Cheap/Easy ways to make engine bay look better?

[Squareforceone]

Does anybody know of some cheap ways to spruce up an engine bay i was think some value cover and an air filter. Any inputs appreciated my just an unemployed high school kid so i dont have much money

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

I know how that feels! Save up some money and you can get new valve covers and air cleaner that look cool if you like. If it doesn't run right though fix that first....also you can get under there and try to clean it with de-greaser and paint the brackets and stuff the same color..that looks pretty nice.....you can also paint the engine block if you want.....and if you don't mine being patient you can move wires around and hide them to make it look more organized...

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

I know how that feels! Save up some money and you can get new valve covers and air cleaner that look cool if you like. If it doesn't run right though fix that first....also you can get under there and try to clean it with de-greaser and paint the brackets and stuff the same color..that looks pretty nice.....you can also paint the engine block if you want.....and if you don't mine being patient you can move wires around and hide them to make it look more organized...

It runs pretty good but needs a better battery (this one wont crank when it gets cold) I am some what mechanically inclined i can change oil plugs and wires and basics and turn a wrench. But not like these guys on here can remove the engine to spruce it up so thats why i was saying easy. If i were to put on new value covers would i need to mess with gaskets or anything or just move the plug wires and take the covers off? Ill try and get some pics of the very dirty engine. Thanks i know that was a lot

[pig rig]

wash it and keep it clean

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by Squareforceone

It runs pretty good but needs a better battery (this one wont crank when it gets cold) I am some what mechanically inclined i can change oil plugs and wires and basics and turn a wrench. But not like these guys on here can remove the engine to spruce it up so thats why i was saying easy. If i were to put on new value covers would i need to mess with gaskets or anything or just move the plug wires and take the covers off? Ill try and get some pics of the very dirty engine. Thanks i know that was a lot

You don't have to change the gaskets but I would recommend it when you change the valve covers...

[Pro Performance]

Rattle can go a long ways. I am doing a budget build and just rattle canned the whole engine bay. Of course, I degreased it all first.
I think it looks alright for what it is.

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by Street3285

Rattle can go a long ways. I am doing a budget build and just rattle canned the whole engine bay. Of course, I degreased it all first.
I think it looks alright for what it is.

I can't really just spray paint it all since i have NO way of removing the engine

Also i always though changing a head gasket was hard because we had a '79 lincoln continental hella of a car lol that had a blown head gasket and we sold it because of it

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by Squareforceone

I can't really just spray paint it all since i have NO way of removing the engine

Also i always though changing a head gasket was hard because we had a '79 lincoln continental hella of a car lol that had a blown head gasket and we sold it because of it

You don't have to remove the engine to paint the engine compartment....I had a thread on it a while back......might take a little while to get all of the hard to reach places but it can be done.....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=432050

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

You don't have to remove the engine to paint the engine compartment....I had a thread on it a while back......might take a little while to get all of the hard to reach places but it can be done.....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=432050

You dont have to but If doing while in don't you have to remove a lot of stuff (which i would screw up or forget about something)

[Squareforceone]

Heres my dirty engine bay camera really makes it look dirty

[Restrorob]

There are a lot of things that can be done on the cheap as others have mentioned, Small things go a long way in overall appearance.

Re-loom your under hood wire harness, Replace rusty or oversized hose clamps with the proper size. Clean/paint rusty screws and nuts, Rattle can anything that looks bad, Use news paper and masking tape to reduce over spray.

A nice clean/detailed engine bay can look just as good without a bunch of money or chrome bling, Add the bling after everything else is done.

When I judge shows 50% of my vote is based on the engine bay, That's where one's creativity out shines fancy wheels/tires and paint.


On Edit;

You have a camera, Take many pics of things before you take them off or apart for detailing....

[Allensracing]

clean clean clean. scrub scrub scrub.

[Pro Performance]

paint paint paint

[Allensracing]

let me be a bit more specific and hopefully more helpful than my previous post.
assuming the picture you took is how it looks right now:
take off the air cleaner and snorkel. set it somewhere and clean it. if you have a place to wash pets or something like a laundry room sink, use that.
get every bit of dirt off of the air filter housing, and the snorkel.
if it looks like it has quite a bit of missing paint, scuff it up and repaint it.
once the air filer looks like brand new, put it back on the truck.
then find something else, and clean it.....

[nbpro]

I would recommend using semi gloss instead of a gloss black or flat black . IMO just looks better. I use Purple Power and some engine cleaner. Think my engine turned out ok. And it was still in the vehicle. New wire loom and cleaned up hoses just makes everything look better.

[Squareforceone]

So, Is it hard to change a gasket or not?

[Pro Performance]

Yes, for someone that is not mechanically inclined, it will be a more difficult job.

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by Street3285

Yes, for someone that is not mechanically inclined, it will be a more difficult job.

But i dont have to replace it to take the valve covers off?

And im not totally clueless mechanically but i can't do what a lot of people on this site do and to an engine swap. I have never replaced a head gasket before but im sure i could probably figure it out with the help of the book

[nbpro]

we talking valve cover gasket or the head gasket ?

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by nbpro

we talking valve cover gasket or the head gasket ?

valve cover gasket did i say head gasket i meant valve cover

[Pro Performance]

I thought you meant head gasket.

The valve cover gasket is fairly simple. Sometimes you can re-use the gasket, but I would just recommend replacing it since you have the valve cover off. The valve cover gaskets aren't expensive.

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by Street3285

I thought you meant head gasket.

The valve cover gasket is fairly simple. Sometimes you can re-use the gasket, but I would just recommend replacing it since you have the valve cover off. The valve cover gaskets aren't expensive.

^^ x2 just dont tighten bolts to tight

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by nbpro

I would recommend using semi gloss instead of a gloss black or flat black . IMO just looks better....

Very good advice. Satin black looks great and stay nice much longer than flat or gloss.

[Squareforceone]

Originally Posted by Street3285

I thought you meant head gasket.

The valve cover gasket is fairly simple. Sometimes you can re-use the gasket, but I would just recommend replacing it since you have the valve cover off. The valve cover gaskets aren't expensive.

Sorry i was thinking of head gasket because they are cheap but hard. so valve gasket isn't that hard to replace? Thanks for all the help

[nbpro]

your application may differ from the one in the video but it shows the basics.

YouTube - Valve Cover Gasket Changing