Too Much Black On the Engine?
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Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
Too Much Black On the Engine?
the apperance of my new engine is very important to me...no pics cause its not done yet but my block is painted black along with the heads, black alt, and will paint the accessory brackets black. getting the bay repainted white, will paint my fuel rails red and have chrome timing cover, valve covers, thermostat housing, and alt fan, repainting the pulleys black again too but i need to know if i should leave my HSR plenum and intake base the cast color or paint thme black as well? it will contrast very good with the pearl white bay but is that too much black???? my whole car is mainly white, black, and chrome with some red accents.
if thats too much balck what else would one suggest, its hard for me to visualize
if thats too much balck what else would one suggest, its hard for me to visualize
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
ha thats what i needed to see, my heads are black and i will have some chrome on there to give a little cxontrast but the plenum and intake base WILL BE BLACK!!!
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 604
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From: Howard Beach, NYC
Car: 1990 TA
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: 4L60
Nice work.I don't see anything wrong with the amount of black. Dunno about chrome (not a fan of chrome on our cars), but
a little color will break it up nicely. When I get around to a swap I'll be doing everything but the intake and plenum black, with blue or red to accent it all.
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Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
yea thats true, i want it to look good and have people compliment obviously but its will never be this kandy red z ive seen a few times.......
i think it will give a little wow factor with the chrome accents in the right places, and also give a lot of contrast to the actual bay while keeping a really clean look.
i just mocked up the top end and the cast alumnium does look good on the black. and the more i think about it i wonder how the red fuel rails would look amongst all the black (also plan to paint the throttle body plate red). im thinking maybe the red and black wouldnt go too well......any other suggestions about that?

i think it will give a little wow factor with the chrome accents in the right places, and also give a lot of contrast to the actual bay while keeping a really clean look.
i just mocked up the top end and the cast alumnium does look good on the black. and the more i think about it i wonder how the red fuel rails would look amongst all the black (also plan to paint the throttle body plate red). im thinking maybe the red and black wouldnt go too well......any other suggestions about that?
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,494
Likes: 411
From: Sophia, NC
Car: 2016 Camaro SS + 1986 Z28
It's all a matter of opinion, and of course, your goal.
My goal was to make my engine look nice and clean with a little bit of color, but not to the point where you wonder if I ever start the car, ya know? I'm not on my PC, so I don't have pics, but there floatin' around here somewhere...
Personally I'm not a fan of black, but I think it would look just fine.
My goal was to make my engine look nice and clean with a little bit of color, but not to the point where you wonder if I ever start the car, ya know? I'm not on my PC, so I don't have pics, but there floatin' around here somewhere...
Personally I'm not a fan of black, but I think it would look just fine.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
well i wasnt a huge fan of all black for an engine either but my block was already black, i wanted the heads to match. i guess id rather have a red block and heads then go from there but o well. i snapped a pic of the HSR and i just cant decide if it would look better black, and then if the red would go with that black.
does anyone have some pics of red contrasting on the black?
does anyone have some pics of red contrasting on the black?
Last edited by CamarosRUS; Dec 30, 2006 at 12:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
yea those are some sweet engines! id love to have black with a polished plenum and intake manifold but i just dont have the patience.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Moved... GA still, more garage space!
Car: 87 Red/Blk Bird loaded 3.4L & 700R4
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Originally posted by Kandied91z
depends on what your trying to achieve. keeping it clean the black would be fine, if you want to win shows or get a wow factor out of people definately not..
depends on what your trying to achieve. keeping it clean the black would be fine, if you want to win shows or get a wow factor out of people definately not..
If going for a good clean look w/o all the polishing and cost. Go black. It will be understated, but look good!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,149
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From: Gladstone, Missouri
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0L TBI (ebl inside)
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 lsd 10 bolt
I really like that all black look. I think when I build my engine in four years I'll do that. For contrast you could always use a combo of flat black and gloss black.
Supreme Member
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Moved... GA still, more garage space!
Car: 87 Red/Blk Bird loaded 3.4L & 700R4
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Originally posted by 1BadThirdgen
Black engine accents? maybe....I prefer polished/chrome....
I don't like my car to be understated......:lala:
Black engine accents? maybe....I prefer polished/chrome....
I don't like my car to be understated......:lala:
Pics from last year...got a bit more chrome now. Strut towers are chrome...master cyl cover is a nicer billet piece...few other touches here and there!

