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"Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

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Old 09-10-2002, 08:51 PM
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Default "Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

It's done sometimes in marine applications to reduce corrosion...But is there an advantage in the combustion chamber and/or valve seats? Anyone ever heard of this being of any advantage on a street/race car application? Thanks in advance. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />
Old 09-10-2002, 09:28 PM
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Default Re: "Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

One things for sure, only exposed aluminum can go into an anodizing tank so all the brass and steel would have to be removed and all the threaded holes would have to be covered. Might be worth it if you had it colored. I've done some clear anodizing and have noticed that different alloys look very different when done. Some not quite what I expected. Surface was hard and a little on the porous side. Anodizing for coloring is done in a cold tank (below 60F) for about an hour, then droped into a boiling tank with some dye in it to color it and seal up the finish. The tank is 15% to 30% H2SO4 and it takes about 15 Amps per square foot of DC power to make it go.
Old 09-10-2002, 09:31 PM
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Default Re: "Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

Oh yea, then you can replace the valve guides and seats. The only benefit would be a good looking head.
Old 09-10-2002, 09:55 PM
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Default Re: "Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

From what I've been told...There are two types of anodizing. Regular, or soft anodizing, that allows the many colors we've always seen...And then you have "hard-anodizing", that gives a harder protection and is not available in anything but green and clear...Is'nt anodizing nothing more than a machinist die process? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Old 09-11-2002, 07:23 AM
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Default Re: "Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

Anodizing isn't a machinist dying process. You are thinking of substances like Dykem Blue. You use that for a veriety of machining processes. The one most people see it in, is head porting.

As for a performance application. I don't think anodizing will help you head. Also, I think combustion heat would destroy it almost immediately.

If you want to coat a head, send it to PolyDyn and have them put a thermal barrier coating on the combustion chambers, and the exhaust runners.
Old 09-11-2002, 09:43 AM
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Default Re: "Hard Anodizing" Cylinder Heads?

[ ...Is'nt anodizing nothing more than a machinist die process?

No, Anodizing is a chemical conversion process used to prevent corrosion.

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