patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

i will be pulling my straight six this fall/winter and replacing the engine and tranny. my plan i want to make the engine bay very clean but i will keep the rest of my truck patina. i am looking for ideas as anyone done something like this before? i am trying to figure out where to start/stop with the paint. my plan is to paint the engine bay black. also i am wondering if i should be painting the frame also. i wont be pulling the cab but as i said before trying to figure out where to start/stop.

here are pics of the truck and current engine bay

i am thinking everything black but also thinking spray painting the firewall the stock color. anyone know a good place for stock color spray paint?

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...psfowhovvj.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...psoouetn1d.jpg

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

From looking at your pic I would remove everything and sand and repaint the black pieces in semi gloss black. I would clean and polish the back fire wall. The paint from the pic looks like it will clean up well and look good. Looking back I wish I would have left fire wall in original color. Since you are going to have the engine out go ahead and paint the frame. It really will make the engine bay look good. Be ready to clean and scrape off years off grease and grime. Here is a shot of my engine bay after I put it together. I hope this helps.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps4a0a7e32.jpg

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

Here is mine I just finished. I left the firewall body color, painted fenderwells gloss black, frame semi gloss:

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

That's what I did. I wanted the engine, interior, and new bed wood.
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...psd1lx9g3y.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...psmsy521kv.jpg[/IMG]

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

And the rest old and crusty
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...pshubmwgnq.jpg[/IMG]

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

My '64 is being built that way (nicely painted and detailed engine and chassis/patina'd outside). Even though the outside will retain it's original patina'd and sunburned factory lacquer paint, I still plan to keep it impeccably detailed and clean on the outside. The chrome is showing it's age, but it'll get polished right along with the rims. Call me weird, but I have always loved the look of a detailed car that's gracefully showing it's age.

If I spent the 15K to do a knockout paint job on it, I would never drive it for fear of it getting damaged. With a patina'd truck, you want to drive it at every opportunity. It's kind of like that favorite pair of worn out Levis that you want to wear all of the time.

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

I will be doing the same with my truck. Clean engine compartment and interior.

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

Rcnutt, beautiful! Love the hell out of the original paint and patina. Perfect.

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

Is there an acceptable rattle can solution to the engine bay and forward frame rails while the front clip is removed?

I too have my front clip on my 62 removed right now since I'm swapping out my tired 283 for a 350 crate motor.

Might as well tidy up the sheet metal while I have it apart in front.

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

I used Krylon Max from wally world

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

The Rustoleum semi-gloss black looks pretty good to me and has held up pretty well. For the frame I used Hammerite. I like the look. Sorry no pics right now.

Re: patina truck/ clean engine bay
 

I agree the Rustoleum semi-gloss black is a fairly close match to the black GM used under the hood, as far as spray cans go. I painted my 1bbl air cleaner for my 66 with it and it turned out good and has held up well, I also have painted engine brackets, brake drums, etc. with it and got good results. Cheap too at wally-world. Make sure you use a self-etching primer first if covering bare metal. Joseph