[ATTACH][/ATTACH]Decided since the car is basically in garage for the winter I should start cleaning out the engine bay, and polish all the aluminum on the TPI.
Replace some hoses , give the car a tune up , change the old wire looms to new red ones and so on.
Let me know what you guys think, I will try to keep updating as I go along.

 

Here is the work being done

 

This is a nice project which may never get finished due to all the connectors, hoses, fittings, screws, nuts, washers, you name it, it's there. I've been trying for years to do what you're attempting and it seems like I am always finding something new that needs cleaning or updating. Don't get discouraged it will look better with time. Good luck on your project.

 

Buy a $40 bench grinder from Harbor Freight with polishing pads and metal compound it makes it go a lot quicker. But beware you will get filthy lol, I had my son and me spend an afternoon on my stuff. Mine is a bit easier since the motor is out.

 

Whats with all the red crap?

 

I agree...less is more...stop with all the red loom

 

 

Can I say, please let me say it. I don't mean any harm. We're all friends here, right? I'm gonna say it. It's Snakes on a Plane!

 

Snakes on a plane ??? Waaa ???

And I love the way people on this site who r supposedly car enthusiast can just flat out write some of the things they do and be so critical.

Listen to each there own , and most of the time I agree less Is more. But I have a vision for what I want this engine bay to look like , and it's not done yet. Everyone has there own idea of what looks good and what doesn't. Voice your opinion but do it in a constructive way. Not " what's with all the red crap " comments !!!!

Come on guys , show so love on this site ... Lmfao

 

I think you're doing a great job. One of the great things about these cars is the versatility to make it your own. Your car doesn't look like everyone else's and that's not a bad thing. Enjoy it and post pics of the finished project. I know I'm looking forward to it. Ignore the idiots that don't get it.

 

When most people clean their engine bay they tend to "hide" the wires. The red loom does the opposite. Hope that wasn't too critical for you. Other than that, its looking good.

 

Red loom in a red engine bay isn't a bad idea.

 

The look I'm going for is to basically turn every black wire loom, hose, vaccuum line etc. into red. I have polished the TPI and the runners and throttle body. I have purchased brand new chrome valve covers. Also got new coolant overflow and washer fluid tanks. Painted my Air filters to the body color of car. got a new chrome alternator to install. Will see what happens when it all comes together

 

Better rename the tittle from Cleanup to Clusterfawk engine bay.

I would personally do the Air delete, Clean up the wiring and hide it away and then loom whatever is left and looming it with good looking loom not some Autozone special.

You wanted opinions, you got em.

 

The paint on the rubber boot is gonna crack and look like poo...

 

Carlos773 -- thanks for the help !!!!! U went from "crap" to "clusterfawk" very impressive !!! lol

Lets see some pics of your ride since u seem to have all the answers.

 

wow damn alot of downers talking bad stuff ,,, i think it looks good ,has long has u like it nothing else matters

 

If you wish.



I don't have all the answers, I just know that the cleaner the bay, the better it looks. I am still working on mine.

Don't let my opinion get you riled up. Finish it up and see what other people think, just remember theres a reason only so few have commented on here...

 

wow what a beautiful engine bay.... Loving those valve covers too!

 

^from the looks of it, I believe that Carlos has the answers.

 

Lol, this. I love how the tall valve covers look with the LT1 intake.

 

Jlex. Continue to finish it. Maybe it will turn out ok once finished. Check out the thread 84 Man Diary on Members Camaro. Maybe switching looms will make it better as he is doing.

As for the compliments on my engine bay, thank you. Its far from complete as you can see from the overspray and handing power steering reservoir. I have spent alot of time and money into it.

 

Haven't we all? It's a vicious cycle on our wallets.

 

There's constructive criticism and then there's just being mean.
I think it's too much red. But then again it's not my car. Interested in the out come though.

 

Not sure that was a good idea, no matter what color you went with.....

