the funds for a 914-6 deposit.

I remember when I bought my rough condition 914-4 30+ years ago for 58,000 Austrian Schilling , I also had the option to buy a good condition 914-6 for 100,000 ATS. I thought that is too much - in the end I spent the same total on my 4-cylinder to get it roadworthy

The conversion rate then was approx 1GBP = 28ATS - i.e the 914-6 then have cost about 2/3 of a new Golf Gti

A friend of mine has recently bought one of the 11 original 916GT - don't ask

[Pandora]

(Sorry Pete - Brief thread diversion!) 916?!?! holy grail of Porsche. My old Boss designed the body mods on that project and then owned one of the development cars. I take it your friend bought the one that was up for auction fairly recently? I too had a rough 914-4, bought it 20 years ago for about £3 or 4k from memory.

Al

[mk1]

Bloody nice seats those!

They certainly leave a BIG hole in the front of my car

[Pete]

That’s true! Thanks Mark.

Picked another programme up, Guards Trophy at Brands in August 1964. Jack Sears won the race from Jim Clark, John Rhodes predictably finished the best of the Minis in 6th. Anita finished behind Peter Clark in the Don Moore car in 17th and Trevor further up the field in 12th just behind John Handley in the Broadspeed. Pretty much where I’d expect them to.

[Aginley]

Is the cage a John alley?

[Pete]

Yes Al, strictly speaking it’s out of place if I’m sticking to 1964 but I’ve left it in as John Aley was the third owner.

If my new racers not ready I’ll be running 110 at the Prescott Mini Festival in May.