Need to spruce things up under the hood?

TransAmer99 · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 89 Location: 281 Spring, TX

Here's my "poor boy's" method to detailing your motor:

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A steam cleaner is your friend - if you can get access to one. Some self-serve car washes still have them. Be sure to protect the alternator, battery and carb throat. They power away tough dirt.

Your second-best friend is a supply of engine degreaser such as 'Gunk'. Their Tar and Bug remover is also useful. Again, cover exposed electrical commections, the alternator housing, battery and carb throat. Several applications may be necessary.

Once everything is clean and dry, then you can get down to business. I did Gray Ghost's engine bay in a series of steps. Begin by removing as much off the top of the engine as you are comfortable doing. I pulled the carb, plug wires, vacuum lines and alternator. Make sure you label and diagram for easier reassembly. The removed parts can be detailed as necessary. Things like the air cleaner assembly should be buffed with steel wool, primed and painted with appropriate black. If your factory labels are still in reasonable shape, these can be masked off to preserve their integrity.

Disconnect the battery and use plastic wrap and aluminum foil to mask off areas underhood where you do not want paint to go. A couple of shop rags stuffed in the intake wouldn't be a bad idea. Florist or bailing wire can be used to move and hold hoses and wires out of the way. Use rattle can colors in the appropriate Pontiac blue for the block, water pump, intake and valve covers. I also used it for other areas like water bottle caps, distributor cover and the brake booster. Gloss black workes well for brackets and satin black for the firewall and inner fenders.

Again, aluminum foil is easily contoured and formed into elaborate masks to prevent overspray and separate different colors. I completed my entire engine bay, including reassembly, in two weekends.

One last suggestion: if your engine has steel braided covers on various hoses, consider removing them. Plain, black hoses treated with Armor-All or Tire Brite looks a lot better, in my opinion. If your hoses are integrated steel-braided units, these maintain their appearance far longer than the covers.
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TransAmer99 · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 89 Location: 281 Spring, TX

I've had a lot of people ask where I found the flexible intake hose for my engine. Occasionally, you can find new-old-stock on ebay, but they usually cost a mint. I found some black dryer ducting at my local hardware store. It is the perfect diameter for my application and can be easily cut to length. Plus, it is cheap and more durable than the factory stuff. Some black plastic tie-wraps complete the installation. Judges from the Dayton Chapter of TACA failed to notice the deviation! One of my best-kept secrets and I've given it away for free...
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