Cleaning up the engine compartment

hillbilly

Although the outside of my camino looks very nice, the engine compartment
looks more like "junkyard"-styled.
First, I would like to find the engine id plate, could someone indicate in one
of the pictures ?
Then I would like to clean up this mess a bit.
My first idea is to remove the exhaust manifolds, since I'm gonna replace the
exhaust pipes anyhow. I thought I would sandblast/wirebrush the manifolds and paint them. Like in this article: Engine Elegance
Then perhaps clean the engine and paint it.
Reroute a few cables as well.

Any tips of what to do and how to do it?
It doesn't have to look carshow-winner-nice, I just want to be
able to open my engine compartment without having to excuse myself Smile

87ElCamino

ElkyPete · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:21 pm Post subject:

What color is the outside of the truck?

Some light color would make it easier to see when you are working in the engine compartment. If its an earth tone then it will not show up dirt as bad as ultra light or Ultra dark colors will. So if the outside of your truck is a light color you could see if you can find some Duplicolor Engine Enamel to paint it with.

The engine can be cleaned up with some Easy off oven cleaner and a high pressure hose. Don't squirt the carb, air cleaner or the dist. GM painted the compartment black originally. And the new engines they sell are black. They say that helps dissipate heat better than any other color. I think it is just cheap and that is why they do it.

Get as much off or out of the way as possible when you start painting. You could even consider removing the fenders and inner wheel wells to do the Job and get a better angle. I painted one of my engines the color of the outside front (76 the engine is Carmine Red Metallic, Dupont Automotive paints) another I painted the color I painted the frame which is Ultra Violet Pearl Metallic (Purple Pearl) and it really really looks good with all the chrome and polished aluminum stuff, man it looks good! But then it was in pieces when that was done, both of them were.

Good Luck

The 80's Engine

and the 76's

_________________
Home Site: http://www.elcaminoplace.com
1972 El Camino Custom 400
1976 El Camino Classic
1980 El Camino Super Sport
E-Mail: engstrvr@sbcglobal.net

hillbilly · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 11:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies.

Enrnie:
The wire looms is a good idea, these look nice, and some
of them are actually available here:Spark Plug Wire Looms
I've only had this car a cuple of months and am starting to find some time
to restoring it. Really enjoying it!
There are so many wires that lead to dead ends it makes me think
people were very drunk working on this car.
I'm removing the alternator tonight, we'll see if I find the id plate behind
it, the engine was replaced in -91, don't know with what exactly.

ElkyPete:
Wow, those are some nice looking engines, really like the color of the -76.
Many people seem to paint the engine in "Chevrolet orange", looks kind
of toy-like, plastic.
I never thought of painting the engine compartment in anything but black,
but perhaps it does reveal dirt and it sure makes it a dark place to work in,
hmm, I'll think of something else. I don't think Duplicolor is available here,
is Hamerite any good for this ?

Is there a good way to reroute the cold/hot water hoses that go from the
waterpump/intake to the cabin ventilation? They completely cover one
of my M/T covers as you can see in my first pic.

Here is the outside of my camino:

ElkyPete · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject:

I used longer hoses. In the 80 I got a set of the stainless steel Heater Hoses and Stainless steel Radiator hoses. In the 76 I got long regular hoses and routed them over to the brace going across the engine compartment. I used tie wraps to fasten the hoses to the support brace and then to the heater core.
_________________
Home Site: http://www.elcaminoplace.com
1972 El Camino Custom 400
1976 El Camino Classic
1980 El Camino Super Sport
E-Mail: engstrvr@sbcglobal.net

Erk · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:37 pm Post subject:

I don't know what color i should paint my block?

i THINK i am going to paint it dark green, does anybody have any pictures of a dark green elky?

-Eric
_________________
1972Cutlass350Rocket-JustSold
1981 Elky Stock 267 for now

hot 78 El Camino · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:54 pm Post subject: nice motor

I just thought that I would say that the motor looks pretty nice compared to my 79 Elky. However the 79 is still in drastric need of body work which is what I am working on first since the small 267 motor still runs strong. I am also looking for a larger motor for that car since the 267 isn't original. I am thinking it is possible 396 cause it is a ss so if anyone can help me with telling me which motor would be possible. So be like me and have fun cleaning the motor.
_________________
"I live my life a quarter mile at a time" Vin Diesel fast and the furious