Fiberglass fan shroud painting?

[lateapex911]

So, I looked and probably missed the thread already about this, so feel free to scold me and point me in the right direction lol.

I'm refreshing the engine, and when it's out I might was well, since I'm there, repaint every last thing

So far I'm Cerakoting the fan, valve covers tins etc etc.

I went to clean up the fiberglass fan shroud. The car is a 1973 E in yellow. Back on the 90s, the 2.4 had issues, the MFI needed rebuilding, and Gus was backed up like a year, soooo my builder put in 2.7 with solex cams and 6 webers, a pretty standard build. My green shroud went away and the new 9old) one was black. And used.

Today, it's not great, scuffed up, stained and looks like it's been used for 40 years! Some of the rivets are MIA.

So, questions:
Rivets: are there proper stock style I should use? Or just the crappy ones I have with my 30 yr old cheapo rivet kit?

Paint: were these painted at the factory or is the color integral? And if I repaint, what color? I was thinking I could go with satin black, or green as thats the stock color as built and I like the look, but it's kind of a lie as it's not an MFI E engine. Thoughts?

Prep: Body fill the scratches and other blemishes? From the factory, the surface shows the raw material. So I'm thinking don't go overboard, leave as much stock as possible, just clean up the ugly damage.
OR?
Maybe raw fiberglass in amber? I assume that's made by somebody but likely costs a month at Yale. $$.

Any other tips, tricks or advice "while I'm here"?

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

There seems to be a contingent of owners who fall into the, “never paint the engine shroud” camp. While delegates of the, “it’s your car, do what you want” tribe may offer up experience and expertise for refinishing materials and techniques.

When I purchased my car, “I didn’t know any better” so I can claim ignorance. I just knew my shroud looked a bit dull and grungy. A thorough cleaning and some rattle can paint made it look almost as good as new. I won’t tell if you don’t.

[otto_kretschmer]

years ago I replaced my alternator and since the fan was out I rattle canned it flat black and it still looks good

if you got holes to fill I would use JB Weld over bondo but it probably won't make much of a difference. I would expect JB Weld to outgas less than the polyester resin based bondo when the fan shroud is heated.

flat black is my go to color for most bit parts, even wheels

it looks good and its so easy to touch up

[GaryR]

Jake - can you get proper paint/hardener mixed up at a automotive paint supply and put in rattle cans? Rustoleum and the other hardware store paints like it are crap.. As for prep just treat it like any other FG part.

[Mark Henry]

Don't use rattle can for carbs, any drop of gas will bubble, crinkle basicly ruin the paint. Use a fuel safe paint.

Face it you wiĺ spill some fuel while tuning carbs.

[shadowjack1]

I'm in the your car, do what you want camp. I painted mine white to match the car..

[GaryR]

Matched my car at the time, Signal yellow..

[khamul02]

Did you guys use high temp paint?

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by khamul02

Did you guys use high temp paint?

I used two part enamel (automotive). plenty tough once cured..

[shadowjack1]

I used reg. paint. 7 years ago. Still looks good.

[JohnJL]

Epiphanes makes great 2-part fiberglass paint. You can get it in many colors including black. It is super strong and impervious to oil, gas and any heat it gets from the motor underneath. Can be brushed, roller or sprayed. Prep is key...your shroud is likely soaked in oil and gas over the years, you need to get that all out and off.

[skinnerd]

I'd recommend going with amber....but then again I'm biased.
Definitely gives the car that "motorsport" vibe.

It's very easy to repaint these fan shrouds if you choose to go that way..
Definitely use a two part epoxy automotive paint so it lasts.
Color is up to you, but the factory has some pretty good colors: red, green and yellow. I don't consider black a color; it's that the absence of color? Ha

I think any kind of rivet is fine.
I used standard aluminum rivets on my amber shroud.
You can see them above.

[lateapex911]

So....good thoughts..and the point about chemicals isn't to be forgotten, anything I do needs to be very chemical resistant. The current PMOs need tuning!
I have cleaned and cleaned, and...I am SURE it's got grease. I will don a charcoal mask and get some acetone going to degrease.

Good point on the JB Weld...I'm using that on my fan before I Cerakote it.

I looked at just buying a new one. The amber FG ones on Pelican (I think) were like $500! So, I think I'll be painting!

Using a mainline automotive paint would be fine, I can spray a sealer/primer first. JB Weld is good to 550F, with is WAY hotter than the shroud will ever see. But what WILL a shroud see? 200?? Maybe 250 or so where it contacts the cam tower? Normal automotive paint is fine for 300 or so, so I think I'd be fine here, especially as the shroud itself is only epoxy resin.

I'm leaning to replicating the green used on the E models (Black on Ts and red on Ss, I think?) Has anyone doe an actual match to some known color? It kind of looks Conda green??

Love the pics, post 'em if you got 'em!

[lateapex911]

Originally Posted by skinnerd

I'd recommend going with amber....but then again I'm biased.
Definitely gives the car that "motorsport" vibe.

It's very easy to repaint these fan shrouds if you choose to go that way..
Definitely use a two part epoxy automotive paint so it lasts.
Color is up to you, but the factory has some pretty good colors: red, green and yellow. I don't consider black a color; it's that the absence of color? Ha

I think any kind of rivet is fine.
I used standard aluminum rivets on my amber shroud.
You can see them above.

Hubba hubba, very nice shroud!

At $500, I'm going to put that on my "next time" list. Thanks for the rivets advice.
And, what is going on with that transmission?? I don't recognize it. Wild guess....not a 911? A VW bus conversion to a flat 6??? Or the opposite, some super cool race car?

[skinnerd]

Originally Posted by lateapex911

Hubba hubba, very nice shroud!

At $500, I'm going to put that on my "next time" list. Thanks for the rivets advice.
And, what is going on with that transmission?? I don't recognize it. Wild guess....not a 911? A VW bus conversion to a flat 6??? Or the opposite, some super cool race car?

Not a 911.....a 914.

[lateapex911]

Originally Posted by skinnerd

Not a 911.....a 914.

Ahhhh, I wondered about a 914-6. I'm not familiar with the transmission appearance, oddly enough since I've dropped a few with a friend at the race track. Nice looking set up!

[Flojo]

back in 2013 I rattle canned my shroud.
gave it a brutal good clean, some quick sanding with 250 (dry, then wet) and sprayed it two layers.
No issues up to today.

[khamul02]

Going in the opposite direction.. didn't I see a carbon fiber shroud at some point?

[335]

VHT high temp engine paint (Australia) with their metal / fiberglass primer. I filled some gouges with polyester resin and repaired damaged holes with resin and matting. Just reshaped, sanded and primed. I haven't finished final paint yet and I'm a little stuck on the snorkel to oil cooler color. My finished color for the shroud will be gloss black but I haven't yet decided on the snorkel color. It was beige. Engine enamel (according to the can) needs temp to cure for chemical resistance. Let you know when I get it all back together 🤞. I just picked up longer rivets. Not sure what diameter but they are common.

[335]