Like everybody else, the paint on my valve covers was chipping off and had gotten pretty ratty. Not befitting an otherwise nice car! Somebody at the recent Lodefest recommended shot blasting followed by stove paint to restore the original look. But after seeing S-dog's astounding 300SD I decided to have them polished instead. To hell with originality, so into the blasting booth and then off to the polishers. The result is shown below. If ever somebody ever wants it black again then it's easy to repaint.
The new look got a lot of admiration at a recent, local car show. It was mostly hot rods (like the wonderful rat-rod pic) and 60's American muscle; almost nobody knew what a 6.9 even was . However, a few did have the "OMG, I've never actually seen one of these!" reaction. But everybody was floored by the engine. The bright valve covers make it look even bigger and badder.
The problem now is that the pretty valve covers make everything else look tired and slightly shabby. I guess I'll just have to start getting all the other under-the-hood stuff replated and repainted. Interestingly, Salt Lake has a huge kustom kar and hot rod culture. There's a whole neighborhood of customizers and specialty shops for everything automotive, dozens and dozens of them. So, with most of the mechanical problems in the rear view mirror, my attention turns to the cosmetic.... I just can stand any more fun! ;D :o ::)
ps - if anybody has experience cleaning up the radiator fan shroud I'd love to hear. Looks like it was badly painted but I don't want to bead-blast it. Maybe a walnut shell blasting? And has anybody ever polished the fan? Dear god, I seem to headed down the path of creating a 6.9 pimpmobile.
Ooh, shiny-shiny! I cannot resist the shiny. I had a brushed aluminum chair that was covered in latex paint, and I ended up polishing it, too.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EEL7mOOB3ElbajNI4KZ2ZwAHB6bB4T_uWwUiTo8s8JcjPXetkkOaxQg-aSGxhMwZ6D3mWywoCT_sblwV1CYiEVeu3xqAHuashylmgbfyjtzeWj-ZT2Zv5rSNG71_Op3vVDvcpwS-p6Fdn2VNcr59O1CI0HY0RPqzj1B9aNVbTBK2037YFcVqz6Tt2qV1o9cmC9Nt-L8N0dk3JnC3Fut1peSdRoHOg5dIr87e2rO6aWh4E5i-Z0YjZJV61uYdYgQG9W-WXvSODaVUF7Fs3puUqLRQ6l_rAY-kiopdnsl6Cfpii9PQF7ksl0IXEiM-KoUhruZ7d0h3rOLtMBcTXOOB-gOYUQF3Pxib7d4YB8a2V4-U8uAxm4ke-MMrmBzSFc_9trlDVTQtntnpHgB34WX1EeXja3SlP-G74dEHyK1JVc4YXBIKR-P0cnbn_JOjJs3TN1QgKyz5tG5pei53KQ17_aK-f6Fh3uk5Vm-iUx8NzxoxpGS-isTFp2Mms_ZejwhGeG0LFytjD0aIEZlAQjPpElmMHis9xjUB9cQioGZXcwLa81L7eU6MSSxEjt9IfhGY12jJWZniCbKOcrACx_Qsv1B-G8MhnPEwDLnFHB1MpfUrYp9vHudrFVGisNO6_fI=w800-h600-no)
If the fan shroud is just plastic, I'd use a paint stripper that's safe on plastic to remove the paint, and then apply 303 Aerospace Protectant. I think plastic can also be cleaned by ultrasonic blasting.
