Looking For Opinions - Engine Bay Aesthetics

[CV355]

I'm going to bite the bullet and drop a new engine in my Q-code '69 Mach 1.  We're pulling the existing motor, re-assembling and preserving it so it's a problem for future me.  Looking forward to getting a new engine from Brent, in the process of pulling funds together at the moment.

So, it looks like I'll have some time to pretty up the engine bay.  I've always been a fan of "smooth engine bays," but I'm hesitant to do anything too drastic and kill the "period correct" look of the car.  If I were to plug all of the holes and repaint the engine bay, would it make purists too angry?  It's flat black right now, but I'm dying to make it gloss black like the rest of the car and the underside of the hood.

Also, while I love the look of Ford Corporate Blue on an FE, I'm somewhat partial to the "fully polished" look, or at least satin silver.  I've been looking into Cerakote Glacier, which polishes up to a shine, but not too bright like chrome.  Chrome powdercoat seems like a gamble, and true chrome is a fortune and not my preference.  It's not a concourse build anymore, so the "seal is broken" so to speak.  Any opinions here?  My last high-hp build (granted not in a classic Mustang) was all polished and ceramic silver, and it was a beauty.  Trying to walk a thin line between respecting period-correct and light/tasteful resto-mod.

Any other ideas on what I should do to the engine bay while the engine is out to pretty it up without making it gaudy?  We're planning on redoing all of the wiring at the end, so that'll be tidied up last.

I know this is foremost a performance/technical forum, but I know some of you guys have some eye-candy engine bays...  Lets hear some ideas!

[Drew Pojedinec]

You are talking about paint mostly. You aren’t permanently altering the vehicle.
I say you live once, do what makes you happy and don’t worry about other people.

Of course this is why I bought a 289 Galaxie and not an r-code. I want to do what I want to do.

[CV355]

You are talking about paint mostly. You aren’t permanently altering the vehicle.
I say you live once, do what makes you happy and don’t worry about other people.

Of course this is why I bought a 289 Galaxie and not an r-code. I want to do what I want to do.

Good point- nothing that I plan on doing would prevent a full concourse resto in the future.  I guess I'm trying to gauge ideas so I get a feel for where to draw the line. 

[67428GT500]

The engine compartment was never flat black from the factory. They are 70% gloss.  I bought a new clip kit, new under hood and gauge feed harnesses and chromed factory parts. Chrome can be removed and it painted in factory finishes.

[GerryP]

You're concerned about what others may think if you do something that displeases them?  It's not a moral issue.  Do what you think will bring to car to where you want it to be.

[CV355]

The engine compartment was never flat black from the factory. They are 70% gloss.  I bought a new clip kit, new under hood and gauge feed harnesses and chromed factory parts. Chrome can be removed and it painted in factory finishes.

That engine bay is gorgeous.  Thanks for the tip on the engine bay paint!

You're concerned about what others may think if you do something that displeases them?  It's not a moral issue.  Do what you think will bring to car to where you want it to be.

Ehh, in a way I suppose.  Q-codes are relatively rare, like R-codes, and I don't want to go off the deep end and make some gaudy abomination that makes true fans cringe.  That's really all I'm safeguarding from.  No matter what, someone will dislike the fact it isn't 100% concourse, that's life. 

I'm sure we've all seen an article on an over-the-top restomod, loved the idea of it at first, but then thought "hmm, that used to be a classic..." Somewhat mutually exclusive ideas.

[338Raptor]

Just keep it clean and tidy and everyone will like it and it won’t kill resale so long as you keep all the original parts. 
Do what you want and enjoy it.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Mild modifications make it your own.
Major alterations often make it an abomination. But if that person is happy? Whatever.

I have some customers that refuse to drive their car further than the trailer. The car is too perfect and original to risk putting more than the original 12,000 miles on it. Personally I’m more annoyed by that, but again if it is your car and you derive some enjoyment from a car that you dust every week, great, cool.

[Thumperbird]

Do what looks good to you and makes you happy, a true fan that cringes is a closed minded prick, it's just a car after all.
Why we worry more about our cars than our beer bellies I'll never know.

[cammerfe]

I have never had a performance car that was left alone any longer than the time it took to drive it home the first time. Make yourself happy. You can't please everybody all the time. Why try??

KS

[Joe-JDC]

There is a lot to be said for a period correct CJ engine in a Q or R code mustang.  They were actually very good looking engines straight from Ford or Shelby.  Dressing up a CJ is easy and it will look every bit the top of the line Mustang that they were for the time.  A CJ would out run a Boss 302 or 429 off the showroom floor, and a real one is something to be proud of.  Don't turn it into a sissy with paint.  Joe-JDC

[67428GT500]

There is a lot to be said for a period correct CJ engine in a Q or R code mustang.  They were actually very good looking engines straight from Ford or Shelby.  Dressing up a CJ is easy and it will look every bit the top of the line Mustang that they were for the time.  A CJ would out run a Boss 302 or 429 off the showroom floor, and a real one is something to be proud of.  Don't turn it into a sissy with paint.  Joe-JDC

So what is a "Sissy with paint" Joe?

[CV355]

There is a lot to be said for a period correct CJ engine in a Q or R code mustang.  They were actually very good looking engines straight from Ford or Shelby.  Dressing up a CJ is easy and it will look every bit the top of the line Mustang that they were for the time.  A CJ would out run a Boss 302 or 429 off the showroom floor, and a real one is something to be proud of.  Don't turn it into a sissy with paint.  Joe-JDC

So what is a "Sissy with paint" Joe?

I'm guessing "sissy with paint" would be going with wild Autozone rattle can colors and hydrodipping camouflage skulls on the intake, haha... which is something I do not plan on doing.  But he brings up a good point- it can be done, and I'm trying to gauge where the line is.

Maybe if I list out my plans, someone could point out anything that might be gaudy or over the line

Main theme: Polished/silver/black look
Headers JetHot, polished
Intake is an Edelbrock Performer RPM w/ Endurashine
Valve Covers would be chrome-like (PVD, or cerakote glacier)
Block, Heads...  still torn between the Ford Corporate Blue or the Cerakote Glacier
Pulleys and WP are polished aluminum
Alternator is chrome
Black braided lines / AN fitting
Nylon braid wire covering
Brake booster/MC is Wildwood, highly polished with black anodized cover
Export braces had poor-quality chrome, looking at recoating with cerakote glacier and then polishing
I machine-polished the radiator, might still coat since it is soft and scratches up easily

No wild colors, just trying to keep things consistent

[Falcon67]

My go-to semi gloss has been Krylon 1613 semi-flat. 



And I agree with the others - do what looks good to you.  If you like it, you'll just enjoy the car more. 

>I have never had a performance car that was left alone any longer than the time it took to drive it home the first time. Make yourself happy. You can't please everybody all the
>time. Why try??

100% 

[Thumperbird]

You'll never regret a basecoat/clearcoat on the bay, lot's of off gloss options out there and no cloudy rattle can look.