SAAC Forum

The Diamond MP stamping on these plugs is so light, a thin coat of engine paint would completely fill all markings.

These have the MP diamond mark. But have to really look close. Very light imprint.

Seems like there could easily be some instances where SA removed the black painted water tube on the cast iron manifold and reinstalled it in the cobra intake. More likely, due to time/effort, SA used "new" tubes that may have been finished in different levels of zinc dichromate which is a gold color.  However, thin chromate coating wears off easily. Underneath the coating is silver because the chromate has to have a zinc base to stick to. Thinner levels of chromate and wear would appear more silver.

If you look close, u can see the diamond imprint in the side of the freeze plug that shows.

When the freeze plugs were installed at factory, was any sealer used?

I assume the freeze pjugs were installed in block and heads before engine assembly was painted?

+1

The heater tube on 5S114 really appears natural and I will go with that but make note some black tubes may have been removed from the black painted iron intakes and installed on Cobra intakes and leave the transition date to a follow on discussion about the markings (or lack of) on each specific bolt.

So assume hipo engines had heater fitting installed prior to being painted black. During the intake swap, SA removed the painted thermostat housing and reused the housing and the black painted bolts on the Cobra intake. SA may or may not have swapped the heater fitting. My really faded memory is that the fitting on 5S228 was natural and not painted black??

Head wrench at Cobra Restorers (770) 427-0020 in Kennesaw GA knew of one for sale not long ago.

What would the texture/gloss level be for the engine block which would include timing cover and water pump attaching bolts?

So, water pump pulley, lower pulley and balancer spray painted same color as black dipped alternator brackets. No paint in bolt holes or where V belt fits.

Am confused about pulley coatings. Was the water pump pulley and balancer pulley dipped or spray painted?

Assuming iron intake and cast thermostat housing were bolted to the engine prior painting black by Ford. Once engine went to Shelby, SA removed the black painted thermostat and its black painted bolts as well as the black iron intake and its black painted bolts. The iron intake was replaced by the Cobra alum intake using the black painted bolts from the iron intake. The thermostat housing was reinstalled to the Cobra intake by SA, again using the painted black bolts from Ford.
So should expect to see some degree of scratches on the black painted intake and thermostat housing bolts?

Trying to consolidate what was plated/dipped/painted/allowed to rust, etc.  Always get questions like why is thermostat housing black and intake is natural alum....

Thanks to all who are contributing.

Thanks Bob.
Would you happen to know what type coating was applied to the balancer bolt and 3 pulley bolts?