Hello. I just started working on my Bobcat and figured I'd share my project.
My first car was a 1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout I bought from an old lady after her husband passed with 41,000 miles for $825 dollars in 1998. By 2001 I was on the 2nd transmission, 2nd rearend, and I overheated the engine so I pushed it into my old man's barn where it hasn't moved since. I've recently came to a point in my life where I can finally do something with the car. I'm just replacing the engine with another naturally aspirated power plant out of an '86 Mustang so I can focus on other areas on the vehicle.
Here are some pictures back when I still drove it:
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/Bobcat1.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/img007.jpg)
Fast forward to this weekend where I pulled the tarp off the car and yanked it out of the barn. Paint is a little damaged, rust has started in a few areas down low, and the suspension is shot.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121652.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121653.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121653a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121653b.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121700.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121701.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121701a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121701b.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121701c.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121717.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121805.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121805a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0121121805b.jpg)
Today I cleaned the paint back up and vacuumed the mice skeletons out of the interior.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05528.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05554.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05536.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05543.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05546.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05552.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05541.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05531.jpg)
This week I'll get the old motor out and see where that takes me.
Those seats look so bright they look like candy. Is it as good as it looks?
Your Bobcat certainly looks like a great foundation for whateve project you want to make of it! Why couldn't we all have something that nice sitting in a barn somewhere?
Dwayne :)
good looking car! it is definitely RED
Definitely RED is an understatement lol.
Quote from: joebob on January 22, 2012, 11:30:00 PMIs it as good as it looks?
No. The paint below that molding is rough, the driver's rear quarter is bent up from when I blew a tire, and there are a lot of big defects in the paint throughout the car. But It could be worse I guess.
I'm not sure where to start on this suspension. Obviously it needs shocks all around, but those leafs are shot also. Does anyone make reasonably priced leaf springs for the Pinto?
talk to fred Morgan, hes the pinto parts guy on here for used parts. New i wouldnt have anyone to recommend. lol it is a very nice car tho from the pics.
man that is one RED bobcat!!! red everything, looks like a red version of my 75 orange bobcat hatch, 38,000miles with a v6!!!
if you are looking for other odds and ends let me know!! car looks great!!!
Well, it definitely looks like a really nice car in the pics.
Would be a great project to work on. Looks like a really solid base.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05567.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05569.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05578.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05580.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05583.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05584.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05589.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05591.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05594.jpg)
Nice work! I guess it is really easy to yank an engine out of a Pinto. Are you gonna rebuild this one or just replace it?
All I'm doing is swapping the oil pan, oil pickup, distributor, and axuillary shaft, then replacing any leaky gaskets and calling it good. Oh, I'll probably toss in a Ranger roller cam and get a cheap header. Nothing crazy, obviously. Keeping it cheap.
Tomorrow I'm towing the car down to the local car wash and powerwashing off all the oil within the engine compartment. I'd like to keep the paint original in there, but I'll have to touch up the passenger side where a battery exploded. Then I'll start painting up the new engine so it "looks" nice.
WOW! What a difference TLC makes! Your Bobcat is beautiful! That interior is so red and delicious I need sunglasses to look at it! May your 'Cat give you years of joy and compliments. ;D
No real updates. I tore down the old engine and robbed the distributor, auxiliary shaft, oil pan and oil pickup. Also received my new engine this weekend. That's about it.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0128122111.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0128122318.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0128122136.jpg)
What an adorable co-pilot! ;D
Stripped down the pan, valve cover, timing cover, and intake.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0206121714.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0206121715a.jpg)
Painted
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0206121750.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0206121750a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0207120822.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0207120832.jpg)
Unbolted the accessories.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0207122042.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0209122040.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/Intake1111.jpg)
Painted the block.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0210122203.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0210122203a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05602.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05606.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05604.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05608.jpg)
That's it for now. This weekend I'll be doing all of the gaskets, roller cam, and start bolting stuff onto the block.
