Ok, for those wondering about the valve covers in blue & silver, I painted one Dupli-Color Ford Blue #DE 1601 today and sanded the top back. But, because I was in a hurry, and this is only a quick test, I cured the paint in the PC oven, which gave a bit of acne:



But, a bit of sanding did away with that and exposed the brushed aluminum giving this side-by-side. Or, is this a back-by-front?



Ah! Here's the side-by-side:


There are a myriad of options, but here are a few I've thought of:

1. Blue block, natural intake, black/aluminum valve covers, and black brackets.
2. Blue block, blue intake, black/aluminum valve covers, and black brackets.
3. Blue engine, natural intake, blue/aluminum valve covers, and black brackets.
4. Blue block, blue intake, blue/aluminum valve covers, and black brackets.

Note that I didn't include a black block as I'm thinking that Jim's comment about it being a cave with that much black is spot-on. But, I'm wavering. What are your thoughts?

 

Somehow the blue valve cover is not doing it for me.

 

I'm not trying to sway you, Jim, or anyone else for that matter. But, here's a mock-up using 2x4's instead of Coke boxes. Comments cherished.

Blue valve cover and "dirty natural" intake - you supply the block in your mind's eye awa the color thereof:


Ditto but with black on the cover, albeit somewhat thin:



How 'bout the view when you open the hood but w/o the dizzy and associated electrical plumbing:



And, for those wanting to know what is holding the air cleaner up, which is a very good use for it as it doesn't leak at all that way:

 

I'm kind of with Jim on the blue covers. Maybe if you were doing the darker Ford Corporate Blue I might like it better.

As for the headers, I don't believe Jet-Hot has a specific clause about using them for break-in. They do have a lifetime warranty on their coatings, but if you read the details of this warranty, it basically gives you one free re-coat. But theoretically even that should not be needed.

I did the break-in on my six with those headers and had no problems. Some people have talked about their headers getting cherry-red on break-in, mine never got anywhere that close. I had some box fans going over the engine bay and it was a cool day, in the 50s, but they had no problems after 30 minutes of 2,500 RPM. I didn't have an IR thermometer at that time, so I didn't measure the actual temps. I do know they cool off very quickly once you shut the car off, as compared to cast. You can touch them with your hands in a few minutes.

I don't have any long term thoughts on them, because two weeks after the break-in on the six, the engine cracked a piston. By then I had this truck project going so the car has just been sitting and I never really got to drive it. Someday when I win the lottery and finish the truck, I'll go back and do the engine over again. And I will use a different engine builder.

 

So much for my bright idea. Yeah the blue is not working for me too.

Back to bare aluminum on the VCs? Blue block/pan/intake, or bare intake and black brackets.

 

Luke - Good to know about Jet-Hot. I may contact them to see what they say, find out if I can tour, etc.

As for the paint scheme, oddly enough I didn't like it from the first suggestion, but when I sanded through the paint and the aluminum showed up I thought I liked it. And then I put it next to the black.

So, Don is voting for polished valve covers? Jim and Luke are for black and aluminum?

 

I am.
Whether it is just the writing and border on top, or the sides of the covers too, I like the way it "pops".

 

I thought the blue looked fantastic on the valve covers! However, not with the black snorkels on the air cleaner. That didn't jive. The black looked good with the black, but I am saying you wont like the black and blue motor. I didn't have time to photograph the Bronco motor. I will some time soon and let you see for yourself.

 

Hmmm. So maybe back to shiny aluminum on the valve covers? That will be work - both because I have to polish the sanded parts back, but I can do that, awa because the corrosion hasn't been polished out. Gotta think about that.

And, Bruno says I won't like a blue block and black elsewhere. So, if not that, what?

 

You're only on Page 4, plenty more room to converse about it

 

I get paid by the page. You?

 

I'm not sure what I'm for, but I'm not too much for the baby blue valve covers with a black block. It's one thing to have a different color but on top of that it is a vastly different shade. But I don't know, maybe I would change my mind seeing it all together.

Thankfully for me, you're the poor sap who has to finally make all these decisions.

 

The camera and/or computer screens lie - it isn't baby blue. But, it isn't the Old Ford Blue that it could be. However, even if it were I don't think I'd like it. My paint/body guy was just here and he didn't like the blue either, much preferring the black.

If the dual snorkels and air cleaner base, as well as lots of brackets and other bits, are going to be black there needs to be some color somewhere. But Bruno says a blue block gets lost and I can easily see that. So, what if the snorkels and air cleaner base as well as the block were Old Ford Blue? Then a bit of aluminum, either polished or otherwise, would brighten things up. So maybe the valve covers and air cleaner lid need to be polished.

 

Well, I liked the polished, all aluminum, black writing
I liked it so much, I just ordered a set

 

What if the block, brackets themselves and the intake were blue?
I think the light ford blue would be a little much on the air cleaner.

Maybe if it were the Ford dark blue?