 

Doesn't look too bad imo, it is very different. I bought a 4th gen overflow and washer tank and plan on installing them, will clean my engine bay up a bit.

 

From the guy who's bay has mismatched paint.

 

Here's my opinion. I mean this constructively from one builder to another. For me, its too much red. I like when everything is hidden but the motor and essentials. If you can't hide it, then to me it should blend in.

A lot of people say build the car the way you want and how it looks good to you. To a degree I agree with this. It depends on what you expect out of the work. For me, even though I was not building a show car, I was building a car that I knew I would want to show off. Because of this, it looking good to other people and not just me was important to me.

 

Subscribed.

 

Listen, Im trying to do a engine bay that is unique and do not want to delete anything or change wires around. I Just want to basically clean it down because it was filthy when I bought the car. Give the car a nice tune up and replace whatever needed replacing. Polish all the aluminum on the TPI , get chrome valve covers and alternator to clean it up nice. And then cover all the black hoses and wire looms with the red. Had the idea to paint the MAF , and filter from a friend of mine who works at a body shop. We sanded them down real good after cleaning them, and then he put a spray over it before painting that is good for plastic , then we sprayed them. The car is not a everyday driver. Its a cruise night car/show car. Im not looking to win any trophies or awards. Just looking to be creative and make something no one has seen before. So I know with that comes ..... some will like , some will love, others will hate .... etc..........But it does make for some good conversation and post i guess. lol

 

All car enthusiasts share a common bond which is pride in their vehicles. People should realize that opposed to what was done to the car, more important is why it was done. With respect to everyones personal tastes, things done to cars on this site are done in hopes of improving the vehicle. Just cause I don't like black wheels or rims bigger than 18" doesn't mean I can't appreciate that someone works hard, and saves up to buy a new set of wheels for their car. My opinion means nothing and I'd be missing the point by offering a meaningless negative opinion just cause I don't personally like the way it looks. When someone posts pics asking your opinion, keep in mind that they're trying to share something they're proud of, something they worked for or worked at to get. If you don't care for it, don't offer such a harsh negative feedback. Have a little tact and offer an appropriate response.

That being said...it's kinda hard to tell what it's gonna look like without the polished tpi setup and chrome accessories on. The wiring and tubing isn't bundled or run correctly yet ,which should happen when everything is put back together. Naturally it looks a bit messy, it's a work in progress. Highlighting the messy wire in red makes them a focal point, but without anything polished under the hood and without tucking/running the wires back where they belong you can't tell much, other than your making all your wiring and hoses red. Looks a bit overwhelming now, but I can't imagine the finished product will look as busy to the eye. If you look at the original pics and realize how much polished aluminum or chrome pieces there will be, the red can't stand out as much as it does now. The polished tpi and chrome overflow and washer tanks, along with a chrome alternator, has to draw more attention then the red wires. I think it's gonna look much different then it does now...we shall see.

 

Also was wondering does anyone know where or who sells chrome boxes to cover the battery and the charcoal filter.
Also recieved the wrong chrome alternator from summit racing after going over it with one of there so called techs. Does anyone know if I can get just the chrome kits and which one or the right chrome alternator for the car.
Just to state again its 1987 Iroc-z28 5.7L 350 V8
Alternator is on passenger side and has the 2 wire hookup.
any help asap would be appreciated as I need to get this installed.
thanks guys

 

I'm also doing a winter engine cleanup. My goal is polish and clean.

 

I think to each his own but over time you will make changes. It is fun to add color and change things up but with all the time in R & D GM and others put into the bay, I think stock usually looks the best unless it is a streetrod then I don't want to see any wires of any color.

WOW - How I hated all this under the hood. In fact: almost didn't buy it because I wondered what other bad taste they used on changing the car. It took a few hours but it sure looks better clean than all those colors.
Here is our the day we bought it Oct 7th, 2011.


AFTER - or today



Do it how you like, it is personal preference

 

I clearly stated in my previous post:

''As for the compliments on my engine bay, thank you. Its far from complete as you can see from the overspray and handing power steering reservoir. I have spent alot of time and money into it. ''


You have a long way to go grasshopper.