candy apple red paint on block, heads, tranny, misc brackets, with polished edges. Timing cover is black with polished edges. What pulleys I could not get in billet are painted Candy. Got a few brakets in chrome and ceramic coated. Valve covers are candy with polished fins. Plenum is polished with candy stripes, runners are also candy. Polished AC Canister. Billet tranny dipstick handle. red anodized oil dipstick handle. Etc....
Last edited by redraif; Oct 6, 2004 at 05:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
yea i think with a red and black theme going on under there all reed and/or polished fittings would look better. just like im gonna do!
i think that black plenum loks sweet and im glad you have red fuel rails, i think that made my decisions, but i want to still see more!!
i think that black plenum loks sweet and im glad you have red fuel rails, i think that made my decisions, but i want to still see more!!
Supreme Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 1
From: Moved... GA still, more garage space!
Car: 87 Red/Blk Bird loaded 3.4L & 700R4
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Originally posted by CamarosRUS
thats a lot of polishing for one engine
:rockon:
thats a lot of polishing for one engine
:rockon:
Originally posted by Aredross
You did all that to a 6 cylinder you must love that car
You did all that to a 6 cylinder you must love that car
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 520
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From: Amarillo, Tx
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 355TPI 380hp
Transmission: Rebuilt 700r w/ Transgo Shift Kit
Originally posted by CamarosRUS
I think that black plenum loks sweet and im glad you have red fuel rails, i think that made my decisions, but i want to still see more!!
I think that black plenum loks sweet and im glad you have red fuel rails, i think that made my decisions, but i want to still see more!!
Here's a few pics of the other side...
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
yea that does look awesome. and it proves a fully dressed engine (cruise, air conditioning etc) can still look clean and good.
im going with a black plenum and base, red fuel rails and for the moment will leave my TB alumnium for some contrast with the top plate red instead of black........man i want this in the car!!!!!!!!!
im going with a black plenum and base, red fuel rails and for the moment will leave my TB alumnium for some contrast with the top plate red instead of black........man i want this in the car!!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
yea black looks too good IMO. ill have enough chrome on there to give it plently of show and the black will be jsut neat, simple, and clean. just the way i like things. if its too busy or dirty then go home 
i could always send my stuff away to get polished but thats too much for my wallet right now, it will more than likely happen in the future though

i could always send my stuff away to get polished but thats too much for my wallet right now, it will more than likely happen in the future though
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,030
Likes: 1
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700R4 3500 stall, TransGo shift kit
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 4.11:1
I thought a black car was hard to keep clean... its way harder with black in the engine bay.
I had my intake powdercoated black and then I polished the fins and fuel rails to set it off. I think it looks nice

I had my intake powdercoated black and then I polished the fins and fuel rails to set it off. I think it looks nice

Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 2
From: Louisville, Ky
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 10 Bolt
yea that looks awesome! im in the process of polishing the fins on the stealthram, im going to send the TB out to be fully polished and then i think itll look pretty good
Last edited by CamarosRUS; Dec 30, 2006 at 12:51 PM.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Car: 1988 IROC-Z Convertible
Engine: 408 Stroker Turbo, TPIS Mini Ram
Transmission: Magnum t-56
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 3.55
What Ive learned with engine bays
Polishing sucks, it always turns out ugly after a while
either chrome it or leave it
black looks dirty
silver powdercoating works mint
Polishing sucks, it always turns out ugly after a while
either chrome it or leave it

black looks dirty
silver powdercoating works mint
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