I'm no fan

[Frank Beck]

Hummm...

Not sure how this conversation turned into defending Mark or status quo... it's gotten kind of weird; almost like you think I'm attacking Mark?

I am personally disappointed with many of the current acceptable standards (alt fans and SWB dashboards being two of many.) This post was to express my disappointment in current fan restoration and to ask for examples close to original or NOS. It surprises me that it's turned into a platform where others are trying to convince me that my standards are too high.

And

just to prove that they are not too high I will post here an example of one of our restored fans to show that current status quo can be improved upon. (Please ignore the nut; it was replaced later.)

We're sneaking up on it but getting the yellowish tint still eludes us. I'll try the Tectyl 506 and I welcome other suggestions.

[70SATMan]

We're sneaking up on it but getting the yellowish tint still eludes us. I'll try the Tectyl 506 and I welcome other suggestions.

Are you referring to the color of the plated pieces??? People suggesting the Tectyl 506 is thinking of the waxy protectorant applied to the Mag to keep oxidation down. That wouldn't help if it's the plating tint you are going after.

That's a result of the Passivation after plating and, we are likely talking Cadmium for the original (giving you the mellow yellow) and what Porsche (and many commercial platers) are allowed to use now.

[Frank Beck]

Michael,
The plating is drivel; anyone can nail that.

The issue has always been getting the magnesium right.

[70SATMan]

Ahh...well, then others are correct, the Tectyl is what gave the mag the yellow tint.

One thing to remember about the mag is that even though you have NOS parts to compare, the color of the mag is going to be different today than it was on the day it was cast or put on a car the first time.

So you after what the mag looked like when the factory installed the fan/car as deliverd as the NOS parts you show don't have a yellow tint to by eye... Maybe my monitor?

[mfitton]

Or use the original Cosmoline: http://www.cosmolinedirect.com/

[Frank Beck]

Mike, I'm not sure where the idea originated that Cosmoline was ever used on the fans. Cosmoline is a preservative that does not penetrate into the surface. Whatever is applied will wipe off; no matter how long it's on there.


Michael, most of the super low mileage engines I have/had (including the zero mile 2.2E) had a similar finish to the one on the '73 sales brochure below. (But I must say that particular fan has to be one of the ugliest on the planet.)

Would I ever try to duplicate this?

Not on your life.

But I believe there's some middle ground.

..

[Mr9146]

Michael,
The plating is drivel; anyone can nail that.

The issue has always been getting the magnesium right.

FWIW, I didn't think you were attacking Mark's work. I get what you're saying...

But the pictures I posted were of fans that Mark has done for me on my own cars. I think he got the mag right...

What say you?

[edmayo]

Frank, for what its worth, I bead blast at very low pressures (10psi) and keep the gun moving, don't let it stop on any one spot, I was trying to keep the mottled effect of original mag. Then I spray with Eastwood clear for metals.

[RSTarga]

According to the factory, all they did was Chromate all Magnesium parts, then Tectyl everything. . Yet new all the fans had a goldish tint that does not really match a chromate only treatment.
Maybe the Tectyl or whatever they used gave the hue.

[HughH]

for what it is worth this is what it looked like when we put Tectyl on my mag gearbox to protect it. the amount of yellow is a function of how much you use and, i suspect, how smooth or otherwise the surface is