Setting aside what the Rolling Stones might suggest, I am closing in on removing and repainting my inner fenders and then the firewall... the engine bay in toto.

I am not looking for aesthetic opinions, but rather, seeking a reason to paint it black (heat absorbing?) or a lighter color... even body color. Sage green for the viewers who do not follow all that closely.

While we are in the engine bay, sans fenders, I hope to perfect the front tilt hood geometry. Then reassemble. Which brings us to another point... what do you guys use in the way of panel sealer? Seems my po used plumbers putty to go between mated metal surfaces. (I'm probably calling 'panel sealer' the wrong thing.)

It's nice to be so far along that almost all I have left are these few dumb questions. Thanks guys.

best, himmelberg

 

Paint color won't make any real difference in heat absorption/reflection. The disadvantage of anything but Chassis Black is that you'll feel compelled to clean it -- being in the West, you know what I'm talking about.

For sealant, butyl seam sealant is the ticket, that's what most OEM's use. It's available from many sources, I got some at Eastwood and it's great. Sticks well and levels itself pretty good.

 

The original Parts were painted black as a cost savings - both the cost of the paint and the reduction in labor by not painting them individual colors.

 

Ahhh, but that is the only real reason to paint anything. Purely for looks. If we didn't care what it looked like, we'd just leave it bare metal and rust away.

Thank you for the refresher. It's not that we don't follow closely, it's that we're old and can't keep track of everyone's project here. There's just too many of us.

At your local automotive paint store, and other places perhaps, too, you can get "strip caulk" to use between your panels. It's little minature pieces of butyl rope designed for this purpose. Comes in a box, and not overly expensive.

3M Strip-Caulk: Autobody Store

Congratulations!

 

Thanks for the dumb question, I was wondering the exact same thing....now we know...

 

Speaking of dumb questions...whats the purpose of the chalking between the panels? I thought most panels where just painted and then assembled.

 

Got it. Thanks, gang... one can always count on y'all.

I'm not so sure that the only reason to paint anything is to make it look good. I recall that certain aircraft have radar reflectivity as a requirement. My problem is that radar reflective paint doesn't come in sage green. Bwahahaha.

Once again, Ross, our neighbor to the west has the practical answer for west Texas. By the way, I painted the roof of the truck white. Also non-radar reflective.

reflectively, himmelberg

 

Here's a shot of gloss black fenders, firewall body color....

 

Darn nice looking engine

 

How good are your eyes - little things (and big) tend to get lost in the dark

 

Can I ask a dumber question?

You have to put the anti squeak felt stuff in between the sheet metal first when you bolt up - then caulk the seam with the butyl stuff after - right

Chris

 

Wow, MP&C, that is some kind of beautiful engine bay. I am really taken with the idea of painting the firewall body color (non-radar reflective sage green) and the fenders a satiny black or whatever chassis black is.

My poor ol' 292 isn't nearly as chromey and pretty as this engine. But, the fact is that, in fact, it takes me to my original premise about my truck.

This is an old truck. Had I owned it in high school and wanted to paint it, an enamel brush job wouldn't have been out of the question. Taking that idea into the 21st century without a faux finish is my goal. Just a little something a kid might drive to River Dell Regional High School back in the early sixties.

naux faux, himmelberg

 

I believe it would be to stop water and road dust that the wheels throw around, and to stop the moist mud from accumulating between the panels prematurely rusting out body panels, I guess.

 

Another vote, not that anyone is counting, for gloss black on the inner fenders and body color on the firewall.

 

Dark colors hide oil and other fluid leaks well. Maybe this is what Dick was referring to.