dilemma with what i've done

[71chevyowner]

My truck just got done with a complete frame off pics will be coming in a few weeks. But I bed linered under the hood then painted it same color as the truck I was thinking it would cut down on underhood noise and heat is the bed liner gonna cause me points taken off at car shows? The firewall and inner fenders are all slick and same color as the truck.

[Sicklajoie]

Car shows are beauty contests.
Every show is judged different because judges all have different tastes.
If it's tastefully done then it shouldn't be an issue unless you're at a show where all they care about is a stock factory restoration.

[Grumpy old man]

bed liner is not a cure all and yes it will cost you at any real show .

[chevjayfsd]

Who cares? Did you build the whole truck caring about what a non-qualified judge at a car show is going to think about it?

It won't cost you at a show at all, unless, like sicklajoie said, they are judging you as a factory restoration.

BTW, the sooner the better on the pics! And welcome to the board.

[jimmy1976]

will the bed liner hold up to the heat under the hood?

[71chevyowner]

Thanks yall. And the ppl I bought it from said it would I really hope it does it's on there now. If worst comes to worst I'll get some hushmat or some other heat shield/sound barrier and put it over it!

[cool68]

so, what brand of bed liner stuff did you use? spray on or roller? used black? can it be painted over? has it affected the paint on top of hood?

[OhioDan]

Well, somebody had to do it?

[CC69Rat]

^^^

Yes, I agree, who cares.. just enjoy what you've done with it. Welcome to the board from TN

[Tom Vogel]

If a show is 'panel judged', the rule is, its not What you have, its How nice what you have Is.
If its peoples choice, its just judged on peoples personal taste. So Id say if its done nicely, why worry.

[71chevyowner]

It was mar-Hyde truck guard pro it was a spray in and it looks really nice it was painted the same color as the truck! And pics are coming my computer is broke and I'm sending the messages through my phone!

[cool68]

same as body color with good finish should make no difference. take it to a couple of shows and if you loose out on the first place trophy only because of the coating then do something about changing it, if it is that important to you.

[Tinkermc]

Welcome to the Forum, if car showa is your thang good luck.

[71chevyowner]

The truck is very sentimental my dad bought it when I was born and he gave it to me when I was 16 and I've been saving since then to get it how I want it and finally I have I really like how it looks under the hood so if they penalize for it then I guess they can have there opinion!

[tsetsaf]

This engine cover:


If you look underneath it is unfinished and has a yellow scrubbed/ aluminum look. Well before I get to the reason why let me explain what happened when the truck was judged at its very first car show. Judges look over the entire truck obviously liking it. They then crouch down and look underneath the cover, if you lean low and close one eye you can see underneath it. They converse and walk away after sticking a "judged" sticker on the headlight. One of them walks back up after-wards and apologizes saying it was his favorite but the others marked it down because the bottom! of the cover was not painted.

So I then told him the story, since they never asked. That engine cover was hand made by the truck builder (my step dad). He took an old California road sign, aluminum by the way, cut it, formed it, welded it, smoothed it, and painted it so that the paint actually sticks! He was going to do the bottom side and I forced him to stop. In my opinion every custom car built with this much care and craftsmanship needs that hidden story that little conversation starter to allow random folks to conceptualize that someone physically built the vehicle, painted it, welded it, and put time and effort in to the finished project. In my mind it is a kind of a signature and every-time I look at it I am reminded of the level of care and love that went in to the truck.

So OP I guess the short version of this is that you will not win them all but who cares. You know why you did it and forget those who thumb their noses at it.

[Sicklajoie]

^^^ That's a great story, and a nice cover, too.