[alfa] RE : magnesium wheels & wankel rotary

["dion fields" <noid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

i've never painted magnesium, but here are some things i have
HEARD and READ over the years ( i would do more research
before doing it myself )  :

when painting magnesium for optimum corrosion resistance, 
primer containing zinc chromate or strontium chromate should 
be used.  lesser results can be obtained by using primers 
containing an alkali-resistant vehicle such as polyvinyl butyral, 
vinyl, epoxy, epoxy-ester, acrylic or polyurethane. Oils, alkyds and
nitrocellulose are best avoided  ( but we wouldn't use these on
our cars anyway ).

for pre-paint clean up, don't use straight water and soap unless
you use an inhibited alkaline cleaner first.  the immediate, even 
if not visible, corrosion will just plant the seeds of decay under
your paint.  alcohol, MEK, or lacquer thinner will degrease 
without corroding the magnesium.

if the wheels already have some corrosion, this can be removed 
with a chromic acid pickle ( good luck doing this at home! ).


in a wankel engine :
for each orbit of one rotor, there are three separate and complete
4-stroke combustion cycles.  this makes 6 combustions per
revolution of the 2 rotors in an engine.  but the "crankshaft", 
called an eccentric shaft, spins at 3 times the rotor speed.  so 
you end up with 2 combustions per measured engine revolution,
like a 4-banger.   its really an ingenius design with a true 
4-cycles ( just like your alfa twin-cam or v6 ), but valve-less ports 
like a 2-cycle.  and no reciprocating parts - only spinning and 
orbiting bits.


-dion fields
-73 gtv
-los angeles


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