Are Boxer Timing Belt Covers Painted Black or Silver

We are doing a major service on my 1979 BB512. While everything is out it is a good time to freshen some appearence items. The cam covers will be painted wrinkle black.

However the question has arisen should the timing belt covers be painted wrinkle black as well. The sales brochure I have for the car shows the engine with the timing belt covers painted balck. However, mine appear to have never been painted and are the same silver color as the engine. Also, the Nichols book has a picture of Boxer engines lined up at the factory with silver painted timing belt covers.

So what do you have and what do you think is correct? I have a suspesion that some of the early 365 cars had the timing belt covers painted wrinkle black but this may have stopped with either the BB512 or 512BBi.

Appreciate you opinions.

Drew - Mine are silver. I recall seeing old pics of the 365 BB engine with the wrinkle finish - I actually think that would look better, but I don't is think technically correct for our cars.

At least you do not have to deal with the silver wrinkle finish on the intake runners that the injected guys have to deal with. It is not possible to find, so I came up with a multi-step process to fabricate and got it very close.

Thanks,
Ted

Thanks Ted,

It looks like the aluminum covers were never painted on my car.

I think I'm going to leave them alone.

Drew