@Jlex

Everyone has their own style, don't let my opinion or anyone elses stop you from finishing. I had alot of people criticize my choice of going LT1 over a LS1/2 LQ4/9. I still went ahead and finish it.

As for your question, check out Hawksthirdgen, they have a cover for the battery as well for the brake reservoir if you are looking to clean up those parts. As far as the canister, I would go ahead and paint it like you did the other parts since i never recall a cover for it.

As far as the alternator, skip on that. Rebuild your current one with good parts and polish it by hand or a wheel. This of course when its apart. Pocket the change.

I went ahead and spent the $320 on one and wished I would of just rebuilt/polished my old one. Still It does look pretty sweet. I went with a Tuff Stuff version over Powermaster, works great from what I can see.

 

I have to agree with everybody else and say that the red looms looks like nothing but viens hanging all over your engine. Just add some blue one's and you'll have a great anatomy project on your hands.... I understand you don't want to delete anything but trust me, if you pull the harness and clean up the wires it will look TONS better even if you leave all the "hardware" so to speak. Here's a pic of both of my engine bays to give you an idea of what "I" believe an engine bay should look like and make your opinion from there.....

First my TBI engine bay....




Now my TPI engine bay....





Clean and simplistic.....that's how it's done my friend.

 

Hey Carlos ,
Where did you get that sweet coolant overflow tank, its sick !!!
Meant to ask you that a few days ago , lol

 

Heres some updated pics of the TPI

 

Very nice, to be honest I would replace the rubber boot with a 3' to 4' pipe and then port the stock tpi box, followed by hawks Ram air box that sits on the fog light openings. That would be my setup if I was running a Tpi.

As far as the overflow, its a Canton overflow. Clicky. Too pricey for some like my neighbor, then again hes still trying to get his L03 to go fast...

 

looks good dude.

 

Well guys kind of figured since I took it this far I minds well really do what I wanted to do and just take my time putting it all back.
So the new plan is to remove all the emissions, smog pump hoses, etc.
Really want to clean up the bay and get rid of all the clutter.
Being that I'm polishing all the aluminum ( tpi, runners, intake manifold, fuel rails, etc ), plus putting chrome valve covers I really want to be able to see it.
Also will be painting the engine block, semi-gloss black , and all of the pumps and brackets that I removed. A/c compressor had a leak so I will be replacing with a four seasons compressor from summit. While I have it off I'm also replacing the water pump, and got a new chrome alternator from summit. Going to sand down and paint the pwr steering pump and all the pulleys. Also removed and will be painting the radiator. This will eliminate alotof those red hoses that i was originally going to do.
I update as I go along for those interested.

P.s. Does anybody know how to upload pics on here from the iPad..?

 

Subscribed. Will be starting an engine bay cleanup project myself soon so anything I can watch and learn from is great.

Some nice pix in this thread.

OP, good luck with your project.

 

Intake manifold after being hot tanked , sanded, and polished. Still working on it.


Before fuel rails were taken off. Look how nasty and filthy

 

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...0/e9882ed0.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...0/1da71ca5.jpg

 

Update

 

Old school

New school

Let me know what you guys think. Polished the plenum, runners, and intake manifold. Chrome valve covers. Painted fuel rail and thermostat neck to match body color of car. Going to be getting rid of a few of those red hoses. Painted front and side of engine block with a black semi- gloss. Came out great for not taking the motor out of car. I will be posting some more pics tomorrow of the painting process if anybody interested. Thanks.

 

looks great so far...like everyone said...i been working on cleaning mine up more and more over the years..but so far it looks great..good job

 

I think it looks great, good job

 

Could you please tell me what intake that is on your TPI and how you got it on there?

 

Could you please tell me what kind of Intake that is on your TPI. I've been dying to find one like it. And how does it attached and where did the MAF sensor go?