Dressing the stock motor

[gchemist]

Wrap all the wiring in plastic looms. I did my engine with black. Simple and cheap!! I did some of the hoses too.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Wrap all the wiring in plastic looms. I did my engine with black. ....

Good advice. DON"T use colored loom. It looks cool in the package, but looks like a bucket of plastic fishing worms under the hood.

[Kixwy2]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Good advice. DON"T use colored loom. It looks cool in the package, but looks like a bucket of plastic fishing worms under the hood.

I don't know why, but this made me laugh out loud.

... the chrome ones are kind of nice though...

[AceX]

But the chrome ones flake alot after a minute and also after some extensive bending and manipulation. Learned that when working with computers.

Sleeving works much better in that instance, but not when placed in close proximity to high heat sources because the sleeving will actually melt.

[N2TRUX]

Motor dress up 101: High lite the pretty stuff and hide the ugly stuff.

What you are trying to do when dressing up under the hood is draw attention to the pretty parts, and allow the ugly stuff to blend in. By adding a nice breather, and valve covers your attention is drawn to these larger items, and the ugly stuff blends in to the shadows under the hood.

If you add colored or chrome loom, suddenly those wires and hoses are a glowing bowl of plastic spaghetti. That's not conducive to the look of flow and symmetry that your trying to accomplish.

Another common mistake made that applies to this theory is too much of a good thing is bad. Flames are a perfect example. How many times have you seen some one take flames and go wild with them?

Flames on a truck are cool. Flames added to the interior is alright too. When you continue the theme under the hood with flames on the breather lid, valve covers, oil filler cap, radiator cap, etc you have too much and it becomes distracting, rather than pleasing to look at.

I'm not bashing anyone and their choices, just trying to pass along what I have learned from many years as a car show judge.

[CLASSIC87']

Here's the look that I like... not overly done and clean/simple... this is "BOATPULLERS"

Anthony

[AceX]

Yeah, unless I can strip the motor of all the unnecessary stuff, I don't think stainless lines and sleeving are gonna happen.

I've actually already re-loomed everything in the engine bay, but I think I'm gonna redo it and try and see what I can reroute and hide.

I ordered an A/C compressor cover form Pace yesterday. I'm also looking at chrome alternator brackets and power steering brackets. Not sure If I want to go as far as ordering new pullies. I'll post a pic of my engine bay later so you guys might be able to help me. I can use all the help I can get with this one...

[AceX]

Pics of my motor (needs a cleanin...):

[gchemist]

Since we want to show off engines.....

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by CLASSIC87'

Here's the look that I like... not overly done and clean/simple... this is "BOATPULLERS"

Anthony

Boatpuller - if your listening --- are those Alan Grove accesory brackets? they look very nice, whatever they are

[burger]

Originally Posted by CLASSIC87'

Here's the look that I like... not overly done and clean/simple... this is "BOATPULLERS"

Anthony

Why is the compressor on the left side of this engine and why is the heater core so much less offensive looking? Is it aftermarket? Me likey.



Thanks,
Ed

[abebummy26]

I'm a huge fan of chevy orange blocks.

[swb85]

I don't have any good pictures of mine in the truck, but there's some good footage of it about halfway into this video......plus you get to hear it this way. The a/c compressor has since been replaced with a shiny new one.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by burger

Why is the compressor on the left side of this engine and why is the heater core so much less offensive looking? Is it aftermarket? Me likey.



Thanks,
Ed

That is the nicety of using an aftermarket A/C unit and a blank plate for a Vintage air or another brand A/C install.


Herre is the one in my 84 GMC---I know it is a little overdone. But it runs like a wild ape. Ain't no trailer queen

[AceX]

The more I thin about this, the more I kind of want to do an engine cover, kind of like what they've been doing with the factory cars and trucks for a while.

I'm sketching out some ideas right now, but the basic plan would be to have it attach either with just the wing nut on the air cleaner, or the four inner bolts for the valve covers (the ones closest to the intake manifold.)

I'd keep it real simple and sweet, maybe try and incorporate a logo for the 305 somewhere on the top. I want to keep it looking like something that the factory might have done though.

Also, the truck is going back to the body shop on Tuesday for some touch up work. After I get it back, I'm going to dive into the engine bay (almost literally) and start repainting, re-looming, and reorganizing the engine bay. Depending on the amount of money I spend @ the body shop, I may be able to do the valve covers and engine cover before summer time rolls around.