I'm kicking around appearance ideas for the upcoming engine build. Color matching the block and possibly head and accessories is obviously a common practice, and for good reason: IT LOOKS GOOD!!!! ...but what about an orange engine like all old school Chevy motors? Keep in mind my car is red, so it'll almost look like a mismatch, but it'll have that oldschool theme. I have a blue bowtie on my grille for the same reason. Regardless of what color car you had, you had a blue bowtie and an orange engine.

I think thats cool. Whatcha think?

 

My honest opinion is that even though they made cars like that once, it doesn't mean it looked good. Although the old school idea is cool

Of the two i pick color match.

 

You mean there are other colors besides orange?

 

Me?

 

Well, yes and no. Back then it was strictly an issue of color, where as today, it's also about tradition. My question, I guess, is whether or not "tradition" is worth it? I'm gathering your answer is no, and I appreciate you posting. Heck, I haven't answered it myself!!!!!

 

That's a good point, is tradition worth it?

Well, I would say so if the theme of the entire car is going to be oldschool. But if it's just the emblem and the engine, I say no.

 

I think that oldschool orange looks good only under the hood of a Chevelle, 1st gen Camaro, or something along those lines.

It just doesn't look right in a more modern car. I like all black/chrome and some (but i'm very borderline on) colors like blue or something in a 3rd or 4th gen.

It's all up to you though, you're the one that's going to be looking at it the most, and other people's opinions shouldn't let you affect how you want to do your car.

 

I say you do what you think will look the best. I'm a fan of non painted engines and polished metals.

 

Orange its the right thing and you know you want to anyway.

 

I might go old school & paint my motor orange too if that makes you feel better And to top it off, the car is blue! haha! What can I say, I'm flip!

 

I say Chevy Orange, nothing looks better.

 

If I was set on a certain look, you're right, I'd do it regardless. I honestly don't know what I want to do. Fortunately I have about a year before I need to decide!!!

There's no doubt that I'd "like" to do it, but once all is said and done, I'm wondering if maybe Mikedirntrulez isn't right about it just not looking good in a newer car. It just might not capture that traditional old school look, and it may just look like I tried to match the red body and just chose the wrong red!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure I'll change 10 times before I actually start working on it....and it's a fun thread. Thanks for the replies!

 

I kinda went with the universal red. Local joke all fast engines are red
Mike

 

Very nice!

I'm assuming your car is red???

 

I would either color match the block or paint it black. I love the classic Chevy orange, but I really don't see myself having a hugger orange engine in any car I own anytime soon. Even if that car originally came that way. I like stuff that matches.

 

....yep, there's always black too. Black is simple, it matches everything and always looks clean.

...but I'm a graphic artist, and my creative side MUST HAVE COLOR!!!!!

Here's a pic of what I have now. Heck, I may do a similar theme with the rebuilt motor. Don't get me wrong, I like the way it is, but change is good too.

 

I like the L98 emblem, did you make it at your shop?

 

Paint the Inside of the Engine bay Sim Gloss Black.
Than paint the Engine Block chevy orange and
Do the VCovers like In the Pic up top of the motor with RED chevy emblem.
and Leave the THE TPI silver.

IF you do the bay black and the Block and the heads Chevy orange you will see the block and heads some but it wont be so much that it makes you sick evere time you look at the mottor, and the Black Vcovers Will tie in to the engine bay.

 

i think the old school looks would be better suited to a non gfx car

 

Camaros with out GFXs Look good as long as you look at them from the Rear or side. The Front bumper just does not work with the car.

I would know i have a 87 SC and it has 91-92 GFXs now. Trust me i didnt want to do the GFXS but i could not stand the front bumper on my 87 SC.

If he really wanted a All out old school them he would get ride of the striping down by the GFXs. and Do CHEVY racing strips in White or black.
But thats my 2 cents

But lets not get off Topic this is about HIs motor Them.

 

Mines painted pontiac blue it was originally in my 86 trans am untill some dumb lady pulled out in front of me and totaled the car. The engine was fine and i had like 3 grand in it and it was only rebuilt 2k previous so i got my iroc and dropped in the motor. And now i'm stuck with pontiac blue in my red iroc. Its okay though it helps me remember the T/A r.i.p.

 

im not taking it off topic. im saying an orange engine and blue bowtie (old schoool look) would look better on a non gfx thirdgen. a thirdgen with gfx looks more modern. in my opinion.

 

Heres old school Chevy orange paint with TPI

 

Heres some what, what i was talking about with the Black and Oragne on the motor.

 

those are headers correct? what kind are u using?

the engine bay looks a lot cleaner without AC

 

Yep, I'm running 1.75" SLP's.

I really like that SLP runner TPI with the orange. That's VERY close to what I had in mind. The carbed motor is pretty awesome too. ...I don't know if I want to paint the engine bay black, but I agree that it would help tie into the old school look with the orange motor.

...and yes, removing the Iroc stripes and adding rally stripes is certainly more of an old school look, but the pinstripes are gonna stay. From the outside, I want a stock or almost stock appearance.

....Someday I plan to build a Sport coupe without ground effects. metallic green with white rally stripes and black and white houndstooth interior.

 

....I might just go with the red instead of orange, but still do it like an old school motor. block, heads, brackets red with cast and polish VC's and TPI.

Either way it'll look good.

 

on my motor i am going color matched red, black valve covers, black air cleaner housing, and a black engine bay, bright red car.

 

i did mine the same color as the car. its sunset orange. don't really notice it unless you are really looking for it. i personally think it looks alot better than standard chevy orange. if the pics don't work go to page 5 of my site in my sig and scroll down.

 

I think it could look great and it could look horrible. I would paint your heads black and switch all your accessories to black or orange. The fender wells being red would be fine but if you had red right next to orange with black, silver and who knows what else running around it would get a little cluttery. I say go for it tho!

 

i'd def color match if the engine bay was black to help the motor pop out, but it would still look good color matched anyway

for me, my car is black with red interior. i am keeping the red/black theme, sorta like black widow. the motor will be red and the top will be mix of red and black. not sure tho how it will turn out

 

Just thought I'd post an older pic of my Chevy orange engine...I think the orange looks good with the rest of the engine bay being black....

 

I do not hate the orange or love it. I like it in the sense that when u open hood you see some color instead of black. I like mismatched colors on engines like when a car is say white and the engine is a dark green. That Chevy orange is pretty bright, kind of distracting in way. I would say a no to that. Body colored is tastefully better without drawing exccesive attention.

The red engines looked great too.

 

I think with a black engine bay, the orange looks great. I just don't think I could bring myself to paint the engine bay another color other than body color (red).

..hehe...tons of great ideas, but only ONE CAR!!!!!!!!

 

If your engine bay was black I'd say go for it. But red well I don't think that would look very good. I know what you mean about all the ideas and one car lol I've got 2 and 1 is staying stock and the other gets my ideas. Personally I like following tradition/heritage, but I guess GM is screwing that up too, throwing the SS term around when it actually use to mean something. So really it's all in what you want.

BTW when did they start calling it chevy orange? My dad called it Chevy Engine Red and I was a non believer until i saw spray paint can that said the same thing...

 

This is what I want my engine to look like:


Personally, I think painting the block a bright color is not worthwhile.

 

Only stickers add more power than an orange block.

 

I think engine color is what it is....I've never "color matched" my engine to the body.....besides, what if you owned a white car? Gonna paint the engine white? lol

So far, my original 305 HO is blue (in background), and my 400 has been Mopar blue and is now black (in foreground).

I say go with what YOU like, and the h*ll with what anyone else thinks!