Restoring Misc Cooling Bits

Many brackets and tubes in the engine bay are showing their age.  In April of 2020 I took the opportunity to address the heater hose brackets, auxiliary air valve water block and the coolant passages that feed the water block.  As a bonus, I also cleaned up the engine lift bracket as well.  For all the metal pieces I used a wire brush to take them to bare metal then used Rustoleum Metallic Paint & Primer in a champaign mist color to coat the parts.  I've found that this paint both closely matches the cadmium zinc plating on the original parts but also holds up well in the engine bay.

Engine hoist bracket and water outlet

Water block tubing

Water Block

I also replaced the rubber hose that feeds the water block.  I often use my garage door to cure painted parts in the sun!

To finish things off I also used OE-like hose clamps to attach the heater hose.

As an added bonus, I also performed the same treatment to the alternator wire harness bracket.

Dealing with the Isolation

With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping us at home (and working from home) I find myself busier with work than when I was actually in the office.  To keep my sanity during this busy time I find myself retreating to the garage for brief periods of mechanical delight.  For tonight's installment I found myself rummaging through a box of parts I had acquired from ZCarDepot and found sets of hood and tailgate bumpers that I had never installed.  These made for perfect short distractions!

Removing the old bumpers was easy.  As you can see they were the original units and the rubber was hard and cracked.

Using stainless fasteners and a little 3M Dielectric Silicone Paste for protection and lubrication, I installed the new units.

 

While the replacement of these bumpers was not critical for the function of the car itself, they were critical in keeping my sanity...