Pulled the slider cam out.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0211121943.jpg)
Installed the Bobcats auxiliary shaft, inner timing cover, and a new timing belt.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0211122119.jpg)
Installed a roller cam and new springs.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0211122119a.jpg)
Installed the Bobcat's distributor, then mocked the intake up.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0211122149a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0211122149.jpg)
Not quite ready for the carburetor yet, but close.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0211122152.jpg)
Love it! :D
This is a real nice build- good stuff!
Nice job on painting up those parts man... Any update on the car?
It's been a while since I've updated. Progress is minimal since I have little free time.
First off, here is the old and new engine side by side.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/beforeafter.jpg)
Got the car outside and hooked a chain up to it so I could tow her down to the car wash and powerwash the engine compartment in hopes of salvaging the paint.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05638.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05637.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05630.jpg)
Yeah, that didn't work out so well.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05641.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05642.jpg)
So I said screw it and started grinding.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0227122043.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0227122042.jpg)
Meanwhile, discovered the problem on the old engine. Haha
(http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/jangus_photos/garage%20and%20stuff/bp4.jpg)
(http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/jangus_photos/garage%20and%20stuff/bp3.jpg)
(http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/jangus_photos/garage%20and%20stuff/bp2.jpg)
(http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt33/jangus_photos/garage%20and%20stuff/bp1.jpg)
Back to the engine compartment.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0328122020.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0401121726.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0401121726a.jpg)
Threw the new engine in.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05703.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05709.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/DSC05707.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/enginein.jpg)
And that's pretty much where I'm sitting right now.
Nice Job!! I like the time to detail it all out you took. Looks Great!
Having done what you did, I can certainlly appreciate the time/effort/labor/love that went into redoing your motor and engine compartment. It's a lot to do, but the results are definitely worth it. Work well done, congrats!!
Chris
I cut a lot of corners, and now that the engine is in the car I wish I would have been more detailed. It isn't as nice in person. Oh well, neither is the rest of the car I guess.
Does anyone know where to get cheaper leaf springs?
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Landrum-Pinto-Mini-Stock-Leaf-Springs,3563.html
And why do I have a feeling these don't fit for crap......
http://www.jcwhitney.com/1974-1980-ford-pinto/replacement-leaf-springs-for-cars/p2005965d654y1974-1980j1.jcwx?year=1978
http://www.jcwhitney.com/replacement-leaf-springs-for-cars/p2005965.jcwx?filterid=d1579y1978j1
Small update. Exhaust is on, everything is bolted up, accessories are on, pretty much everything is ready except the rear suspension and carburetor. Got the battery hooked up and all the lights seem to work except the cluster for some reason. Oh well.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0507122024.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000041.jpg)
Also got my vintage plates on, which are era correct.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000060.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000066.jpg)
Installed Speedway Mini-Stock Pinto leaf springs and a pair of new shocks lastnight. Busted some bolts off, but other then that everything bolted up good. I also tried draining the tank, but only a small amount came out. Tomorrow I'm going to crank on it and see if it starts. That's pretty much all that's left.
Old vs new
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000076.jpg)
They were shot
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000078.jpg)
New springs on, painted black.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000080.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000082.jpg)
Back on the ground for the first time.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000085.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000087.jpg)
All done. It finally runs.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000169.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000161.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000137.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000135.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000131.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000141.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000146.jpg)
Great Job!! She is gonna snap some heads around!!!
Small update. Took the car on it's first out of town road trip. It didn't catch fire, so I think the car passed the challenge.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000237.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000227.jpg)
It kinda does a burnout.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0611121948.jpg)
Went to a pull-it-yourself yard in Spencer, IA and took a couple parts off a bad butt '79 Mercury Bobcat wagon 4-speed.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0619120849.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0619120849a.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0619120851.jpg)
One of the things I grabbed was the intake setup.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/0619120929.jpg)
This yard was pretty impressive. There was a lot of just about everything there. Very organized. They nickel and dime you though.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120805.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120815.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120815a.jpg)
Pretty long selection of F-Bodies.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120816.jpg)
Very nice red on black Super Coupe.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120831.jpg)
Festivas galore.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120832.jpg)
:(
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120833.jpg)
This made me chuckle. We used to make these back in the early 2000s and shipped them out to people. Kinda cheesy but a lot of SHOs ended up with them. Looks like they didn't survive long in the elements.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120836.jpg)
Turrrrbo
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/0619120839.jpg)
There was plenty more but I was short on time.
