Paint engine compartment?

[sqaurebodyrestore]

I am restoring a 1986 GMC jimmy and currently have the body off the frame. I was wondering what other people have done with the front of cab right behind engine. It is barely exposed due to the ac condenser box, brake booster and most of the engine. I know from factory is matches exterior of truck. However, I have had people tell me that they have repainted it to match truck, sprayed it black gloss or black flat to match rest of innner fenders and core support. I have even seen a friend spray black bed liner on his because of all the black, tar/stuff that is on there from factory and he did not want to remove it all to repaint it.

I was looking for suggestions! I know it would a good time to do something now while body is off. Just not sure how much time I want put into it with cleaning all the tar stuff off and prepping it for paint. It is going to be a driver for the summer months not a garage queen.

Any advice?

 

[Shorty81]

Mine is two tone. Orange and black. There is a lot of good looking engine compartments here.

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[CoggedBelt75]

My firewall was painted the body color, but for me, too much work keeping it clean driving everyday. So I sprayed undercoating on it and painted it and the inner fender wells and everything else but the inside of the fenders rattle can satin black. Also used chromed body bolts and rattle can aluminum on the springs.

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Edit...if I was doing a restore, myself, I would go with the body color.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I prefer black under the hood, core support, inner fender wells and walls, frame rails and the firewall. It got a little dirty since I've painted it.

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[waterpirate]

Painted mine gloss black when the motor was out.
Eric

 

[78C10BigTen]

My firewall was painted the body color, but for me, too much work keeping it clean driving everyday. So I sprayed undercoating on it and painted it and the inner fender wells and everything else but the inside of the fenders rattle can satin black. Also used chromed body bolts and rattle can aluminum on the springs.

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Edit...if I was doing a restore, myself, I would go with the body color.

Damn sexy! I love that blower and bird catcher

 

[CoggedBelt75]

Damn sexy! I love that blower and bird catcher

Thanks. Actually the current one is a shotgun scoop. Here is the bug catcher I used to run...until the computer took a dump and I didn’t want to put another 2 grand in to replace it.

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[78C10BigTen]

Thanks. Actually the current one is a shotgun scoop. Here is the bug catcher I used to run...until the computer took a dump and I didn’t want to put another 2 grand in to replace it.

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Sorry, wrong terminology lol i love seeing the butterflies! Wich after a second look your dont have lol

 

[CoggedBelt75]

I have them for the shotgun but took them back off...again. Less air restriction is my reasoning.

I do agree with you tho, this is what it looked like without the filter on, which I mostly 4an when it was raining.

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[RoryH19]

Painting my k5 gray. It's originally black. I'll keep the firewall black to match the inner fenders. For the fenders, I will paint the top gray where the rubber hood bumpers are. The rest will stay black. Easier to keep a black engine bay looking clean.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I have them for the shotgun but took them back off...again. Less air restriction is my reasoning.

I do agree with you tho, this is what it looked like without the filter on, which I mostly 4an when it was raining.

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SEXY!!!!! thats how a v8 should look!!

 

[Paladin]

Mine is two tone. Orange and black. There is a lot of good looking engine compartments here.

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I really like that two tone! I may copy cat you a bit with that as I've been doing some cleaning up in my compartment and painting a few things orange and the blue in the pic has to GO!! Will be a bitch to do working around everythying but I bet I can Git-er-done.

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[Paladin]

My firewall was painted the body color, but for me, too much work keeping it clean driving everyday. So I sprayed undercoating on it and painted it and the inner fender wells and everything else but the inside of the fenders rattle can satin black. Also used chromed body bolts and rattle can aluminum on the springs.

You must be registered for see images attach

Edit...if I was doing a restore, myself, I would go with the body color.

Your engine compartment could be painted the ugliest color possible and it would still look good with that Bad Ass engine sitting there!

 

[Blue Ox]

Mine is covered with insulation so it's black, but blue underneath. Everybody's purposes are different, but there's a lot to be said for body color. It kind of ties the whole thing together and if it's a lighter color it makes things easier to see while you're Dorking around in there.

 

[sqaurebodyrestore]

Thanks to all of you for the pics and the advice. I have some time to think about it.