I hate my engine bay!

Boss 351 · Feb 19, 2012

Anyone else here that are just tempted to tear everything down? I feel like pulling the engine out, media blasting the bay, slapping on a tubular K-member, smooth out the engine bay, primer, paint and put back together?

But I don't have the time or money/permission to do this kind of job yet, maybe in a few years. For now, I'm cleaning what I can and changing things I can like painting the intake silver (was supposed to get it polished or ceramic coated, paint will do for now), new valve covers, semi-hiding the wiring and detailing brackets and such...

Any tips on "cheap" or affordable solutions such as one of those fancy radiator hold-downs?

Here's my junk (crappy pic)...
View attachment 155020[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/LEFT]

5.0Droptop · Feb 19, 2012

A lot of work. But totally worth it.

rangerboy101 · Feb 19, 2012

I go through this every time I open my hood. Makes me hate the previous owners even more.

5.0Droptop · Feb 19, 2012

I wouldn't spend the time smoothing the bay. If you just strip it and repaint it maybe hide the wires. It makes a huge improvement.

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RacEoHolic330 · Feb 19, 2012

I think I found your problem. You seem to be missing your throttle body, discharge tube, and plug wires!

wythors · Feb 19, 2012

The only thing I see that really looks "bad" is the rat's nest over by the master cylinder.

NIKwoaC · Feb 19, 2012

The PO of my car had the insight to get the whole bay and undercarriage sprayed with this black-tar-truck-bed-liner-esque rust inhibitor. Believe me, you got it good, buddy.

txstang84 · Feb 19, 2012

NikwoaC said:
The PO of my car had the insight to get the whole bay and undercarriage sprayed with this black-tar-truck-bed-liner-esque rust inhibitor. Believe me, you got it good, buddy.

Ouch...that's a PITA

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VibrantRedGT · Feb 20, 2012

You could easily hide all those wires by the master cylinder, disconnect the vacuum tree on the firewall and stuff it in the fender (may have to buy some vacuum line and extend). I see stuff you could do right now that will clean up the engine bay.

CarMichael Angelo · Feb 20, 2012

I went through the same dilemma 6 months ago.....I hated the first iteration of my engine compartment. I posted a similar thread back then trying to decide on whether or not to just go ahead and pull the engine.

When you think about it, it seems like pulling an engine is a huge undertaking, but in reality, it's only a few hours to get it out. Given that you are not doing that for the purpose of tearing it down, It could stay as complete as it is now, and come out w/ accessories bolted in place.

I'm like the others,..... one one hand, I don't think your engine compartment is that bad. But on the other, I know what you're saying,... because I really wanted an engine compartment I could be proud of. If you've looked at mine, then you know. It really doesn't take alot of money (as long as you don't consider $50.00 alot of money) It does take about a week of hard work though (after the engine is out) to clean, sand, mask, prime, sand again, mask again and then paint it how you want it w/ a series of rattle cans. While the engine is out, you can pressure wash the piss out of it. While the end result isn't as good as a compartment shot w/ a gun, I'd still give it a 7. AND I can touch mine up w/ a match stick dipped into the cap of the paint I sprayed out of the can.

RacEoHolic330 · Feb 20, 2012

^this.

Mike is right. There is a lot you can accomplish with a rattle can. No, it won't look like it was shot with a gun, but it will be close enough to hold you over until you're ready to do it again in a few years. Hell, I painted black rustoleum on my bay with a brush years ago. That stuff self-levels so well, it looked like it was sprayed on.

hoopty5.0 · Feb 20, 2012

Boss 351 said:
Anyone else here that are just tempted to tear everything down? I feel like pulling the engine out, media blasting the bay, slapping on a tubular K-member, smooth out the engine bay, primer, paint and put back together?

I did all of what you said last winter. I was a complete b****. Looks great though. If I were to do it over again, I'd cut the factory metal out and replace it with flat 16 gauge pieces versus just welding panels over the old.

Boss 351 · Feb 20, 2012

NikwoaC said:
The PO of my car had the insight to get the whole bay and undercarriage sprayed with this black-tar-truck-bed-liner-esque rust inhibitor. Believe me, you got it good, buddy.

That's a PITA for sure... Did it work? No rust?

Boss 351 · Feb 20, 2012

Can you get custom paints for rattle cans? I can't this particular colour anywhere?

That wire mess is being worked on, so once it's all working and cleaned up it will either be positioned lower or hidden completely. Sort of leaning towards all out hiding the wires again (hate that job) but this time the battery and solenoid will stay where they are. Previously the battery was in the trunk and everything was hidden - looked cool but once an issue happens.... $#@@$#@^%%

Here's a previous bay I did. All it needed was a smoothing... But all wires and vacuums carefully hidden
View attachment 154982

Ozz · Feb 20, 2012

Boss 351 said:
Can you get custom paints for rattle cans? I can't this particular colour anywhere?

Yes. You can also get spray bottles to fill up with whatever paint you like, though you'll probably have to add some thinning additive.

5.0Droptop · Feb 20, 2012

Yes you can have paint custom mixed and loaded into aerosol cans.....

CarMichael Angelo · Feb 20, 2012

5.0Droptop said:
Yes you can have paint custom mixed and loaded into aerosol cans.....

You need to check Dupli-colors line of touch up lacquers. (8oz spray can) The top half of my engine compartment is my body color (1969 Ford Candy Apple Red) The bottom half is black satin. Lacquer dries super fast, and you can wet sand and hand rub it in about 30 minutes (if you want to) but is not very tolerant of high humidity when spraying it. (it'll blush like a b itch). It also doesn't like solvents like gas. I cured that part by top coating it w/ clear engine enamel. I don't know if your color is available, but if it is, it beats trying to find a paint store that'll custom blend a spray bomb.

C'mon,.....DO IT!

NIKwoaC · Feb 20, 2012

Boss 351 said:
That's a PITA for sure... Did it work? No rust?

Well the car is pretty much rust-free, but then again I've garaged it for the last 10 years and I avoid rain and NEVER drive in snow or ice. THe car was under a dust cover when I first set eyes on it and it only had 30K miles on it. It's lived a pretty pampered life, haha. THe paint doesn't quite tell the same story though...

LiL86Hatch · Feb 20, 2012

I feel the same way same here just don't have the money right now

Love to have my engine bay smoothed and all the engine parts blasted and coated

Boss 351 · Feb 23, 2012

Well I'm doing very little progress. Still working on the main harness, but figured out all the wires that confused me lol... Now just trying to figure out how I want to re-arrange the engine bay EFI components like the BAP sensor and such... Did get some neat valve covers though (not installed of course) haha! Talk about snowball... put some shiny stuff on and now I can't stand my painted intake. So seeing if I can get that polished or coated to match... I also got a polished coolant reservoir.

View attachment 154789

Do you guys think it's bad to leave the intake as is for this year? My TB and spacer are polished too...

I hate my engine bay!

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