Engine Valve cover and Airbox color

Hi all

I m restoring my 1979 GTS in red color , I m wondering what would you do with your engine valve cover and Airbox

valve cover color ?
1) original silver
2) wrinkles red or black ?

Airbox
1) original wrinkles black ?
2) shiny black ?


My dilemma is to keep original look or choose what's looks nice .






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I vote wrinkle black valve covers and plenum.


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here is one i did with wrinkle black valve covers, looks great


Wade
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Since you are going through the expense of restoring the car I would go with the original look. The value of your car is on the rise and soon to reach classic 40 year old status. Only original restored cars will bring the best money when it comes time to sell.

If you don't care about that do, what you like.

 

This is always my dilemma !! I have 3 Customisation that are reversible but these make the car a daily driver . And I keep all original parts with me . Besides the valve cover and Airbox I wonder if I continue to install these 3 items or go back to all original 😕

1) Nick ignition
2) power steering
3) hydraulic clutch







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Original looks best to me.

 

4) cruise control (it's great on longer runs)


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No one can see power steering or a hydraulic clutch. Some will cringe at the thought, but - if they really make it easier to drive the car - maybe a future buyer or appraiser won't mind. I have the ignition, too, and that's easily reversible. I agree, if you're going to the great expense of restoration, make it look restored and not modified anywhere you can. That said, you'd have to try pretty hard to make a 308 look bad, so decide what you want to look at every day and do something you'll enjoy if you keep it long term. As long as you don't sandblast the cam covers, painting is also reversible. A previous owner painted my carb airbox red; you'd think the job was stock if you didn't know better.

 

I'm in agreement. I love the original aluminum finish on the valve covers. When I did the major on my 328 I cleaned them using good old elbow grease and aluminum polish. See post #19 and 20 regarding the product I used as well as before/after photos: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/365828-tightening-alternator-belt-made-easier.html#post141680417
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I meant it when I talk about power steering - it will only activate when u are below 10kmh. In a country with many cars, small road and small parking lot . The power steering is very useful and its build for 308. Attached some pics .






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I thought about it too


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This looks very nice ! Is the original valve cover just aluminum polished without paint ? Or it's a spray paint with aluminum color ?


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the original one

Don't waste money in customization. And take a prewoned Corvette as daily driver: trust me

ciao
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The original valve cover surface is natural aluminum without paint (at least on a 328). I'm sure someone smarter than me will chime in but I suspect this is true for a 79' 308 as well. On the 328 the only aluminum surface that is painted is the lower portion of the intake plenum and throttle body. These pieces have a silver colored wrinkle finish (see photo). When I redid my intake plenum I left the previously painted lower portion in polished aluminum to match the intake manifolds and valve covers.
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most excellent!

 

I painted my valve covers red wrinkle and cam belt covers in black wrinkle paint. It is easily removed with paint stripper when you do cam belt and timing service if you decide to go back original. Now one will ever know. No need to sandblast.

 

Original color scheme and finish...

 

The valve covers as other are posting are "natural aluminum" of the casting.

Your airbox is wrinkle finish, and the black is semi-gloss, between flat and shiny.
Too much sheen will not be original.

I think top value in the machine is original Factory finishes, for myself.

If you fancy a bright color, it's your car!!!

Hope this helps...

 

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts I really appreciate it !

I have one more question related to the polished natural aluminum valve and belt cover will they not turned darken/black overtime and we have to consistently polishing them ?


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The raw aluminum does oxidize, slightly changing appearance.

A cleaner like Simple Green will wash that off, and instead of painting silver (which peels off) the real appearance improvement would be to send them out to polish like the Harley riders do, and the clear coat them!!!

But that would not be original either!!


The truth is, Ferrari did not care about the appearance, in racing you pull the motor so much to repair, it stays wiped clean and shiny!!!

 

Aluminum oxide is a chaulky white powder...they won't ever actually darken....

 

They do dull a bit but they don't blacken.

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I had mine vapour blasted 4 years ago and they still look exactly the same without any cleaning at all since then.
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Looks great Andy.
I have never however seen a plenum hose with the yellow triangular decal with Ferrari written on it. Did you make that one up yourself?

 

I will admit now that I have already won Platinum and not entering again that I did make that up. I painted the yellow and used a model transfer