I polished the fan on a 1965 220S. It should be a similar metal.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gLm0Bt3OORMI66GM3oMyIr4unHIkYQTHcM6R2kjV826mi4BSSxwcgRWjo-dWBW-ehpbLdsWv1028k-31mFFdhWNCrddLC-MKC1dDBhO-198L5Wcq2Qwkn_84wxMLEZuIS-mWGd62woM3cM7t6PBwtPMx40c3U8thdeQ34g5aAKk0JQal0aRmyKc_0M93Psewzdjr3JvbDc7kapbsW1lWll_o9DYEk_jGVj9T4J1XRE0h6egmXLrNOojKyXO3qnXJ-2oHg8i8aDtZVbvUDD0OMr2IWy5kVxzBzHy4jxHwOkhvLpefxzTtXLCbqPusJBdPXVSAcWK_v_AmftP0MnK2I4L2RsfDdj4kmIgW9zAwu6UzsHFZvRGn46f19ejKSiepISA6TfDiXmZbbLUhVp7DC4NfDFME1w9I1WmcykTNo3DdhUoBLEXS6mQN7by2bc50xBVm4ZcNfPdbhGbeao81M5FacK8Sc4YDu7EbxVOxaoutukws769AUckfczhlJag2_v68CPU4kO60Ixg3Q6RuzDJ66s5u6MTAcZCDgQagNX53MYg_EYpT10M7SojA2TwDGrnjgNgubjXv5U0sfp8pkYV4HrcMlxOjNDfB1LFk12uEs_Dnhok_S5TYKQ8OLu8=w800-h600-no)
Remember Utah is the home of Rat Fink Ed "Big Daddy" Roth! http://www.ratfink.com/ed-roth-museum.php (http://www.ratfink.com/ed-roth-museum.php)
(http://www.ratfink.com/images-pm/ed-rfshoulder-small.jpg)
Your 6.9 in a few years:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qd4hlC3IVK71JXSbFYotHQPLO4AYx3pBMROn2YQ00v5MEeZE3LWjVo1vSpVZeh0bVdWKkN0zmq8_SsLLMYK-z5DLrTlOXqZtivFuwi493pObIzXdQ_IFbCp8ZEfom4GNmk2djiHa0fCxCJ48JPveFgzZC4f9TdhuDmFlBYC26H_QfYhc4F-m2hhb4NrsecRMOXdg2Zop49wPSxJ0apcMMRVvT_uyHVcwSCoXB4QK74XXKWbzWjRA_Kdply0IVHswLermVlWLKTygEeyOyakM-LdtNdNNaMHxgSbbxBUlMiHcjZVQVKqZ08PvlwnOZKLomZfigRGSMzxFjIYU73vRR03eKeB9rYlm2kDln7jeoCvLXINj5Aar2JMMHjwjehs1KyHEO1eZQEEpDQQ6Sp0YTCeDhqrcb1j4LaGoGxqURsHuyPC6gn5ODD-72m3IPUmlm5AQsbOYYVFlpKR96P0DgP-Eg0ieJpeLKI1CKnPSoSs1M8lL_L4bFiUY-l6Q68fl9_lCJ-nARoLuBrujf9abCjYp9p3LIWWbxJDAMOcGd1xcsO_Oyp_fD3_QbSpapu_ibaxUlPjSiVif6cqzOPrw71T4KoYHul5vUGdIUbcDs1nqA7EFVUo-UcYqRphqXmU=w1024-h682-no)
Yes! Love the polished fan! Didn't know that Dig Daddy Roth was a Utahn. It's clear that his spirit lives on here and it's contagious. I've been bitten by the Kustom Kraze! You nailed it on the trajectory of the 6.9. Lord help me.
Dave, what is that clip I see just aft of the hose clamp on the top radiator hose ????
Quote from: daantjie on 26 September 2018, 10:38 AM
Dave, what is that clip I see just aft of the hose clamp on the top radiator hose ????
No idea. It's just there. Actually I'd been meaning to post and ask if anybody knew. ???
Also, do you know offhand if that little clip on the radiator frame to the left of the radiator is still available? It holds the return hose to the plastic tank. Mine's half busted.
Quote from: raueda1 on 26 September 2018, 04:08 PM
Quote from: daantjie on 26 September 2018, 10:38 AM
Dave, what is that clip I see just aft of the hose clamp on the top radiator hose ????
No idea. It's just there. Actually I'd been meaning to post and ask if anybody knew. ???
Also, do you know offhand if that little clip on the radiator frame to the left of the radiator is still available? It holds the return hose to the plastic tank. Mine's half busted.
I think that little clip on the radiator is unobtainium. It holds the return hose as well it has smaller clip which holds the cruise control cable. Might be shared with the 300SD but not sure on that to be honest.
Hi Dave
I think the part number for that clip is: MA126 501 02 20.
I am normally on the fashionista side but I too love the fan and the valve covers all polished. Beware not to end up with a pimpmobile, indeed, but so far you're good!
the plastic hose holderis about $5, and the metal clip that goes on it for the cruise control is about $16.
Despite what I have just said on another post I have had the covers polished and I agree they look good and brighten up the engine bay. All the yellow zinc work has be redone, by me, and everything else repainted. It wasn't just old but had been really abused and I thought there was no merit in preserving it.
the little metal clip that holds the cruise cable is A0029884978 is now NLA. I bought one about 2 years ago for $11.00. I may possibly have an extra one.
the plastic clip for the radiator hose it goes on is A1265010220 @$.50
Are 6.9 value covers unique to just the 6.9?
Yes.