Gary! here you go!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-1973-1974-DODGE-CHALLENGER-CHARGER-DART-POLARA-400-4V-AIR-CLEANER-LID-DECAL-/140940917556?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item20d0bbbb34&vxp=mtr

 

Hi Gary, yes I'm well accustomed to passing like ships in the night

Continuing the naval theme, maybe I should have "warmed the bell"

I just wanted to reaffirm my dislike of the black air cleaner if the core of the colour scheme (the block) is blue. I really like how that blue and aluminium combo goes together, and that blue rocker cover really rocks!

You could get some custom blended aerosol cans made up to match that metallic powder coat, then you could paint those components that cannot be PC'd due to seals or material incompatibility.
You wouldn't want to PC any consumable or service replacement parts, like the water pump or fuel pump, paint only I think. You could leave the paint blend code as part of a "build sheet" or "spec sheet" for Dad, that way your kids or whoever is maintaining Dad can keep the look and the legacy.

 

Matthew - Thanks, but that yells MOPAR. I'm wanting to use subtle Ford things, albeit from different years or models. Also, I doubt that decal would work as it goes on the "pie tin", which is a small aluminum disc in the center of the air cleaner so is much smaller in diameter than the large HO lid. But, thanks anyway.

Brad - I'm confused as to why I would paint items with seals the metallic "stamped steel" color. Wouldn't I want things like the aluminum water pump and fuel pump to be either clear-coated or OFB? I do understand the idea of PC'ing the brackets that might have been left raw by Ford with that powder to mimic the brand new look rather than go black. And, I'm sure there will be things that cannot be PC'd that should also be that color so understand the paint idea. But missed something on painting the engine components.

But, that reminds me that Eastwood have a paint that mimics the original look of steel very, very well. It doesn't really match that powder, which doesn't really mimic stamped steel, but the paint does an excellent job of matching stamped steel.

Anyway, you are voting for the engine, valve covers, and air cleaner base/snorkels to be blue. What about the heads, water pump, and intake?

 

I'll also throw a vote in for the only black things to be air ducting, belts, hoses and electrical loom sheath/conduit. And for stainless bolt-up hose clamps and p clips.

 

I got one (repro originally made by DC but resold by another entity) that says:

400 2V Regular Fuel

I think it was originally for a late-70s Ranchero... I found a fair number of 400 stickers out there but most specified unleaded gasoline, I didn't want that.

Wasn't about to try and ask somebody to custom-make a 400 HO sticker but I'll also buy a few if you find somebody willing to do the artwork and produce 'em, let me know....

 

Brad - I think I understand. I wasn't going to clear-coat anything but the aluminum, like the water pump, intake, and heads. But I'll try to picture what you are suggesting and see where that takes me.

Chris - I was wrong about what the air cleaner lid said. Here's a pic that proves that. So, I'd just have to have someone make one that reads "6.6 Liter 4V H.O.", which I think does a pretty good job of describing this engine.




But I found this outfit that sells die-cut letters as in my picture and sent them this query:

 

Cool.

If you get to talking to the guy and he seems he'd do it, ask about this variant, too:

DF0878 - osborn-reproduction.com

 

Interesting. Do you know what it is from? I'm wondering if the lid it is from is smaller than the HO lid, meaning that one wouldn't fit on the HO lid.

And, why do you like it better? Just trying to see all sides.

 

I just found it while scrolling through the list but I don't remember on which car/truck that configuration was used, only that it looks familiar for some reason Why do I like it? I dunno, just because.

I have a 351HO air cleaner assembly in my garage that I bought at a JY several years ago for some reason, I think I initially wanted the 1980/81/82(?) grille and found that there at the same time and took it because everything was still complete and unmolested and in good condition (remember those days? it's pretty dang hard to find much of anything 1980-86 anymore).

 

When I built my engine (which came with one of those (rusty) chrome things the kids like) I got a (actually, two, the other is still in the garage) factory air cleaner from a 1970s sedan to use on it, I stripped it and painted it and then applied the sticker.

Am thinking of stripping it again and PC-ing it but am not sure how to deal with the foam/rubber seal on the underside of the cover; it's not in real good shape but I hate to scrape it out of there (it resides in a channel as I recall) without knowing what I'd replace it with, and I don't feel real comfortable baking it in a 400° oven. but maybe "someday" the right solution will present itself... if I ever do that, I'd maybe use a 400HO sticker.

 

Or maybe a variant of this one from the 1970s (which reminds me of what my 1970 Mustang had)

DF0483 - osborn-reproduction.com

 

That gasket won't survive the PC oven, and when it burns it'll ruin the PC finish on the rest of the top. But, a piece of vacuum hose cut to length and glued in the channel works well. Already done that one.

 

Do you have a design in mind? I might be able to talk my mom out of a few, but I'm not sure if she still has access to a decal machine. Wouldn't mind a 300 style "400" text for mine.

 

Did a bit more on the mock engine. First, I added some brackets that had already been PC'd and the A/C compressor that's clean and black. This picture is, obviously, a head-on shot:




Here's a closeup of the two bolts holding the A/C bracket to the water pump. One is PC'd satin black and the other has been bead-blasted natural. I could PC them with that Stamped Steel powder that Brad likes. And, I could PC those brackets with the same powder to cut down on the black. What'cha think?




And, the wider view shows that the A/C compressor and brackets really start to obscure the view.

 

Even less of the block will be seen once the headers/manifold are installed. So I am thinking more blue somewhere.

Can you take a similar pic like the third one, but from the other side where the top of the blue v cover can be seen. Try the same angle like you did in #3 as if you were looking down in the engine compartment.