Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: t3skidoo on February 07, 2010, 12:45:43 AM
Post by: t3skidoo on February 07, 2010, 12:45:43 AM
Pretty soon (maybe this year) I'm going to be swapping motors. When it's out, I'd like to clean up the engine compartment.
Any advice on what to do, what not to do, and how or how not to do it?
Any advice on what to do, what not to do, and how or how not to do it?
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: vinnietbird on February 07, 2010, 06:50:20 AM
Post by: vinnietbird on February 07, 2010, 06:50:20 AM
Do what I would like to do,but don't have the time.......fill the holes and smooth the inner fenders,paint,move the battery to the trunk,and hide a bunch of wires .Once I get another car,that will happen to the Sport.until then,nope.
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: t3skidoo on February 07, 2010, 06:44:32 PM
Post by: t3skidoo on February 07, 2010, 06:44:32 PM
battery's already in the trunk, the rest sounds good
goals:
cleaner look
easier access
save weight
goals:
cleaner look
easier access
save weight
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: daminc on February 07, 2010, 08:09:35 PM
Post by: daminc on February 07, 2010, 08:09:35 PM
Just degrease it, and fill all the holes that your not using. then some paint.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5550.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5554.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5576.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5550.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5554.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5576.jpg)
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: thunderjet302 on February 07, 2010, 11:11:31 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on February 07, 2010, 11:11:31 PM
Quote from: daminc;309558
just degrease it, and fill all the holes that your not using. Then some paint.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/img_5550.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/img_5554.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/img_5576.jpg)
+1
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: 88CougarGT on February 10, 2010, 12:13:46 AM
Post by: 88CougarGT on February 10, 2010, 12:13:46 AM
My car is no show queen. Just a fun weekend driver. I went cheap/easy and it turned out great. While I had the engine out. I pulled the ECU and harness. I pressure washed the bay and used an old kitchen scrubber to clean all the gunk. Then I scuffed the old paint with a red scuffing pad. Hosed it off one more time and taped up the booster and other stuff.
I used about 4 or 5 coats of Rustolium white sprayed from a rattle can in one of those cheap plastic guns. Also, trash all those plastic Christmas trees that are on the wire harness. I bought some self tapper hex heads and black zip ties with mounting eylets. Much better.
Results: (before, during, after)
I used about 4 or 5 coats of Rustolium white sprayed from a rattle can in one of those cheap plastic guns. Also, trash all those plastic Christmas trees that are on the wire harness. I bought some self tapper hex heads and black zip ties with mounting eylets. Much better.
Results: (before, during, after)
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: Watchdevil on February 10, 2010, 12:41:43 AM
Post by: Watchdevil on February 10, 2010, 12:41:43 AM
Oh I am dying! Some of this type engine compartment detailing needs to be done to my Bird so that I will feel right about it when it eventually will go to exterior refinishing and paint. So much to do... SOOOO MUCH TO DO!
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: Bob on February 10, 2010, 12:57:58 AM
Post by: Bob on February 10, 2010, 12:57:58 AM
I'm not sure if what engine your going with but if you plan to chance the steering shaft or rack and pinion with an aftermarket one in the future than do it before you drop the engine in.. I did it the other way around because I thought it would clear and it didn't LOL... also a good time to replace any leaking power stearing lines which I didn't do either lol
As far as looks go just clean it up nice and lay some quality paint down and your good. I use eastwood's black engine compartment paint and it covered nicely for cheap $$, clean and spray the alum brackets as well
As far as looks go just clean it up nice and lay some quality paint down and your good. I use eastwood's black engine compartment paint and it covered nicely for cheap $$, clean and spray the alum brackets as well
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: t3skidoo on February 10, 2010, 01:55:36 AM
Post by: t3skidoo on February 10, 2010, 01:55:36 AM
A 4 is coming out, and a 4 is going in...
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=27020
Maybe I don't need to change the shaft, that's staying stock. Already have a new rack installed. And, hopefully, I can get the other projects installed and working before the new motor install.
The car is white, including the engine compartment (well, white-ish), intake and exhaust will be finalized after the long block installation. Exterior bodywork and paint will be the last thing done. The engine compartment needs to be done before stabbing the new motor.
more ideas
- Weatherproof LEDs in the nether regions to help find that dropped nut, bolt, tool, or leak.
- Smoothing the various ridges and seams for a cleaner look (and to allow that dropped nut, bolt, or tool to go all the way down to the ground)
- Another color? would anything other than white be appropriate for a white car?
- I've been considering adding a heater core access hatch in the firewall. Can that be done and still pass (race) inspections?
- Most likely the cowl is going to be modified, which means moving the conduit off the firewall. Has anyone else done that?
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=27020
Maybe I don't need to change the shaft, that's staying stock. Already have a new rack installed. And, hopefully, I can get the other projects installed and working before the new motor install.
The car is white, including the engine compartment (well, white-ish), intake and exhaust will be finalized after the long block installation. Exterior bodywork and paint will be the last thing done. The engine compartment needs to be done before stabbing the new motor.
more ideas
- Weatherproof LEDs in the nether regions to help find that dropped nut, bolt, tool, or leak.
- Smoothing the various ridges and seams for a cleaner look (and to allow that dropped nut, bolt, or tool to go all the way down to the ground)
- Another color? would anything other than white be appropriate for a white car?
- I've been considering adding a heater core access hatch in the firewall. Can that be done and still pass (race) inspections?
- Most likely the cowl is going to be modified, which means moving the conduit off the firewall. Has anyone else done that?
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: daminc on February 10, 2010, 07:50:56 AM
Post by: daminc on February 10, 2010, 07:50:56 AM
If you don't want the white to ever look dirty, then go with black in the compartment. I went with black, only because it's the same color as the car. I always liked matching paint under the hood. It always looked more custom to me, then just painting it black in there to cover the dirt. I'm sure others will feel the opposite though.
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: vinnietbird on February 10, 2010, 08:22:35 AM
Post by: vinnietbird on February 10, 2010, 08:22:35 AM
My engine bay needs detailing bad.It'll have to happen another time.It'll be satin black.Easy and effective.
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: Miah on February 10, 2010, 04:42:25 PM
Post by: Miah on February 10, 2010, 04:42:25 PM
Back in the day when I was helping my dad restore cars we would use Easy-Off to clean up the engine bay. I though the stuff worked better than the auto degreasers at cleaning off built up gunk. I would only use it if you plan on painting as it will eat into the paint. Also I recommend keeping only to metal surfaces, and keeping it off any plastic, rubber, or wire insulation.
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: Chris1987LX on February 10, 2010, 05:14:02 PM
Post by: Chris1987LX on February 10, 2010, 05:14:02 PM
For cleaning, I use a product called L.A.'s Totally Awesome!, which is available in Dollar Stores. Search for it online if you can't get it locally. It really is awesome!
Photos of my engine bay are in my Car Domain link.
Chris
Photos of my engine bay are in my Car Domain link.
Chris
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: daminc on February 10, 2010, 05:51:07 PM
Post by: daminc on February 10, 2010, 05:51:07 PM
I used the citrus cleaner/ degreaser at home depot. Cost like $8 a gal.
Title: advice - engine compartment between engine pulls
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 26, 2010, 08:42:54 AM
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on February 26, 2010, 08:42:54 AM
It's not going to happen anytime soon for mine, but when my enging comes out I plan to do like daminc and have all the uneeded holes filled and repainted black. I'm not sure if I want to go satin or gloss yet. As for now I just keep it clean. Castrol Super Clean works great to but it's very strong and will discolor so plastic and even mark your paint if your not careful with it. And if it's not too bad I use Simple Green.