[lowmileage]

What was original or what would be a correct replacement. Bright silver on the block and a darker (what VHT High Heet Alum. appears to be) Alum. on the cam covers?

 

[72 GTV 1750]

Just Paint It Chevy Orange

 

[lowmileage]

Just Paint It Chevy Orange

 

[Gordon Raymond]

Engine block color

As it came from the factory, there was no paint. Block, head, cam cover, front cover, pan, all bare aluminum. The pressure casting technique and alloy causes the cam cover to be slightly darker, as is the front cover.
Now Ferrari, on the other hand, painted blocks (early on) a silver that is duplicated by Harley Davidson case paint silver, and cam covers were first a darker silver and later wrinkle black. (In most cases.) Good enough answer?
(Ausca Alfa engines had heads painted (early) Ford red, and later crinkle red, with matching front covers, and wrinkle black cam covers.)
[NO CHEVY ORANGE] Gordon Raymond

 

[lowmileage]

Good enough answer?

Better than that other jokester's comment ()

 

[lowmileage]

How did you spend your Sun. afternoon?

Cleaning, block sanding of the cam covers and masking took about 5x longer than the painting took



After application of clear on the cam covers



Perfecto


The products:
Dupl Color was used on the head - it was the only bright silver I could find and I had it in the paint bin.


After the paint air drys, you have to "cure" it with heat - what better way than to take a drive

Ok now maybe tomorrow I can get that Bosch Spica electric fuel pump replacement in!

 

[alfavirusnz]

Don`t you think it looks a bit artificial and "over-restored". While I admire your desire to make everything look pretty and clean in reality they were never like that from new. To me it looks like a woman thats had too much cosmetic surgery IMO.

Richard J
`65 Giulia Ti (latest aquisition to the fleet), `69 GT Junior, `74 GT Veloce, `76 Alfetta GTV, `77 Alfetta GTV, `81 Alfasud Ti, `84 GTV6, `90 164 3L auto

 

[Tifosi]

If the resto-retro look is the goal, should not the oil fill cap be the somewhat goldish tone as found on the radiator cap?

Mine was before I glass beaded it then clear powdercoated the cap, but I wasn't after the resto look. (Ignore the sig line, I've got the same cam cover as you due to 'other things' going on under the hood)

I even went so far as to work the casting flash marks out near the base of the fill cap and a couple other places.

Still, no denying what you've done does look nice, fresh, and clean. (and won't oxidize! Yay!!)

Now just make sure to ding it real good with the wrench next time you're dealing with the plugs

 

[James1750]

Looks great!!

 

[lowmileage]

Don`t you think it looks a bit artificial and "over-restored".

No, not a bit

 

[101/105guy]

Silver paint???

Actually, early 105's had a 'hammertone' paint on the cam cover. This is shown in several repair manuals made when the cars were new.

 

[alfavirusnz]

Maybe in the States, but I`ve owned many Alfas including early 105 examples (all euro spec) and I`ve never seen a painted engine or cam cover yet-they have all been au natural. If you look at brochures particularly engines out of the car on display stands you see the odd painted part though, which if you are as familiar with them as I am, one thinks aha PR dept has touched that one up with a bit of silver paint to make it look a bit sexier for the punters.

Richard J

 

[144]

I'm generally against painting aluminum, but the test will be long term durability and how well it retains it's freshness.

 

[john.harrill]

IMHO, polished looks better.

 

[Peter]

IMHO, polished looks better.

I'm with you on that, and that's what I did with my Duetto. It does not stay very shiny for a very long time though, it requires work!

 

[lowmileage]

How right many of you are. I did get carried away in my project as I sometimes do . But now I have learned how some of you think. I spent most of the night getting the motor compartment back to a non-over restored state. I'm sure you will now approve.

 

[Peter]

nah, I liked your previous pics better.....get back to work

 

[john.harrill]

That's called "Patina".

 

[jarrington]

Hey, how did you get a pic of my engine compartment ?!?

-Jason

 

[Touringspider]

Don't forget that some Alfa models did in fact come from the factory with black crinkle finish cam covers, specifically the 1900's, 750's and the 102 Spiders.

Arno Leskinen
AROC-USA National Concours Chair
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