Back from the blasters – cleaning

Holly (my wonderfully obliging daughter) did the Uber Pickup for me—mainly because Monarch Rebuilding Inc. had the parts ready and, naturally, the transaction was CASH ONLY. ((Thank you John Johnson for the contact—clearly a man who still lives in the age of banknotes and handshake transactions). I told Holly I’d e-Transfer her the money later, and minutes afterward her mum receives a message asking how does one even acquire cash? Apparently the younger generation now treat physical currency the same way archaeologists treat ancient pottery shards—fascinating, but absolutely no idea how to obtain it.

Rocker Box

The first piece of the grand assembly is the Rocker Box. They’ve wisely left the gasket surface and inner bits untouched, but the outside looks rather tidy. All the important surfaces appear protected, so here’s hoping Mario gives it the nod. Fingers crossed—though knowing my luck, he’ll find something microscopic and roll his eyes in that special “I expected better” way.

Cylinder Head

Next up is the Cylinder Head. The top fin has a wee chip, which my neighbour has already been staring at like it personally insulted him. He’s offered to weld it up, so I’ve sent out the ceremonial smoke signals to see if he’s ready. I can do the Barrel and Piston first and worry about the head later, so we’ll see how the stars align. Stay tuned—preferably with low expectations.

Cylinder

The Cylinder was the one I really wanted cleaned, as I’m planning to spray it with VHT high-temp black. Some folks insist high-temp isn’t necessary because the barrel “doesn’t get that hot.” Aye, and some people think Scotland gets “a wee bit of rain.” For the few extra dollars, I’ll take the insurance. I’ve even been told I can bake it in my wife’s oven to cure the paint. I suspect that would go down about as well as putting engine parts in the dishwasher, so the springtime running-in heat might have to do. Better read the paint instructions before I accidentally gas the household.

Conclusion
And yes—before anyone comments—I’m using my entranceway ceramic tiles for photos. Couldn’t be bothered waiting to set up a proper white backdrop. Real life restoration doesn’t pause for aesthetics.