Respraying Enigine

[ribbert]

take the parts to a powder coating shop

You could do that, although I can't see the end difference justifying the cost, but mostly I would never trust the handling of something like loose crankcase halves and cylinder block to the care of a powder coating shop.
Noel

Hmmm yes, there are idiots everywhere, but there is also talent.  I've seen some really fine work come out of powder coating shops, and to your point I guess, some crap.  The shop and their attention to detail must be chosen wisely.

Generally though, your reasoning is not sound.  Would you perform required heart surgery on yourself because you do not trust surgeons?  Clearly you must pick your surgeon with care.  And again a good rattle job can vs. a good powder coat, there is simply is no comparison.  They have the guns and the ovens and the technique that the vast majority of us do not have.

Dan

To me, powder coating has always about durability rather than finish, I spray a lot of things I make and I powder coat  a lot, depends on the end use rather than how good I want it to look.  My paint job looks as good 40,000k's later as it did the day I sprayed it and don't think it could be improved on, and I am very fussy about my bikes appearance. I wash the engine with a paint brush and sponge so as not to scratch it.  I also take into consideration the light, distance, angle and prominence from which an installed item will be viewed when fitted and the likely scrutiny it will come under as opposed to sitting on a bench at eye height under work lights when deciding on the time and money to invest in a finish.

There is no right or wrong way here, just different views.  Not sure about the heart surgery analogy though.

Noel

[BarryAnthony]

I think that powder coating the engine is out as an option really; it has taken me two months and the sale of an Xbox to be able to afford the swingarm bearings alone! Thats the sort of budget I'm on. It doesn't bother me much, because I have the time-ish. Well I'm in no rush anyway.
And the reason I wanted to get the engine in quickly Noel was due to visual reference really. Now that the frame/sub and swingarm arm back from the coaters, I was just hoping to add a fresh looking motor. Possibly to give myself a sense of achievement more than anything. It's been sitting in bits for a number of months now, and it's lost all meaning as a bike, and become more of a 'project'.
This gsxr rear wheel setup people on here have done, is one of the things that had really kept me awake at night. I wanted a wider wheel but soon realised that an 'ace swingarm was out of the question on a budget of crisps and monopoly money. But the gsxr rear is affordable and I can do it myself!
I'm grateful for the many responses in regards to this, guys. Undoubtedly, there will be alot more to come.
I'll jam up some pics too soon.