Is that the right dizzy? I noticed it doesn't have the extension and the shallow cap like the DSII & III units have. Is that a different cap than the norm??

 

Hows that ZF5 doing behind your engine still? Gaining any more MPGS?

 

Based on this mock up, I like the old Ford blue, and the blue/alum valve cover paint scheme. Leave the heads, intake, and water pump natural. Air cleaners are usually black. BUT the HO motor used an alum top to it. Maybe try that with some custom lettering?

 

Only thing I will say, all "natural" aluminum should be painted/PC'ed with clear to seal the surface, or it will stain from whatever might leak/get spilled on it. Even without stuff getting on it, aluminum tends to dull and/or corrode over time.

Stock air cleaners on Fords were painted the same color as the engine thru the early 80's. I think the "HO" engines were the first to get the black-out treatment, with polished lids.

 

True on the aluminum, but I don't think I want to PC or paint the heads. And I can't really PC the water pump, although I could use a spray clear that might help - or it might yellow and look ugly. But the intake manifold needs to be PC'd as all sorts of things get on it and go down into the pores. Same thing with the alternator, although you have to be careful as some grounding is needed, as is cooling.

So, Paul, are you suggesting that I paint the heads, intake, and water pump blue? Or, just coat them with clear? Or?

On the air cleaner, the non-HO's I've seen in these trucks were a natural aluminum base and lid with a snorkel that almost looked galvanized. But, I think I like the black with a natural aluminum lid like the HO's. I think.

 

I wouldn't paint the heads or intake, unless you wanted to. Half the reason for going to aluminum heads/intake is the cool looking factor when you raise the hood.

There is such a thing as "high heat" clear. Probably the best option for the water pump, though it isn't subjected to that much heat....

I had forgot about the aluminum air cleaners existance, probably due to their rather short run before being replaced by remote "black boxes"..........

 

Missed some posts. Sorry.

That's the right dizzy but the wrong cap and no adapter. To refresh the memories, that's the new dizzy I got from Amazon that was said to be the right one for the truck and would be delivered in two days. It wasn't. Obviously the wrong cap as all of the DS dizzies came with an adapter and the large cap. And, it came a day late, for which Amazon gave me a $20 credit. But the dizzy was only $17.50ish so effectively they paid me $2.50 to take it. I'll run it and add the right adapter and cap - hopefully in blue.

The ZF worked great - while the truck was running. But, like the rest of the parts for the truck the ZF is sitting on the floor. I'll send it out for a rebuild soon as the synchro's weren't all that good and the reverse one had a spot where it wouldn't go in so you had to roll the truck a bit to get into reverse at times. But, the MPG's were up significantly from the C6, although it is difficult to quantify as I changed from a worn out stock 351M to a built 351M at the same time as changing the tranny. And the combo went from getting 10.25 MPG to getting 14.75 at 62 MPH.

Ok, that's a vote for the basic combo I like. And, on the air cleaner I'd thought of going back with the "351HO" lettering just to fake people out. But, what lettering were you thinking of? I could probably do about anything if I wanted to.

 

Why not really mess with people's heads, and put "400HO" on there. That's an engine that never *actually* existed, but should have........

 

Yes, that "pop" when you open the hood is part of the cool effect for the aluminum heads. So I really don't want to paint them blue - but could use high-temp clear on them as well as the water pump.

Many of the aluminum air cleaners I've had my hands on were cracked. Dad's was split in many places - apparently the snorkel vibrating out there did them in. And that was probably made worse when people left the aluminum hose off from the exhaust manifold as it might have provided some support.

 

Sounds like a good idea - if I can figure out how to do it.

 

Match the fender trim font and do individual letters. Apply each letter in sequence after drawing a pencil guide line. Clear it after cleanup to seal the letters.

I was thinking script saying "In Honor of Dad" or something similar would work well.

 

Seeing the photos I kind of agree with the others, I like the blue/aluminum theme as you have it on the passenger side. The black valve cover doesn't seem to go as well.

For custom lettering that I am going to paint, I have had very good luck making up my design in Corel Draw (or some other vector program), then sending it off to a vinyl cutter and asking for the "negative" of my design. In other words, they don't return me the cut letters, but the area around the letters. I then use this as a paint mask. The vinyl results in perfectly crisp lines, is sticky-backed so easy to apply, and comes right off when the paint is done!

 

Critter - Since I have the license tag show in my avatar I'm not sure I need anything under the hood about Dad. However, I like your idea and wonder about placing something above the radio where it currently says Ranger. That would remind me and everyone who's truck it was.

Luke - Good idea on the negative. I could do the "400HO" like RW suggested on the air cleaner lid the same way they did 351HO. That would mess with their minds. But, Cuda Chick says the vinyl letters will stay so I might use the letters and PC them clear.

All - Did a bit more mocking-up today. Added a carb, water pump pulley, fuel pump, a blue adapter and dizzy cap, and an air cleaner. Tried to add a harmonic balancer - bead blasted the one from the 400, painted it black, and discovered it won't fit the M crank.

Anyway, as said I did add the dual-snorkel air cleaner mock up. Learned a bit doing that, which is documented in, oddly enough, Dad's Air Cleaner.

So, here's how it looks with the air cleaner. Does the extra black up topside change anyone's idea about blue vs black valve covers?




Does this view make a difference?

 

Booooooooooo!!!

 

Gary, I painted the head and accessory bracket on the 2.2L T2 engine with clear Krylon, then did the same after painting the intake and VC flat black and sanding the tops of the ribs and "Chrysler Turbo" letters.