Then I got new carpet.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000246.jpg)
Installing carpet sucks balls. I hate cutting and guessing. This is what my old carpet looked like:
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000257.jpg)
Notice the fade over the tunnel hump.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000259.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000263.jpg)
Started yanking out the seats.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000266.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000267.jpg)
Pulled the rear seat and found this.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000264.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000268.jpg)
Gross.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000271.jpg)
Apparently the new carpet is soft.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000272.jpg)
I pulled the black material out where the rear seats are for obvious stinky reasons. The front doesn't smell much at all even with my nose right on it, so I left those alone.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000274.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000273.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000275.jpg)
I exposed behind the passenger cargo panel and found this massive mess of bullshit. Smelled horrible.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000277.jpg)
Threw the new carpet in.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000278.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000279.jpg)
Started measuring, marking, and cutting holes.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000280.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000281.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000282.jpg)
That's all I got done lastnight. This install is more detailed then I expected. I love how it's looking so far though.
Boy, you were infested with mice. You got lucky they didn't chew the wires up.
It's looking really good! What did you paint the engine compartment with? I wanna do the same thing to my 80 when I pull the engine on it.
Quote from: r4pinto on June 26, 2012, 11:23:20 AM
It's looking really good! What did you paint the engine compartment with? I wanna do the same thing to my 80 when I pull the engine on it.
You don't want to know. Haha.
I just grabbed some random automotive paint and some clearcoat from the local parts store. It actually ended up matching very well. The finished product is FAR from even "okay" but I had to do something with it. I hated how it looked.
I still have the console, shifter, and e-brake to bolt up. Mostly finished though.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000283.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000284.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000285.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/P1000286.jpg)
That new carpet really makes a difference! Nice job!
Dwayne :)
Great looking Car!! And the Details are fantastic. A lot of work but if the finish is like that it was rewarding!
Carpet looks great & fits well. Who made it?
Update:
This N/A motor sucks. I'm not used to something so slow. I picked up a Turbo Coupe engine/harness/ECU. Hopefully that will help.
I started on the valve cover today.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/TURBOVALVECOVER_zps7dff3f21.jpg)
I want to keep the 1970s look the best I can, so I'm sticking with Ford blue opposed to the black Ford used in the 80s. Tomorrow I'll finish the top of the valve cover and give those raised areas a brushed aluminum finish.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/1011121738a_zps7702e55e.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/1012121216_zps0f40283b.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/1012121215a_zps22d8efbf.jpg)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/1012121215_zpsfb4161a0.jpg)
I'm not sure what to do with the intake. Part of me wants to keep it as-is, but it looks kinda crusty. I wonder if a light gray of some sort would look good?
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/1011121748_zps0e04dfd1.jpg)
Quote from: Cobra Commander on October 12, 2012, 09:06:34 PM
I'm not sure what to do with the intake. Part of me wants to keep it as-is, but it looks kinda crusty. I wonder if a light gray of some sort would look good?
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/Brook32v/78%20Mercury%20Bobcat/1011121748_zps0e04dfd1.jpg)
Bead blast it so its nice and clean then polish the raised parts that says 2.3 liter efi and then just clear coat it with high temp clear.
Damn, that's a good idea.
Actually I'd paint the parts with Cast Iron engine paint & leave the raised areas polished. The clear tends to yellow after a few years over bare aluminum. The Cast Aluminum engine paint is too silver & tends to look like that Bumper Chrome paint.