Bending the wire the other way would make it look right but I'm not sure if the wire is flexible enough to do that cold. I don't think you'll do any permanent damage to anything by getting the wire red hot before bending it but I'd wait for more input before you do anything. The alternative of course is to leave it as it is. It may not look but it works.
I reckon as long as it’s working it can stay as it is. Just had me scratching my head on first lighting!
Thanks @Hanzo, I’m pleased with the result. I’m all for patina, but there comes a point where it’s just dirt. It can start to age gracefully again now!
It finally arrived! Must admit I was like a schoolboy on Christmas morning when the postie pulled this from her bag! Fred certainly makes a great mica chimney, I don’t know how he does it for the money. The 327 really looks smart now. I have found replacement mica to refurbish the old chimney and may reinstate that to the 327 eventually if I can do a decent job of it. I suspect that when I finally find an affordable 427 that will likely be in need of a chimney anyway, so I am hopefully a step ahead!
There ya go, think outside the box. Good for you, I usually wind up asking myself, "why didn't you order it when you had the chance?"
All the years I've collected Coleman, I had one R55 like you described! My advice is, "leave it alone"! As you say, Q99 for show, R55 to go! Better than breaking it trying to bend it back in shape.
Okay, now you need to fix center of your vent! Use a rounded handle and a hammer, place the vent upside down on a wood bench, place the rounded handle on the bottom rivet and strike with hammer until fixed. It also tightens up loose rivet as well...
It will stand up ok to that? I didn’t want to further damage the vent. I assume it’s been dropped on it’s head at some point, the top of the fount was slightly concave too.
Oh yes, you can even straiten them as well. They are tough. I run q99's all of the time too. I like the old look.