727 Paint & Color

[Mackman]

The 727 trans from my '67 R/T is out getting rebuilt. I sanded off most of the corrosion and gray paint that someone else applied. What colors or materials are most people using to re-finish their transmissions?

 

[Kern Dog]

They were left natural when new.
Aluminum is porous though. It stains easily, at least the grade of aluminum that Chrysler used. I have a 727 that I painted black in 2006 and even though I cleaned it well, the paint didn't stick everywhere. It looks terrible.
Paint has a much better chance of sticking if it is sprayed over a metal etch primer. Etching primer chemically "bites" into the metal and provides a more stable base to apply the paint.

 

[Dibbons]

I cleaned my 904 super well and then used RustOleum Clean Metal Primer with a brush no less. Just wanted a light color (white in this case) to keep tabs on any leaks. We will have to wait and see about longevity. I cleaned it with either Naval Jelly or Ospho which for me gives it kind of an acid etching to aid paint adhesion.

 

[Kern Dog]

"Naval Jelly" is a funny sounding term.

 

[Lionized]

I'd clean it up like @Dibbons and use a heat resistant satin clear.
JMHO

 

[gtx6970]

Clean it clean it clean it

Ive used Seymours Aluma blast paint in the past

 

[Dave6T4]

I wipe them down with lacquer thinner and spray them Krylon Dull Aluminum. Not quite correct, but if someone's jammed up in my trans tunnel, they're just looking a little TOO close.

 

[Mackman]

Thanks. I didn't remember that they were left natural. Have to do something, though, as those before me left a mess.

 

[Dave6T4]

Thanks. I didn't remember that they were left natural. Have to do something, though, as those before me left a mess.

Hey, nice R/T ragtop. I once went and looked at a convertible project, but decided it was going to be too much work. I have a 440/auto R/T hardtop, and once did up a phantom R/T wagon, complete with 440/4-speed.

 

[Lefty71]

Beadblast, and then clean, clean, clean.

 

[493 Mike]

I blast the case and extension. Wash well with soap and hot water and clear coat them.
Mike

 

[dvw]

I've painted plenty of them. Dull aluminum is close after it ages. The were bare aluminum to start. My racecar trans was blasted and then treated to WD40 once a year. Its stayed good. But if you want the fresh factory trans look its hard to beat the dull aluminum. It will be too bright initially. As long as its CLEAN anything will stick to aluminum pretty well.
Doug