I need some opinions about my engine bay theme. The car is a 91 RS with a 2.5" Harwood cowl and high rise spoiler. Interior is medium grey if that matters.
So my idea is to paint the engine bay a black and have an all blacked out engine that appears stock. This is a low budget theme and want your opinion on if I should paint the engine bay black with a black motor. The black stock motor was something I had wanted to do for a while but I don't know if it'll look right with a black engine bay. All the black bay's I've seen had some brushed or polished parts (covers/air cleaner) and/or a bright block, so I don't know how this would turn out...
The plan for the engine was simple, stealthy stock, no frills, just thrills. Glossy black block/heads/stock valve covers/edelbrock RPM intake/"stock" air cleaner/Stewart stage 2 water pump/brake components/steering components/suspension/alternator/STB/accessory brackets/etc, you name it, it'll be glossy black. My second guessing is me thinking that the motor would look best in a body matched red engine bay.
I'm already well dedicated to the black engine so if body bay is the popular vote I'll probably sway that way.

 

i think FLAT black w/ some chrome highlights to kinda kick it up a little while still staying on a budet and looks better that all chrome IMO.

 

i think FLAT black w/ some chrome highlights to kinda kick it up a little while still staying on a budet and looks better that all chrome IMO.

 

Here is the difference:
Before


...and After!

 

I think the all black engine against the red paint would look pretty good. Would show more engine detail.

 

See...... i like the look of the before a little better. i know its not as fancy but its practical on a daily driver other wise it looks bad when there is alot of chrome that is dirty and pited.dont get me wrong i LOVE the after its just too much money and time, and upkeep on a daily.

(thats why i like FLAT black) it hides the dirt.

 

I like the body color for the bay, and the black engine, mine is jus teht opposite, black car, red engine.

 

I Think the color of the engine bay same a car ..paint the block to match the engine bay and color of the car and use chrome and polished alum to highlight the engine bay..just my opinion

 

The past couple FSAE cars I helped build had a gloss black engine and space frame rear with carbon fiber intake and 3 polished covers (valve, clutch, stator). It looked really good when you just washed it down.
I never liked the way the cars looked when they had red space frame with a black engine and polished parts... it just looked cheap. Maybe since the engine bay isn't a space frame it'll look good. I think I'm going with painting the bay body color.
How does this sound;
Red- the body/frame, non-ac heater box, headlight header, windshield motor w/case (not the cover), relay bracket, wire loom that runs along red.
Black- the whole engine from top to bottom, Edelbrock 3point STB, blower motor, fan, headlight bezels, brake booster, master cylinder, exhaust wrap on 4-2 section (headers are stainless tri-y's), steering components, suspension, wire loom that runs along the engine and other black parts.

The air cleaner is also up in the air (no pun intended). I've got a stock single snorkel, dual HO, open element, sealed off cowl, and Caddy TBI bonnet all asking to be used. That's the least of my worries right now but it is one more consideration.

I want to have a really clean and simplistic look. Clean and stealth. I'm not looking to win any car shows but I do want to pop (more like lift and suspend) the hood for the occasional meets.
I need to get this car done SOON. I've got a 63 pickup that's in need of some major restoration... I wish *** would have created a 36 hour day.

 

Sinister, thanks for those pictures. Yellow and red are both bold colors and I can better visualize an all black engine. Much appreciated and great work!
Too keep this semi-daily drivable and inexpensive I'm avoiding chrome and polished. Besides, when you can't do a lot of either chrome or polished the bay looks half assed. That's why I'm avoiding it all together. Not to mention how the aftermarket is pushing polished parts down our throats these days... it's just over used. Last car that got a lot of attention at a local show/meet was a 1LE 90 IROC-Z. The engine was stock but CLEAN and I loved the apperance of the black contrasting with the red body. Last time I checked chrome didn't add horsepower . The reasons just keep adding up

 

I once saw a pic of an engine on the cover of one of the 'how to
hot rod small block chevy' books or similar such....the engine block
was a gloss battleship gray with all brushed aluminum accessories.
It was breathtaking as well as easily maintained/added to. I think
is would look real cool in a metallic gray engine bay, and the more
brushed aluminum you put under the hood (ie: radiator, rad cap,
pulleys, etc....) the cooler it would look.
Would love to see pics when your done!

 

I like the idea of a black engine bay. Sinister's "Before" pic looks great to me. The "after" pic is just too much to me.

Your engine bay might look a little plain without some aluminum or chrome, but that's crap that you can always add later. Any clean, stock looking engine bay looks better to me than something that's had too much shiny crap thrown at it.

I painted my engine bay flat black. I would have liked to paint it red like the rest of my car, but I decided that black would be smarter because it's easier to touch up once you get those inevitable scratches that result from a lot of engine work.

Once you bring a little aluminum into a clean black engine bay (Like Sinister's awesome air cleaner cover or a stock TPI setup), the tasteful understated appearance really looks classy.

 

awwwwww another person w/ the same ideas easy to take care of and easy to fix when something haddens.