Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

[King M.]

I am in the process of tearing down for a body repaint. I have no intentions of doing a frame off restoration, but I plan on taking the car to ncrs judging events. My original intent was to clean the frame rails, fenders, and firewall of grease and caked on dirt and leave as is. I thought if I started painting frame black then it would not match rest of frame under car and consistency would be off. Also, does the yellow overspray on the front fender wells look like it was factory or was it from the past owners respray? I was also curious as to a judges opinion to deducts if I left the frame as is but clean of grease and dirt. Thanks for any input.....oh, the bored out poa valve with switch is going to be replaced.image.jpg

[Brad H.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

Hi King, the more you can do with stuff out of the way(painting,cleaning etc) the happier you will be when it is done. Thank's, Brad.

[Bob H.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I'm sure you will get many opinions. I would put it back in pristine condition so everything under the hood looks good around especially if you are painting the engine.

[Michael J.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I'm sure you will get many opinions. I would put it back in pristine condition so everything under the hood looks good around especially if you are painting the engine.

+1, with it apart and easy to make nice, I would take the opportunity and do it.

[Gene M.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

King,
Once you get started "cleaning up" it has a habit of growing and continuing from one end of the car to the other. I once years and years ago started to just do the brakes and freshen up the upper half of the engine. The results was a full restoration and flight judging all the way to Duntov Award. So keep to a plan or you will be doing things more than once and more extensive. I think this hobby is a sickness......

[Michael M.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I would because the engine is out and also to get rid of some of the yellow overspray.

[Gary H.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

Are you happy with your car as a survivor or do you want it spotless to win local car show trophies?

I just wrapped up two solid days of cleaning for judging next week in kissimmee. My car is very much an unrestored driver. It would be easy to repaint for you now, but do you plan on putting in am engine that looks brand new? New hoses? New components? New horn, new wiper assembly cover, new wiring, new chrome Etc.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I think you need to clean it up first and see what it looks like.

You are at a turning point where things can get carried away if you loose track of the intent of what you are trying to accomplish. A clean engine bay will look fine with a overhauled engine new radiator hoses etc. Same with the wiring if it has not been spliced and cut.

If your intent is to overhaul the engine you better keep your mind on that project, there is so much to learn here.

[Paul J.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I would clean it up. But don't forget, you can do a lot of damage with a rattle can of paint.

[Gary B.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

... Also, does the yellow overspray on the front fender wells look like it was factory or was it from the past owners respray?...

King,

In my opinion that is a key question. It's going to be challenging to redo the engine compartment blackout, but keep the original overpay, if indeed it is original.

Gary

[King M.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I don't know if the overspray is original. I feel it might be since the grill was still installed when the car was resprayed by previous owner. The grill has yellow on the outer edges and it would have protected the front of the fender skirts. The top of the hood was painted but the underside margins are still nice unbuffed lacquer. I really don't want to repaint the frames or blackout. I rebuilt the engine 6 years ago when a rod bearing failed and all hoses and belts were replaced with correct stuff. Block and heads were reprinted fresh but all brackets, fan, and other engine parts were left alone in factory paint. I plan on cleaning everything up and fixing a few things back correct and reinstalling the engine.

[Gary B.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

King,

It sounds like you don't agree with the consensus recommendations...

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

I would because the engine is out and also to get rid of some of the yellow overspray.

Some of that yellow may be original overspray. My 72 sure is full of it. I'd clean it as best as possible and go from there.

King,

It sounds like you don't agree with the consensus recommendations...

Gary

I'm not sure that there is a consensus, at least not by my read. Some say clean it and go, some say repaint it.

[Gary B.]

Re: Recommendations on engine compartment......should I paint or leave alone?

Patrick,

You're probably right. I just expected there to be lots more people recommending a simply cleaning.

Gary