Part Two: Paint It!
To speed up the drying process, I used an air compressor to blow-dry the entire engine compartment. After this, it was time for paint prep. This involved covering everything that wasn't getting painted in either the aluminum foil or plastic bags. The tape came in handy to secure it all in place. Also, note that I removed the distributor cap and wires, oil-bath air filter, and oil breathers for less clutter while painting.
 1.Because I planned on painting...  1.Because I planned on painting the inner fenders and core support, I sanded them to help the new paint bond. |  2a.I started by spraying all...  2a.I started by spraying all of the crevices of the engine with the heat-resistant paint and moved outward to the most visible areas. The scrap cardboard came in handy keeping overspray off the firewall |  2b.When I got to the inner...  2b.When I got to the inner fenders and firewall, I used the cardboard to keep black overspray off the engine. |
 3.Since this was a quick,...  3.Since this was a quick, one-day project, I wasn't able to break down a lot of the components under the hood for the full job. However, small pieces like the cooling fan and its pulley were easy to unbolt and paint separately. |  4.With everything coated in...  4.With everything coated in paint, I took a lengthy lunch break to wait for it all to dry. After I got my chow down, all the bags, tape, and foil were removed to reveal the clean engine compartment. | |
Part Three: Adding Shine!
Before reattaching the filters to the motor, I went back to the local auto parts store to see if I could add a few shiny parts. I got lucky and found a bunch of parts from Spectre Performance. These included a new chrome air cleaner ($17.99), a cleaner adapter kit ($6.99), an air-cleaner stud extender kit ($4.99), a billet nut ($6.99), and two chrome oil breathers ($3.99 each).
 |  |  1.These new Spectre chrome...  1.These new Spectre chrome oil breathers (PN 4281) slid right in the holes of the valve covers, and with a quarter turn they were secured. |
 2.To fit the standard 9x2-inch...  2.To fit the standard 9x2-inch air cleaner (PN 4770) to the 2-5/8-inch opening of the original carburetor, I had to use this piece from Spectre's adapter kit (PN 4950). |  3a.With the air cleaner in...  3a.With the air cleaner in place, I was able to see which 1/4-inch stud extender I needed from the stud kit (PN 42133). |  3b.When I got it to the correct...  3b.When I got it to the correct length, I placed on the top of the cleaner and tightened it with the billet nut (PN 1768) to complete the restoration. |
The Final Word
I started with a dirty old clunker and turned it into a respectable-looking powerplant that fooled many into thinking I had swapped in a new motor. The whole project definitely improved the pickup's looks, and all it took was a little elbow grease and about $60. This amount includes the Spectre parts that not only helped contribute some shine but fetched me some extra power with the replacement of my oil-bath air filter with a paper-element piece. Getting the rear tires to spin out put a grin on my face, and I'd say that's a job well done for a relatively low price.