You be the MCA Judge - What is wrong with this Engine Bay

[79mustangcobra]

As for the prop rode being body color, not on all of them, in fact, not on most of them.


Bill S.

I think we had a discussion on this before. My 79 has a black Prop Rod., lol, it is wild all the different variances.

[roush235]

I seem to agree, we discussed prop rods before. Mine is body colored.

Strut bolts: I've noticed blue ones before, but never gave it too much more thought. When I started restoring my engine compartment, my bolts appeared to be a dark gray/black, so that's what color I repainted them. Now, I realize that color may have just been the "old" metal, or perhaps some very faded/dirty blue. I'm 99.9% sure they were never repainted. So, sounds like they need to go back to blue. The same blue as the engine block?

[79mustangcobra]

Hi Bob, the engine block is Ford Corporate Blue a darker blue, since you are from Texas maybe the color is more like the old Houston Oilers Blue, or North Carolina Tarheel blue for the strut Bolts.

[roush235]

The master cylinder reservoir and cap on the pace car look to be a satin black e.g. Eastwood Underhood Black, as opposed to a cast gray color?

[roush235]

Two improvements: the master cylinder and cap are now black (instead of cast gray and silver), and the strut bolts are "Houston Oiler" blue (instead of black). Not sure about the shade of blue, looks a little light; maybe I need to see one of those no-mile Pace Cars in person to judge the shade of blue?

[79mustangcobra]

The master cylinder reservoir and cap on the pace car look to be a satin black e.g. Eastwood Underhood Black, as opposed to a cast gray color?

Bon, You are correct, however I find it odd that MCA allows a Zinc Cap.

MCA says, 79-83 semi-gloss black master cylinder & cap. Zinc dichromate cap acceptable.

[79mustangcobra]

Two improvements: the master cylinder and cap are now black (instead of cast gray and silver), and the strut bolts are "Houston Oiler" blue (instead of black). Not sure about the shade of blue, looks a little light; maybe I need to see one of those no-mile Pace Cars in person to judge the shade of blue?

Now that is what I am talking about!!!! VERY NICE!!

[79mustangcobra]

Bob here is a picture of a 108 Mile Turbo 4 Pace Car. Look at the Blue bolts around the Onion Heads on the driver side. I think you are on the money

[roush235]

Thanks.... still looks to me that my blue is a little too light... ????....

[mrmustang]

Thanks.... still looks to me that my blue is a little too light... ????....

it is a bit on the light side, the blue you are looking for is actually available as a spray bomb, just a shade darker than the original "corporate blue" on the 67-73 ford Mustang. Also, to be real picky your semi gloss black on the master cylinder and booster are too shiny/glossy. You need to get chassis black to get the right tone to the semi gloss color you are striving for. Scuff what you have but a light coat of the same paint over them, then top coat it while wet with the chassis black. When it dries it will be as close to the original as humanly possible. As for the nuts, if you really want it to be original looking, wait a week for the paint to harden, then take a ratchet and socket to them as if you were going to tighten them. All of the ones I've ever seen (including a 2.3 mile, non dealer prepped car) have some remnant of tool markings where they were originally installed. Again, it all depends just how crazy (ie: how anally ) you want to get with your detailing.


Bill S.

[79mustangcobra]

Thanks.... still looks to me that my blue is a little too light... ????....

Bob, Maybe a little two light. You can blame me. I told you Oiler blue, which it may just a little darker than that. Mine looks light blue.

I commend your work!

[roush235]

Thanks guys for the comments & tips.

As for the bolts, I think I will look around for a slightly darker blue. I had thought about then putting a wrench to them to scratch them up a bit. As they are now, they are an example of what I consider "over-restored."

I'll think about the gloss black. My experience with Eastwood Underhood Black is that it tends to dull over time. Or maybe, since my car is a driver, a part gets dusty and dirty and dulls over time during the course of cleaning.

In any case, you can tell I'm pretty obsessive, but I try to be reasonable about it.... otherwise I would just fret over every flaw on my car (and there are many).

[roush235]

Update:

I repainted the bolts a slightly darker blue, then put a wrench to them to scratch them up a bit. Looks fairly realistic in my opinion.

[79mustangcobra]

Update:

I repainted the bolts a slightly darker blue, then put a wrench to them to scratch them up a bit. Looks fairly realistic in my opinion.

Looks great!

[DadBox]

Update:

I repainted the bolts a slightly darker blue, then put a wrench to them to scratch them up a bit. Looks fairly realistic in my opinion.

Maybe I missed it but...Shouldn't you have a rivet in one of those five holes?

[vascj]

man I would like to do one of these for my 85s!! great idea..

[yaterstang]

Wow this thread is awesome! Hey 79C, I just picked up an 86, can you find me a link to a fully restored or a low mileage 86 engine compartment?

[Curtis]

Was the compressor painted black from the factory?

[79mustangcobra]

Was the compressor painted black from the factory?

According to MCA The AC Compressor York style was semi-gloss black prior to 10-1-81

Compressor is natural aluminum after 10-1-81

[79mustangcobra]

Wow this thread is awesome! Hey 79C, I just picked up an 86, can you find me a link to a fully restored or a low mileage 86 engine compartment?

Here is one on Ebay 292 Miles you can compare

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-SP...item43a40b304d

[roush235]

Resurrecting an old thread.... on a current thread in the "Cars For Sale" section, there is a discussion about hood bumpers being correct painted body color. If that is true for 79's, it is another tidbit I did not know. My recollection is that mine were not body color, or perhaps all the paint had worn off. Any wider view pictures of the original 79 Pace Car to help with this question?

[BLK BRD 88]

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/bassdb/Capture59.jpg[/IMG]

How close is this to how an 80 Mustang 4.2 should look?

[Rick Schmidt]

Man I was just sittin here thinkin that tho the first pic in the post may not be show quality it is Show Quality compared to what mine will ever look like lol
Also on those prop rods I swear If I could find my cars original I could prove not all were black. It was the original burgundy the car was

[79mustangcobra]

My Cobra was built in 8-78, that is a very early run! The prop rod is black. Maybe they changed this as production picked up but MCA says 79-82 is semi-gloss black, body color on 83-93. Again, this is a debated topic.

[79mustangcobra]

Resurrecting an old thread.... on a current thread in the "Cars For Sale" section, there is a discussion about hood bumpers being correct painted body color. If that is true for 79's, it is another tidbit I did not know. My recollection is that mine were not body color, or perhaps all the paint had worn off. Any wider view pictures of the original 79 Pace Car to help with this question?

Ok, it looks like they are painted body color.

From a Black Ghia



From the 79 Pace Car with 105 Miles, I captured this shot from YouTube of it. Notice the pewter paint on it.



I always like to back up what I say with a source. Below is the link to the YouTube Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOoFWg8xHSo

My 79 Cobra has some red on its hood bumpers. I never noticed that! Good job! Love learning new stuff!