Painting engine bay compartment.

[69XP383]

I'm trying to figure out if I should paint the engine bay on my 69 black, or paint it to the body color...red. Engine will be out during paint, and I'm wondering if it's cheaper and easier to do it this way as I could try to paint the engine bay myself and leave the rest to the "experts". I've looked at alot of photos and I'm about 50/50 an which way to go.

My next door neighbor actually painted his 79 camaro engine bay in my garage with some higher end rattle cans of paint and I still can't believe how good it turned out. I don't know that I'd do it with cans of spray paint, sooo....any ideas? I'd like the red, but I think there would be more prep work involved.

Brian

[Silver R/T]

It will look cleaner if you paint it body color. black is for chevies

[john108]

Hi
Looks very good to me.  Where is your garage.
I starting on my 68 R/T but have no experience.
I am still strugling with just using undercoat in area's that can't be seen such as behind the grill and in the wheelwells.
I don't have the engine out and probably don't have the capability.
It looks like you pulled the windshield too.
John

[Drop Top]

  I'd paint it body color. It's just s easy to paint it red as it is black. If you paint it black then when you park it next to a Charger that has been painted the correct way you will see a big diffrance. They look much better body color. Regardless no mater how "good" rattle can paint is. It will never be as good as cheap automotive paint.

[Silver R/T]

no rattle can can compare to bc/cc system or even single stage.

[The70RT]

Why ask.........you already painted it black

[69XP383]

Thanks for the input.

It's actually not painted yet and my mistake, neighbor friend used an air gun with some type of gloss black tractor paint  I'm beginning to think that the engine bay painted to match the body color does make it stand out. Thought there might be some advantage to doing it black, but I suppose not.

[resq302]

A painted engine compartment the same color of the car gives the engine compartment a cleaner look.  IMO leave it the color of the car.

[john108]

I am the original owner of my '68 charger R/T.  I am starting to work on it.  The engine compartment doesn't look very clean but it is body color.  The metal around the radiator, facing forward, behind the grill (not part of the fender) is black.  I rubbed it with acetone, and the black came off leaving body color on the surface.

[hemi-hampton]

It's suppose to be Black there. LEON.

[bull]

I'd paint it black but only if the rest of the car is going to be black.

If you want to paint the engine bay yourself I would recommend doing a single stage enamel of the same brand and color code that you'll be using on the rest of the car. Carefully mask off the engine bay using the factory seams and paint it, that way the guy who shoots the base coat/clear coat can go down to those seams and you won't have to blend. It will look almost identical to the rest of the car and still have a nice shine compared to base coat/clear coat.

I know this because I've discussed the option with a couple of body/paint guys I know.

[Ghoste]

If you paint it black, even knowing that it is the only correct for GM vehicles, you will still have to endure the endless parade of purists telling you your engine bay is the wrong color.
That said, paint it body color.   

[The70RT]

If you paint it black, even knowing that it is the only correct for GM vehicles, you will still have to endure the endless parade of purists telling you your engine bay is the wrong color.
That said, paint it body color.   

It seems most cars are GM at shows......most probably wouldn't know......but color is better.