Engine Bay Cosmetic Surgery
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Engine Bay Cosmetic Surgery
This is for you guys who have A&A blowers.
After my blower was installed, I was a bit disappointed to see that the pot-metal tops of the intercooler and radiator spoiled the otherwise-clean appearance of the engine bay. Upon trolling the Forum a bit I found no pictures/posts which displayed potential solutions to this issue. Was it only me who had a problem with this ugly mess?
Anyway, I took an at-bat at this issue. I ordered a body-color painted top radiator shroud and carved it up with my Dremel. Here is the result.
At least now the visual emphasis is on the blower, the engine itself and other more interesting components. Everything else (and I mean everything) I painted flat or semi-gloss black to eliminate visual distractions from the engine bay's focal points.
Please chime in (with pictures, of course) if you have developed another solutions to this (cosmetic) issue.
Thanks,
The Lizzard
After my blower was installed, I was a bit disappointed to see that the pot-metal tops of the intercooler and radiator spoiled the otherwise-clean appearance of the engine bay. Upon trolling the Forum a bit I found no pictures/posts which displayed potential solutions to this issue. Was it only me who had a problem with this ugly mess?
Anyway, I took an at-bat at this issue. I ordered a body-color painted top radiator shroud and carved it up with my Dremel. Here is the result.
At least now the visual emphasis is on the blower, the engine itself and other more interesting components. Everything else (and I mean everything) I painted flat or semi-gloss black to eliminate visual distractions from the engine bay's focal points.
Please chime in (with pictures, of course) if you have developed another solutions to this (cosmetic) issue.
Thanks,
The Lizzard
Last edited by LoneStarLizzard; Aug 30, 2014 at 10:36 PM.
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You did a nice job - engine bay looks very good.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Thanks. I keep the hood up (with the underhood courtesy light switched off, off course) when the car is parked in the garage - every time I see a speck of dirt out comes a rag.
Car has 26K miles on it and still looks new in the engine bay and underneath.
The Lizzard
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 167
From: Youngsville North Carolina
I hear ya, been bugging the sh*t outta me too...
Do you have any other pics of how you cut the schroud?
The longer piece I get, but how are you holding down the short piece between the inlet tubes?
Do you have any other pics of how you cut the schroud?
The longer piece I get, but how are you holding down the short piece between the inlet tubes?
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Also, I bought black vinyl door guard trim, then used it to cover the cut edges in the upper radiator shroud pieces. Makes them look clean, and the black vinyl disappears when placed next to the inlet tubes, etc.
By the way, I fabricated each of these three pieces of shroud in cardboard first, to insure a proper fit, then used those cardboard pieces as templates for the cuts on the painted radiator shroud. Hope what I just said made sense.
The Lizzard
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 167
From: Youngsville North Carolina
I hold the short middle piece in place with a machine screw. Carefully measured (twice) and drilled a hole in the metal cover, then inserted a threaded bolt from underneath. Secured that bolt with a nut, and the long remaining shank of that nut pokes through the hole in the center shroud piece. Secured that with a chrome acorn nut (to look pretty).
Also, I bought black vinyl door guard trim, then used it to cover the cut edges in the upper radiator shroud pieces. Makes them look clean, and the black vinyl disappears when placed next to the inlet tubes, etc.
By the way, I fabricated each of these three pieces of shroud in cardboard first, to insure a proper fit, then used those cardboard pieces as templates for the cuts on the painted radiator shroud. Hope what I just said made sense.
The Lizzard
Also, I bought black vinyl door guard trim, then used it to cover the cut edges in the upper radiator shroud pieces. Makes them look clean, and the black vinyl disappears when placed next to the inlet tubes, etc.
By the way, I fabricated each of these three pieces of shroud in cardboard first, to insure a proper fit, then used those cardboard pieces as templates for the cuts on the painted radiator shroud. Hope what I just said made sense.
The Lizzard
Think this will be my labor day weekend project!!!
Thanks...