Advice on detailing the gearbox

[buzzer]

I am starting to overhaul all the mechanical parts now on my TCS and I am wondering what the best thing to do with the finish on the gearbox.  I have cleaned it up, but not got it bead or shot blasted. The bell housing has cleaned up well but the gearbox itself is very blotchy. What would anyone recommend to do to it to get it looking like new. Here's a a pic of what it looks like now.

Dave

[Roger]

Paint it!

[BDA]

What Roger said!

If you want to go the expensive route, you could bead blast it but even if you masked of the vent, you could still get some beads inside. I don't think it's worth the trouble or expense. Just clean it as best you can with lacquer thinner, de-greaser, etc. and then paint it a nice color when it's dry. Done!

[buzzer]

Sounds like painting it is then!

[jbcollier]

Careful with your paint selection.  Most supposedly aluminium paints are far too shiny.  I used this paint:

http://www.seymourpaint.com/product/alumi-blast/

Looks absolutely spot on.

[Lotusjps]

I found some cast aluminum spray pain that looks just like fresh cast aluminum.

[andyelan]

Hi Everyone

Both the g/box and bell housing on my '74 TCS are painted black. It was this way when I bought the car and as it was then just 10 years old and fairly untouched, I have always assumed it came this way from the factory. Anyone know if this is likely to be correct.

Regards
Andy

[BDA]

I used to hang around the Lotus distributor in New Orleans in the mid '70s and I have never seen one painted black. I think someone painted it because the castings got splotchy (or maybe he just liked black!).

[Lotusjps]

I've seen one painted black with the edge of all the fins polished.  Looked really nice, but way too much work for me.

[BDA]

I'll bet that looked really cool! Like you said, it probably was a lot of work!

[buzzer]

 Thanks for all the comments and advice guys. I have however decided as I am going to strip the gearbox to check it replace seals and gaskets as a minimum I will get the castings bead blasted. Then Spray with Wd40 and leave it to soak in.
I found the guy by pure luck  who has done some of the wheeler dealer blasting/polishing near me (those of you on this side of the pond will know the programme) he did the polishing on the frogeye. Aaron blasting in Great Kimble near Aylesbury. I can post the contact details if needed. Am going to get him to polish the rear ally uprights and side window surrounds as well.

Dave

[Europaforever]

Yes I saw that Frogeye episode- liked it so much that I went and bought a 67 Midget that weekend- love it.
Next to the Europa, the Midget is taller!

[BDA]

Next to the Europa, almost anything is taller (I'm not sure about a Lamborghini Miura and the Ford GT40 was named that because it was 40" tall but they are about the only competition I can think of)!

Just looked it up. According to Wikipedia (who is never wrong), the Miura is 41.3" high so it is supposedly about .7" lower than the Europa which is 42" high according to Wikipedia (which is still never wrong). I haven't measured mine. Would I include the bubble in the roof?

[Lotusjps]

I know my car between lower profile tires and adjustable spring perches my car is under 40".  On the street there's a lot of lug nuts at eye level.  LOL

[BDA]

Oh all right! I just measured mine. It's 42" tall without the bubble, 43" tall with. I'm a little surprised that it's not shorter than stock and a little surprised that the bubble is only one inch.