Engine Bling - Painted, CF or Hydrographics?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,956
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis In
I guess I am old......I like chrome. I do think that too much doesn't look good but a mix of chrome & color is a good thing.
Noel & the gang at Autobuffs do some of the best work in the nation. I could never afford their quality so I am forced to do it myself.
Noel & the gang at Autobuffs do some of the best work in the nation. I could never afford their quality so I am forced to do it myself.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 1
From: West Grove Pa
I think to bring an engine compartment together you need a combination. Too much of one whether it's chrome, paint or CF is just overpowering. You need seperation. You also need to give a lot of thought as to what you want the final outcome to represent. I made my share of mistakes and ended up doing the whole engine compartment over again. It just didn't pop. Thanks to Noel (hmmm-those covers look familar) and his team at AutoBuffs I'm really happy with the final presentation. See you guys at Carlisle Noel-I'll be at the ECS tent.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 825
Likes: 2
From: Monument CO
Totally agree...you really need a vision of your finished product so your not redoing things over and over. Been there done that. Things also need to be tastefully done (not too much of one thing).
I'm trying to get a feel from those that have done colored Carbon Fiber, if the colored kevlar covers are better than the colored hydrographics.
I'm trying to get a feel from those that have done colored Carbon Fiber, if the colored kevlar covers are better than the colored hydrographics.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 0
From: O'Fallon Missouri
I agree to much chrome is not good and too much painted is not good...blend of both. Some say I have to much chrome but its all personal preference. The covers on mine are marbelized painted black with MSG (Medium Sprial Gray) to match car color and the fender covers are MSG.
The chrome is all the finest you can buy...Creative Engine Covers and Design Specialties....no stainless steel here..as it scratch to easy, hard to clean, and does not match true triple plated chrome.
I then had Noel @Auto Buffs do the cowl cover in MSG and all the interior gauge cluster, door pull covers, center console and radio surround in MSG to match the color and completed it with chrome waterfall logo. Will probably have Noel redo the fuel rail covers and fender covers with smoothie and some graphics this winter.
I get a lot of compliments on the car...as done TASTEFULLY. Again to each his own. Oh and as noted before...ITS NOT CHEAP.
The chrome is all the finest you can buy...Creative Engine Covers and Design Specialties....no stainless steel here..as it scratch to easy, hard to clean, and does not match true triple plated chrome.
I then had Noel @Auto Buffs do the cowl cover in MSG and all the interior gauge cluster, door pull covers, center console and radio surround in MSG to match the color and completed it with chrome waterfall logo. Will probably have Noel redo the fuel rail covers and fender covers with smoothie and some graphics this winter.
I get a lot of compliments on the car...as done TASTEFULLY. Again to each his own. Oh and as noted before...ITS NOT CHEAP.
Last edited by WickedQuik; Dec 3, 2008 at 06:33 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Guess it & Win a Rock, s&h only $4.95 New Mexico
There's a recent post talking all about it. It's a new process of taking OEM parts (vs making covers) and using a film/water process to coat the entire part with a design (ie. carbon fiber, etc). I'm just a bit leary on durablilty and would like to put hands on for a quality check.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Personally, I think a mix of custom painted and chrome is nice for Corvette Engine bays. The painted stuff needs to be somewhat custom. I am not a fan of just single color. Themed like the CF+Painted FRCs earlier on are a great example.
Mix that with some chrome pieces where appropriate and its all good.
Mix that with some chrome pieces where appropriate and its all good.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,789
Likes: 3,721
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
When you think about it, hydrocarbon or dipped print carbon, is basically a form of paint. I have seen some cars overdone with the carbonfiber whereas everything in the engine bay was covered over. There was no separation of components and the entire engine bay looked like one big carbon fiber piece.
Personally, I think a custom color or the color of your exterior matched with tasteful chrome or carbon fiber accents looks best.
However, to each his own. That why they judge them...
Personally, I think a custom color or the color of your exterior matched with tasteful chrome or carbon fiber accents looks best.
However, to each his own. That why they judge them...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Murray KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,573
Likes: 0
From: The AutoBuffs Army is unmatched in the Custom world! www.autobuffs.net
S. Jersey Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Suck Up 
All PM's answered
John@autobuffs.net
Auto Buffs LLC.
2 Kerry Ct,; Suite E
Southampton, NJ 08088
609-859-0900
www.autobuffs.net
Authorized IFORGED Dealer
Authorized East Coast Supercharging Dealer
Authorized TireRack Dealer
Custom Painting & Airbrushing
Pinstriping
Custom Detailing
Car Audio
Mobile Electronics & Video
Remote Car Starters / Alarms
All PM's answered
John@autobuffs.net
Auto Buffs LLC.
2 Kerry Ct,; Suite E
Southampton, NJ 08088
609-859-0900
www.autobuffs.net
Authorized IFORGED Dealer
Authorized East Coast Supercharging Dealer
Authorized TireRack Dealer
Custom Painting & Airbrushing
Pinstriping
Custom Detailing
Car Audio
Mobile Electronics & Video
Remote Car Starters / Alarms
