Correct Finish for '73 Plastic MFI Airbox?

[murphyrg]

I've seen several suggestions for painting the airbox, but looking at mine, I'm not sure that it was painted to start with - at least not completely painted. The rearmost third top surface appears to be more shiny than the front of the top, and the snorkel clearly shows a ring near the inlet side and the bottom where it looks like whatever was sprayed on it didn't reach. The photos on this post show what I'm describing, if you haven't seen this: http://ww.early911sregistry.org/foru...-Short-Snorkle . It almost looks like it was sprayed with a clearcoat while in the car such that only the rear of the airbox was exposed. I assumed that some previous owner did this until I saw other cars looking the same.

Two questions: Does anyone know how/what was sprayed? and what is the best way to replicate this? My airbox has many visible light scratches on its top that can't be polished out without losing the surrounding textured surface of the plastic. I've tried lightly blasting with glass beads and walnut shells, but the resulting texture isn't right. If I simply try to cover the scratches with paint, I'll also hide the proper texture. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

[RSTarga]

Only metal parts were painted, everything else natural plastic finish

[murphyrg]

I would have thought so, too. But that would mean that the areas that were more exposed to light became shiny over time - which I haven't seen before.

[BOYER73S]

They do go shinier over time I bought a new one back in 2003 when they were still available and there is NOTHING on them no coating just the raw plastic

[murphyrg]

Well, that answers the question I had about the shiny sections. Now I just need to figure out how to get back to the original, out of the mold surface texture and color.

Thanks

[robmog]

I have a spare with original patina
No warping
Includes snorkle
$200 + shipping

[911MRP]

A little extra information that might be of interest, it is photograph of pages from a period Porsche Engineering Services publication and it promotes their specialty of lightweight construction plastic blow moulding. As mentioned by others previously it makes no reference to such parts having coatings applied but does make claims about oxidisation ...possibly not expecting surface finish to be an issue under discussion in 40+ years
It is a KG publication so probably from 1972 ahead of the AG change


apologies, photo keeps auto rotating on upload possibly due to the shape

[murphyrg]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm already swimming in patina with this car. I'm trying to make it look like it just rolled out of the factory.

I have a spare with original patina
No warping
Includes snorkle
$200 + shipping

[murphyrg]

Shortsighted Germans.

A little extra information that might be of interest, it is photograph of pages from a period Porsche Engineering Services publication and it promotes their specialty of lightweight construction plastic blow moulding. As mentioned by others previously it makes no reference to such parts having coatings applied but does make claims about oxidisation ...possibly not expecting surface finish to be an issue under discussion in 40+ years
It is a KG publication so probably from 1972 ahead of the AG change


apologies, photo keeps auto rotating on upload possibly due to the shape

[Chuck Miller]

This might be better........... I sweetened the photo a little

Not sure how many molds they used for these air cleaners, however most I've seen (including mine) has a rough half and a smooth half as installed new.....