Suggestions for painting firewall and inner guards.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Queensland Australia
Suggestions for painting firewall and inner guards.
Hi, I'm just about to start painting my fully restored single cab and inner guards Right hand drive Australian 76 Hi Boy.
I see some are painting the factory colours in restoration photos and show and shine videos on U-Tube, but also see on some resto's black, satin or gloss for the entire engine bay.
I'm not painting the truck in its Sno-White original colour, but a pearled deep blue so originality is unimportant, it's a resto-mod with electric power steering and a custom dash.
Black could hide a variety of sins, oil leaks in future or the usual engine bay discolorations.
Any suggestions?
regards Ross.
I see some are painting the factory colours in restoration photos and show and shine videos on U-Tube, but also see on some resto's black, satin or gloss for the entire engine bay.
I'm not painting the truck in its Sno-White original colour, but a pearled deep blue so originality is unimportant, it's a resto-mod with electric power steering and a custom dash.
Black could hide a variety of sins, oil leaks in future or the usual engine bay discolorations.
Any suggestions?
regards Ross.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,842
Likes: 2,350
It's far from concours, but I used Hammerite silver by Rustoleum. it's textured and pretty tough. I tried to get them replated but any outfit I found said the heat would distort them too much.
Firewall is body color.
Firewall is body color.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 297
Likes: 165
My firewall is still body color, but scuffed up and shot the inner fenders with an off white appliance paint. After a few oil mishaps and regular use, it looks like it’ll never be clean again. As much as I don’t love black engine bays, it makes it a lot easier to appear clean.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 2,587
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Were they galvanized or no?
I guess I maybe painted black over the galvanizing, or maybe they were already painted black when I bought the truck? No rust, but paint is thin.
I guess I maybe painted black over the galvanizing, or maybe they were already painted black when I bought the truck? No rust, but paint is thin.
Last edited by tbear853; Yesterday at 09:23 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,842
Likes: 2,350
They were some form of galvanized. I've seen them that have been zinc plated and other methods and they didn't look anymore original that a good paint. I really don't think it's possible to get done correctly.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 46
Likes: 9
My firewall is still body color, but scuffed up and shot the inner fenders with an off white appliance paint. After a few oil mishaps and regular use, it looks like it’ll never be clean again. As much as I don’t love black engine bays, it makes it a lot easier to appear clean.
Why you never see bright colors on my back
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on
I wear the black for the oil dripping down
from the the junker I'm under on the ground
Yeah black hides oil stain real nice
Last edited by Wheezingthunder; May 16, 2026 at 02:41 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Queensland Australia
Hi T' Bear, my Australian inner guards were not gal, or the firewall, however part of the lower cab are.
Generally, here in Australia we have a warmer climate with little snow and ice, so no salt on roads,
Inner guards stand up well here as do chassis with-out being stood outside in long grass for ever.
regards Ross.
Generally, here in Australia we have a warmer climate with little snow and ice, so no salt on roads,
Inner guards stand up well here as do chassis with-out being stood outside in long grass for ever.
regards Ross.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Queensland Australia
Cwegga, yep my take presently, I was watching a u tube video of a major US Ford Truck show recently and noticed quite aa few engine bays in what appered to be a satin-black.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Queensland Australia
Hi 440 six pack, yes, I've considered a Hammer-tone paint, I recently painted an off road camper trailer in a deep Hammer-tone blue and it actually looks pretty good.
regards Ross
regards Ross
Trailering
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: St. Clair Shores Michigan
But what nobody is considering is the fact that an all black engine compartment is terrible if you want nice clear pictures of the compartment. Everything tends to blend into one big black blob in pictures. I speak from many years of experience. Just pointing out what most people never think of.
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