Author Topic: Opinion: Radiator Overflow reservoir - Do I polish the brass or paint black? (Read 10676 times)

jf308 · « **on:** November 22, 2014, 23:26:20 »

Steam cleaned the engine compartment and underside. Removed the firewall pad. New one on order.

Began to clean and polish engine and components and am starting to like the look of the polished brass reservoir. Is this a real no-no? Would anyone care?

PS. interesting find now that the years of grime are gone. Etched into the top of the valve cover is 95,600 ; W-0 ; 1-16-86 I have a receipt for a full engine rebuild from '86 but
that document never noted the mileage (km's since its a Euro German delivery car). Nice find. Always piecing together the puzzle pieces with these 50 year old cars.

John

ptooner · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2014, 02:20:15 »

I suspect it depends on the rest of your engine compartment. I painted mine. I also painted the top of the oil dipstick bright red. Still undecided about other under hood details. I had it steam cleaned a while back and it caused quite a bit of surface rust of components. BTW, I won a third in class today.

Gerry

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2014, 06:34:08 »

This is personal preference, but I really don't like the brass look. Belongs more on early 1900's cars in my opinion. I'd also say, when in doubt go with original, which was of course black.

Garry · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:25:52 »

Agree its personal but I dislike the brass look and dont understand where the non paint look is coming from.

Flyair · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:57:45 »

For obvious reasons I felt compelled by the title "Polish Brass" and I thought that this is some specific type of brass I was not aware so far...

I gather you meant: polished brass

Thank you anyway

jf308 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2014, 14:56:39 »

Yes.... you are right. I have no idea if the brass is of Polish origin or not. LOL

I obviously used incorrect grammar meaning " to polish the brass" or "to paint" the reservoir. I will try to amend the title of the post.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2014, 16:30:41 »

John--

Make the car look like it was intended. Paint the overflow reservoir a satin black.
Polished brass might look nice but really has no business in the inside of our engine bays.
There's reason why there is a period of time called "The Brass Era" in automotive history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_Era_car

Of course, disregard what I say if your personal preference trumps any level of authenticity, or if you consider your Pagoda to be a horseless carriage.

mmizesko · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2014, 16:44:40 »

Satin Black, Baby!

Mike Mizesko
Columbus, OH

jf308 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2014, 22:56:25 »

LOW GLOSS SATIN BLACK it is.

Once you guys made the 1900's horse-buggy references, I can't see the polished brass in the engine bay any more. Funny how my mind now goes.

THANKS

John

stickandrudderman · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2014, 22:47:34 »

Yes, satin black only please.
Polish brass is high ranking Polish military officials.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2014, 15:35:00 »

You must take this, John, with a grain of salt.

Almost equally as obnoxious as polished brass, IMHO is an all-polished "chrome look" engine bay. Yet, this was a show option, and one reasonably well known and respected Mercedes enthusiast in the USA, the late Frank King, became enamored with this look he saw at an auto show. Thus, he ordered his from the factory that way. Later, after people saw Mr. King's all polished engine bay, other duplicated the effort at home. Mr. King was the man behind the short lived, but wonderful magazine called "The Mercedes Collector".

We can say that it isn't right; it isn't proper; it's too garish for this subtle car. However it was indeed offered from the factory for those that knew it was available.

Jonny B · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2014, 18:13:33 »

Point of note, it was Frank Mallory that published Mercedes Collector.

He published 13 editions, and they are an excellent resource.

49er · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2014, 18:38:36 »

I always felt that Mercedes concentrated on the overall exterior appearance of the car along with the passenger "living space". Sloppy welds, paint runs, and unpolished aluminum castings, were all hidden away under the bonnet. Not a place for "Bling" just function

John

mdsalemi · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2014, 16:16:13 »

Quote from: Jonny B on November 29, 2014, 18:13:33

Point of note, it was Frank Mallory that published Mercedes Collector.

He published 13 editions, and they are an excellent resource.

OOPS. I knew it was Frank something!

Thankfully, I was able to obtain a fully bound book of all editions--created by Jim Luikens. A great treasure trove of information.

jf308 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2014, 16:38:50 »

I am going with Satin Black for the reservoir, brake booster and top of radiator just to freshen it up.

Will not be painting the aluminum valve cover (yet). Rather just cleaning the surface and a mild polish. NOT HIGH BUFF SHINY POLISHED ALUMINUM. Just neat and tidy and see how it looks.

THANKS ALL. John

Garry · « **Reply #15 on:** November 30, 2014, 22:58:10 »

John,

Take your valve cover to a media blasting company and ask them to use a soft medium like nut shell or soft plastic bead to peen it. It will not be very expensive, takes about 15 minutes. Once done and you see how good it looks, you will then want to do your inlets as they will stand out in need the cover looks so good.

Garry

mdsalemi · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2014, 21:34:09 »

Quote from: Garry on November 30, 2014, 22:58:10

Take your valve cover to a media blasting company and ask them to use a soft medium like nut shell or soft plastic bead to peen it. It will not be very expensive, takes about 15 minutes. Once done and you see how good it looks, you will then want to do your inlets as they will stand out in need the cover looks so good.

OR, you can do it chemically yourself. Look up/source "aluminum cleaners" or "aluminum brighteners". They do an amazing job and don't mechanically alter the surface.
NAPA sells it, you can get it at Grainger or many industrial supply houses too. The search for above will give you plenty of options.

Don't do it IN the car, but with the valve cover removed.

Garry · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2014, 01:14:04 »

Michael,

Never thought of that, one brightner here in Oz is about $50 Aust for a 5 litre container. Do you just soak it in a bath of the fluid??

Garry

mdsalemi · « **Reply #18 on:** December 03, 2014, 19:47:31 »

5 LITERS? that's commercial size, enough for a ship!
A small spray bottle ought to do...NAPA here has it for about USD $10 and I'd suspect that's the right price.
It's a harsh and nasty acid that eats the dirt. You don't soak it you spray it on and rinse it off.
You want something that contains phosphoric or hydrochloric acid; sulfuric acid, and hydrofluoric acid or ammonium biflouride.
See here for a typical MSDS sheet.

http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/716642pdf?$PDF$

We have some wheel cleaners available in the USA that are similar; you have to read the ingredients.
These generally do a spectacular job of cleaning and brightening.

The latter acid is always mixed with one of the former. You won't see it alone or in high concentrations for "residential use" because it is too dangerous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrofluoric_acid

jf308 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2014, 00:53:38 »

Radiator and overflow, brake booster done in satin black.

Now onto the valve cover.

Garry · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2014, 03:07:10 »

Michael,

5 Litres was the small one. Will have to do some more research.

JF will be interested to see how your valve cover comes up if you use the brighteners.

Garry

m300cab · « **Reply #21 on:** December 05, 2014, 23:34:32 »

here is a photo of my show winner Starfest, AACA, Pearls of Buck, Montvale etc
I polished the valve cover myself with Mother's Aluminum paste
and had my intake manifold highly polished
all new fuel lines
cad plated
painted black surfaces w semi-gloss

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Author Topic: Opinion: Radiator Overflow reservoir - Do I polish the brass or paint black? (Read 10676 times)

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