Finish on 20H Conversion LU
What was the finish from the factory on the 20H Conversion LU??? I've never seen a gold one. Have seen quite a few painted silver ones. Have seen an equal amount that are "natural" (as cast). The one I just got has "factory" ZO primer but not a hint of color anywhere. What's right?? Were they different if you bought just the kit vs buying a converted 20H from Mercury? Did they just sell them as kits?
I'd love to see a post with a correct 20H Conversion picture if you have one. Thanks
Roger
I Agree With George 100 Per Cent
AS I was going to bed last night I read this post. Seems the only kit to hit California in 1959 went on Ernie Dawe's 20-H. Ernie won his qualifer at the Seattle Nationals 1959, but didn't do well in the finals...I recall his kit having no paint..everthing was new aluminum casting...(The Hedlund's had no paint on their gearcases also, , and I thought they had to be GOLD, but was told them came with no paint and didn't have to be painted.....The next one I saw was for Monty Gibson's 20-H, that was 1960. It also had no paint...I think the silver paint has been used to cover the black exhaust down in the "TOILET TUBES" as we called them...
I vote was cast aluminum...as cast...no paint...
Ted May's "Toilet Bowl" was painted gold, but Ted painted everything gold and put gold glitter in the paint...homemade metal flake....
20H Conversion - Natural or Painted
Thanks for the input. I'm not surprised that a large number responded in support of the natural (as cast) finish. I can also believe that Mercury might have shipped some with paint (probably that "dirty" white) later in the run. That's what confused me, as my "bowl" most definitely has Merc's primer on it. I think I will be media blasting mine back to natural.
Interesting that the rules state the gear case has to be painted on the 20H.
Regards - Roger
Painted gear case in APBA rules
Sam, I was aware that the gear cases were painted gold, but was surprised that the APBA rules would require them to be painted. A lot of people like to polish the case (and LU) for appearance enhancements. Is there an actual performance gain over a polished case vs a painted case? If someone shaved or altered a gear case they could always repaint it in an attempt to hide that change. Measuring would have to be done to distinguish G / NG cases, whether the case was painted or polished. So why require the paint? I'm assuming the the polishing is cosmetic in nature and not significantly changing the case dimensions.