I found a unicorn drinking out of the Holy Grail .. lol

OGMB2K

So last weekend I ventured down south (Miami), to visit family. While there I caught up with several of my old school minitruck friends to talk about Dolly. That led to a field trip to a U-pick junk yard full of engines. Among other parts and bolts I needed, I found this. So the rumors of the Magnum motors are true .. lol
This was not attached to such a motor, but it's now a unique conversation piece in the engine bay.

More pics will come when its painted and installed. My daughter does not want me to polish it.
I'm not going to kiss and tell either on what I paid for it, it was however, lower than what others have said they are going for or have already offered me .. this one's a keeper.

Mazdarick

OGMB2K I'm from Miami, Currently live in Fort Lauderdale. I've been in Minitruckin since 1989 so I'm pretty sure I might know you and your Friends. My truck was a Beige regular cab called Mazda's Finest

MazdaMitch

I love stories like this and who doesn't love a good field trip.

Excited to see it painted.
Are you going to gloss it up or wrinkle paint it?
Give us the deets!

OGMB2K

MazdaMitch I am taking my time. I compromised with my daughter, lol. We are going to painting it Spa Blue, I will then custom stripe a Japanese rising sun in the same blue tone as the anodized blue parts we are adding. The sun part of the flag will align with the oil cap. Then I will polish the bolt flat tops, the fins and the word Magnum. The hope will be to find an anodized blue oil cap to seal the deal ..
Best part, I got to take my daughter, she got dirty, heard a bunch of stories and now is beginning to understand what these trucks can turn into as far as establishing friendships.

Cusser

"the rumors of the Magnum motors are true"

Really?

OGMB2K

Mazdarick I'm sure you know me or any of my many customs I have owned throughout those times ...

Do you remember this?

Mazdarick

OGMB2K absolutely

OGMB2K

Mazdarick Then you do know me and we have likely met. I was one of his top judges ... This was my ride during those days .. Which coincidentally, I sold, found again 25 years later and bought it back ..

Mazdarick

OGMB2K That's awesome, I'm trying to find where my old Mazda is also.

Cusser

Mazdarick That's awesome, I'm trying to find where my old Mazda is also.

OGMB2K

Cusser I have to agree with you, selling my VW was the worst decision I ever made. That says a lot coming from someone who has owned over 75 vehicles.

I still don't know how the universe not only reunited me with my bug, but managed to leave it untouched for 25 years. The original receipt for the tires it is sitting on was still in the glove box, which by the way helped get me the VW back.

Cusser

From January 2025 issue of Hot VWs magazine:

April 1979 issue of Hot VWs magazine:

OGMB2K

OK had some time today to work on the valve cover, or better said experiment on the valve cover .. lol

So first, I painted it from bare metal with non heat resistant paint ... First pic. It came out beautifully, so why not screw it up. .. lol

I figured to make it a bit more resistant to oil and grease I would coat it with high temp clear. So I sanded it with 2K paper and added the clear coats as instructed. Looked Marvelous ..

Then I had to seal it by heating the valve cover, first baking it to 250 degrees for 30 minutes, then the fun began ..
Behold ....

Originally painted only
After the high temp clear coat and baking ..

Looks likes the clear-coat shrinks and therefore pulls the paint with it. So, I'll be stripping the valve cover again. This time I will just leave it in bare paint. Obviously temperature is not the issue, just have to be mindful of keeping it clean.