What colour are the rocker covers on a 280i

[Mr Tank]

Hi

As the title says "What colour are the rocker covers on a 280i"

My FHC project needs the rocker covers refurbed I think they should be grey?

As per my 280iDH



By the ones on my FHC appear to be black



So any ideas what they should be?

Andy

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Andy...Mine were grey..They were also flaking and there was no other colour underneath..Quite a few at the ford garage are grey with the odd black ones...Ziga

[taz turbo]

The earlier ones were black, the later grey.

What the actual date was the colour changed I have no idea, but I'm sure someone on Passionford will have the answer.

Mine are OE black (1982).

Would any of the TVR books with pictures shed any light?

Chris.

[marcus1875]

my ones are grey on a 280i fhc first reg aug 82.
they are away getting refurbed now, byt i would be interested in hearing the correct answer as well for getting them painted. was going to do it black, but if it ought to grey....
marcus

[bobs280i]

My 86 us spec are grey !

[StonetheCrows]

As long as you dont paint them the same colour at the external colour of the car......it will be fine.

[RCK974X]

My wedge doesn't have its original angine anymore...it's a granada one, already fitted when I bought it.

Anyway, to the best of my knowledge...

for Ford vehicles, Cologne blocks before 1985 were painted BLACK, '85 on were GREY. I believe the rocker covers were painted the same as the block.
The post 85 engines have bigger cam journals, and are stamped "PR" or "PRE" on the front of the block above the engine number. Contrary to common belief NOT all grey engines are fitted with unleaded heads.

Alternatively, a lot of kit car ones I've seen were painted red (often with smooth hammerite) which looks good in most engine bays.

[mgpete]

My 280i must have been one of the last built of this model as it's registered December 1998 & my rocker covers are grey. mgpete

[Mr Tank]

mgpete said:

My 280i must have been one of the last built of this model as it's registered December 1998

Reg Dec 1998 are you sure the last ones made were 1987-88 have you got the dates reversed?

Yes the later vehicles were grey as the car in questionn was made 82 it appears they were black!

Thanks for the info!

Andy

[adam quantrill]

Andy - I think that was the 280i they made with the optional "flux capacitor".

[jon haines]

I had a 1984 capri 2.8 injection which i think is the same engine and the rockers were black.

[madformotors]

Hi,
Stumbled on this thread while looking for info on doing valve clearances, and got inspired to do the covers when they were off.
On the bench they looked really grotty so I painted them in as near as I could get to the original colour.
Ian

[adam quantrill]

We seem to be on an "antique thread"....

So as Arthur Negus might say "You have ruined the patina, and knocked £500 of the value" ;^)