Looking for any tips on paint color and application technique;

Inner wheel wells - what color, dark grey/semi black?

Fan shroud - what type of paint/dye should I use, SEM? Should I use a plastic primer? What color, semi black?

Should I spray? Does someone manufacture a brush-on application that looks professional when applied without the brush strokes visible? This is not a concourse car (did that already with my Stage 1 Buick and won 2 Gold awards) I need a good solid driver - that looks decent where I can raise the hood at a car show.

I'm doing this in my heated garage and pulling the engine/trans for paint and replacing the exhaust, clutch, u-joints, balancing the drive shafts and replacing the entire engine bay wiring harness. The engine and transmission work pretty well and rebuilds are not necessary at this time. I may rebuild the front end if needed, not sure. The entire engine bay looks like someone threw-up in it.. I’ll provide pictures as I progress.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist/border line maniac with attention to detail so this should turn-out relatively nice. Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

 

Here's a good basic starting point. Suggestions on paint/color, etc.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/Engi...detailing.html

 

Semi-flat black from blackout. There may also be semi-flat black sound deadening/undercoating in the wheel wells. AIM will show it since it was applied at the factory. Wheel wells did not get a show quality paint job.

Unpainted gray/black fiberglass from the factory.

Yep. Rattle can Krylon is a good match.

Get a copy of M. F. Dobbins' 1973-77 Stingray Fact Book. Pricey, but lots of black and while underhood and interior reference photos. Worth the cost.

 

Hi Mike,
I suggest you take a look at the EASTWOOD site for the many paints and finishes they have available.
I agree that Krylon 1613, (not 51613), is a good choice for much of the black you see in the compartment.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks for the information guys. I'll purchase the fact book ASAP. I need all the help I can get..


Another question, do I clean the fan shroud with a scotch brite pad and clear it afterwards?

Mike

 

Hi Mike,
I've had good success with semi-gloss clear on things like the spare tire tub so I'd bet it would be a good choice for non metal fan shrouds too.
Regards,
Alan

 

Hi Mike,

I have just gone through what you are asking last month on my 1976. I had one real had time figuring out Gloss, Semi Gloss, Flat and Satin as there was many offerings and interpretations. I did not reject any offerings by the many posts but came to my own conclusions and after researching after the fact I was not to far off.

If you are looking for the 100% pure Vette get the appropriate tech sheets and manuals to help you. Once you have seen one of those ultimate detailed cars you will appreciate the 200 hours they put into detail paint.

With me trying to hit it right down the middle I chose a Semi - Gloss black from Endura sorta of like Imron in the US. It gave me a mixed results of a finish. It looked good on the hood and firewall but maybe to shiny on the inner skirts and rad support. After much consultation with myself and the missus we came up with the conclusion the engine will drown out 85% of the colour, the snap on pieces such as rad overflow, A/C, inner skirt rubbers, rad support and washer bottle will take up the most.

A combination of colour with accents such as anodozing, chrome, true flat black, hood liners, Zinc plating, new hoses, chrome, did I say chrome will all come together in an orcherastrated effort and make it overwhelming.

Follow a paint that will similate the original finish on the car, I used semi gloss with flat black accents and I think I may have nailed it.


Dano,

 

I believe it's forum member sevent6 that bought his new and has restored the engine compartment,and it looks top notch. I'd try to see if I could find some info from him.

 

Thanks C3 4ME.........

Yeah, I went a little nuts when I did mine. I wanted a stock look but a lot cleaner. I've got lots of info to give, like where I hid lines & wires, so just fire away brother........

 

WOW! .. I could eat off that thing! .. Nice job

 

We painted everything white inside the compartment while getting ready to drop in the ZZ383... Lot's of chrome and detail... Looks great and easy to see leaks ect.... (if there were any !!)

 

SEVNT6..

HOLY COW! You sure did go a little nuts.. Very Nice! It looks concourse!

Ok, 1st question; what is the silver and black tube in front of the brake booster? The silver portion of the tube crosses over the drivers side valve cover. I never saw that before.

Are the valve covers original to the car? (I thought they were offered on a later C3)

Did the chrome distributor cover come factory like that?

Wow.. very nice.

More questions to follow..

Mike

 

Thanks guys.........

That big silver tube is the carb preheater hose that comes off the exhaust manifold. The valve covers are just factory aluminum L-82. I found them at a swap meet for $100. Then I had them chrome plated for another $100. And the distributor cover is factory '76.....

So Mike........do you use your wipers? If not I would can the washer bottle & all of it's hoses. I hid my wipers under an Ecklers cowl cover, and I covered up the holes that the wiper arms came through with screen.....

 

SEVNT6's engine compartment is absolute exquisite and beautiful to look at. But, it is well above what the factory ever did and would get points docked for being "overdone" if judged in an NCRS event.

My point here, is that you need to decide what level of restoration you want to apply and why. If you want to enter NCRS events, you need to restore it as the factory did it...not much better. On the other hand, if you want a primo show car, do what SEVNT6 did to his.

I chose to make my engine compartment "appear" to be as factory condition...but I wanted all surfaces coated so that rusting would be eliminated. Semi-flat black on all body surfaces; semi-gloss black on all components; clear engine enamel on bare steel parts; cast-blast ceramic cast iron color on exhaust manifolds; other metal colors on other metal parts (alum, zinc, etc.). That makes me "happy". You need to do what makes you happy.

 

VERY well said 7T1vette.....and thank you........

I wanted sort of a factory/custom look. So I used all stock parts & either chromed, painted shiny or powder coated stuff. And since the only shows I do are the local weekend types, I don't have to worry about getting killed at an NCRS event...........

 

Understood. If I had the patience and skill sets you have, I might have gone the same direction as you. Looking into your engine bay is sort of like looking at a beautiful painting....just a joy to see.

 

Patience was one thing I might of had during the six months this took, but skill sets had to be learned. I filled & smoothed the firewall with bondo, the first "bodywork" I've ever done, and I used way too much of it at the start. I spent the first week just sanding most of it off......

Funny thing is......if I had a '71 I probably would of gone the same route as you. But a '76? Dime a dozen, so why not go in a direction that I'd never seen at shows. C3 engine bays seem to come in two flavors.....NCRS & custom. I wanted some of each.........

 

I got one of those Ecklers cowl covers and plan to shoot it with left over paint from my re-spray. How did you fix yours down? I was thinking about a couple pieces of velcro so I can pop it off when required. It should stay in place under the cowl no problem!!! I plan to keep my wipers in place and have already confirmed fitment of it. I think our cars are close in color.
[QUOTE=SEVNT6;1575638380]Thanks guys.........

That big silver tube is the carb preheater hose that comes off the exhaust manifold. The valve covers are just factory aluminum L-82. I found them at a swap meet for $100. Then I had them chrome plated for another $100. And the distributor cover is factory '76.....

So Mike........do you use your wipers? If not I would can the washer bottle & all of it's hoses. I hid my wipers under an Ecklers cowl cover, and I covered up the holes that the wiper arms came through with screen.....

 

I was going to use velcro too, but I wanted the cover to fit flush with the edge of the top of the firewall and the velcro made it sit up kinda high. So I drilled two VERY small holes, one in each corner & used two VERY tiny self tapping screws to hold her down......

And if yours is a '75 it is the same color........

 

Unbelievable! That is the nicest engine bay I've ever seen. Tell me you drive that car! It's too nice to trailer.