Crackle Black cam covers?

[stickylabels]

I have been reading the Mx-5 Rocketeer thread on readers' rides. Chap on there has done his Jag V6 covers in crackle black using vht paint and a heat gun. I'd been thinking about cheering mine up (plain black) and fancied giving this a go on the Cerb. Just wondering if anyone has tried on here and if so was it anygood? Plan was to also match the alloy airbox brackets the same as they are looking a little furry and have all the rocker bolts passivated.

Don't want too much bling but thought that should look alright unless I cock it up of course! Might even get the airboxes hydro dipped as discussed donkeys ago!

Sticky.

[stickylabels]

Thanks for the reply chaps, it wasn't a case of I must diy it, I always liked the look of the crackle effect and wondered if people had tried it on a Cerbera. My ones are currently a gloss black and in an ok condition, but I don't know if they were painted or powder coated. They do look very similar to Biker's albeit not as factory fresh. However! My painting 'err 'skills' are fairly pants, so thank you Mr Dakota, if the stuff is that awkward to use I might just cheer up the rocker bolts and the airbox brackets.

Sticky.

[stickylabels]

^^^ They look cracking Ste vr, Have had a look around on't web and there was some stuff on it being banned by the EU a while back. But I have found a company very local that seem to offer the crackle finish I'm after. I'm gonna pop up and see them for a chat and a quote. Another local factor has a good selection of fasteners rather than re-coating the old so I may go that way price depending.

My wheels could do with a freshen up, so if the coaters do a good job of the rockers, I may get the wheels done too!

Cheers

[stickylabels]

Cheers for all the pics and for the heads up re dragon 200plus. Some lovely examples there which I think should suit the Cerbera quite nicely. I wonder if it is possible to work in an AJP or TVR emblem onto the top front of one of the rockers? I realised that unlike the Fords and Alfa there is no raised lettering but it would give a nice effect.

My ball-ended Allen keys just arrived today, so I might even manage to remove the rockers/airboxes and inlets and still have some skin left...

Sticky.

[stickylabels]

OK, little update on this idea. Once I'd taken off the inlets and F1 panel etc I gave everything a quick once over with GT85. The rockers themselves were in far better condition than I thought and it was really just the rocker bolts that let the side down. In fact they look like they have been powder coated in the recent-ish past as has the timing cover with the TVR script left in silver. Conclusion? It would look daft with crackle rockers and smooth timing cover so I have rubbed down all the bolts heads, primed with zinc coating and given them a couple of coats of gloss black. The airbag brackets have come up quite nicely with Autosol and wire wool but I might go down the gloss black look with them too.

Of course, with all that being 'free', I might have started looking at them carbon ACT airboxes................again..




Sticky.

[stickylabels]

^^^^ Always fancied an HS Chevette or Lotus Sunbeam and that picture isn't helping!! Anyhoo, the plan has evolved by leaving the current paint job alone as it's in decent nick after a clean-up and the added bling has arrived courtesy of these from Tim at ACT..... Currently on stands as the wheels are being done so I'm getting underneath and giving everywhere a bloomin' good clean with Bilt Hamber surfex hd and then I shall get them fitted.

I'd still like to go down the crackle route at some point in the future though.

Sticky.

[stickylabels]

Yours have come up a lot Byker. I'm currently suffering from the 'I'll just do a bit of a clean there, and ooh, look I can clean that and what's under here etc. So much so, that although the tubes under the F1 panel were really nice, there were a couple of places where the coat was chipped or rubbed away. I bought some Bilt Hamber white epoxy and started touching them in and washed the washer bottle in the sink. It has come up like new and you can't even see it!

I ended up just gloss blacking the airbox brackets but might take look at those polishing kits you mention. Wheels have come back from the powder coater (plain silver) and not bad for £200 quid inc balance etc.

Sticky

[stickylabels]

Finally got around to fitting the ACT airboxes, crikey are they a tight fit! the brackets which I had painted got a bit of a pasting so will need re-doing but everything else is looking like I have at least cleaned or lightly buffed up. Purchased some new stainless jubilees for the intake pipes from the air filter box as the originals were looking very dull I gave the throttle links, balljoints, bonnet hinges a light sprinkling of Bilt Hamber Ferrosol as it is supposed to be very good at removing any moisture and has a little bit of lube effect too so we'll see how that goes.

It only started on the second attempt as some muppet forgot to re-attatch the throttle cable....... Pics a bit dark but you get the idea.

Sticky.

[stickylabels]

Cheers Twincam, to be honest the piccy has made it look a bit shinier than it really is but it did come up quicker than I thought with some steel wool and autosol. How long it'll remain like that is to be seen! Forgot to add, about 20 mins or so.

PMessling, I was very nearly getting in touch with you about your brackets just last week instead of phaffing about with the originals. Any chance you can pm me
details, costs etc please?

Cheers
Sticky.

[stickylabels]

Cheers Peter, I think I've sent you a message on FB!

Sticky.