Topic: CB750 Oil Pan. Originally Painted Silver or left as Raw Aluminum?

[seebee750]

Hi guys, I am painting my CB750 K0 engine and wondered if the oil pan was originally painted silver or left bare?
thanks.

[calj737]

If left unpainted, it will oxidize heavily over time, especially given its exposure to road grime and weather. Best to paint it.

[TwoTired]

I'm sure Honda coated all the aluminum alloy bits on the bike to delay corrosion.  Either silver/aluminum paint, or clear coat for satin shiny covers and such.

Cheers,

[Don R]

 Although many of the early cases show no evidence of paint the consensus on the sandcast page is, they were all painted at one time. I'd say do it how you want it.

[BomberMann650]

Looks to me the 550 oil pan shares same coating as the other crankcase covers

[seebee750]

So I held my oil pan cover right up to my eyes. I think it was originally painted silver. When I glass blasted it there seemed to be a layer of material coming off around the edges. The three photos represent:
Before photo ,glass beaded and then painted with Duplicolour Silver Acrylic Lacquer.
I have tried 6 different colours of sliver trying to match the original engine colour.
This is the closest match yet. It has been on my K4 engine for 15 years and still looks great. However I did not paint the oil pan on the K4. It and it now looks poor compared to this one for my K0
What engine paint colour are others using I wonder? I was looking for something with next to no metallic fleck in it.

[rddcw]

Why not just powder coat it ?

[b1jackson]

What engine paint colour are others using I wonder? I was looking for something with next to no metallic fleck in it.

Hey Lee.  There are a few VHT colors you may want to try.

http://www.vhtpaint.com/high-heat/vht-engine-enamel

I've used a few of their other kinds of paint and had good success (frame and roll bar). Canadian Tire carries it but you may have to special order a certain color as I can't see them carrying the full palette.

[Stev-o]

What engine paint colour are others using I wonder?

VHT Aluminum

[PeWe]

I'm not sure that my oil pan was painted (CB750K6-76). I have not seen clear coat either as the other covers.
Painted the oil pan when restoring the bike 2013, it had no traces at all of any paint. I had thoughts about corrosion protection.
I used same rattle can paint as I used on cases, cylinder and head. Motip, color alu.

The ongoing K2 build has a not painted pan right now. I'll paint one to be used at the oil change when I clear the oil pump strainer after rebuild.

[Bailgang]

I painted the block, cyls and head on my F2 low gloss black like they were originally but sandblasted the outside of the oil pan and left it that way. The idea was that the sandblasting would give the pan more surface area to help dissipate heat. I highly doubt it alone has any measurable effect on oil temp but I figured any little bit helps and once the engine is in the frame you can't really notice the pan's not painted unless you take a really close look. Yeah I know I'm asking for oxidation issues leaving the pan raw but so far no problems.

[dave500]

yeah if your not doing a full resto I paint the pan black,as bailgang suggested I do it for heat exchange,plus a black pan don't look dirty when its dirty?

[seebee750]

I just found two new old stock sandcast pans on eBay. No paint.