Engine bay opinions.....

[zpsull01]

I've been thinking about painting mine black and painting the engine the body color. I have a 72 Duster and I'm thinking about a green color thats close to this  with black spoked American racing Torque trust rims with a chrome lip. Also a hockey stripe, hood, trim, and go wing painted the same luster and shade of black as the rims with body colored bumpers. All black interior with body colored accents and trunk the same way. I think that engine bay would fit better. And as for it being original that really doesn't matter to me. This thing is so far from original that it really isn't going to matter.

[moparsky]

Body color w/o the purple haze....   

[doug 371]

if i didnt do it body color...i might paint it white...always thought it would look clean?

[Ace]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

For me, white would absolutely be a no go, I think they look horrid even on white cars.

I'm leaning REAL hard for body color, with no "purple haze" as it were described.  I like that description a lot!  I may have to steal that. 

[thebankerstoy]

Body color only for me. Below is a before and after picture of my son';s 72 Dart Swinger. Flat black before it's restoration and then body color after.

Richard

[7173Duster]

Body color is great for a show car/limited strip use.  However, if it is a race car and you are constantly working in the engine compartment every week you will scratch it and dent it and a flat black is a lot easier to touch up.  I have one car done body color in the engine compartment and trunk that is a driver/show piece and I have my black engine compartment on my race car so I don't have to worry about it everytime the engine comes out to be freshened or setting valve lash etc.

[Ace]

Body color is great for a show car/limited strip use.  However, if it is a race car and you are constantly working in the engine compartment every week you will scratch it and dent it and a flat black is a lot easier to touch up.  I have one car done body color in the engine compartment and trunk that is a driver/show piece and I have my black engine compartment on my race car so I don't have to worry about it everytime the engine comes out to be freshened or setting valve lash etc.

That's an issue for me too.  This is NOT a show car, but a street/strip, emphasis on the strip part.

[GTS225]

Personally, if I weren't concerned about "correct" engine bay color, (race cars, street fighter, etc.), I would NOT paint it black.  Black absorbs far too much light, making it more difficult to work on things.  White is way too far at the other end of the spectrum.
Ace....you're painting your car silver, right?  I might suggest a neutral or light gray.  Rattle can touchup, lighter color to reflect light so you can see down in there, and reasonably close to the body color you're using.

Roger

[evstraus]

body color  Eric   

[67Satty]

What's wrong with white?  Nothing says no frills race car to me like appliance white.  I'm gonna spray my engine compartment with rattle can Rustoleum and it will probably end up looking better than any engine compartment that came from the factory because I'm going to spend a lot more time prepping and sanding than they ever bothered to at the factory. 

[Ace]

What's wrong with white?  Nothing says no frills race car to me like appliance white.  I'm gonna spray my engine compartment with rattle can Rustoleum and it will probably end up looking better than any engine compartment that came from the factory because I'm going to spend a lot more time prepping and sanding than they ever bothered to at the factory. 

Nothing else on the car will be white.  Black interior, black accent striping, silver car.  White won't work for me.

[67Satty]

Then silver, whatever body color is for the engine bay too.  It's part of what makes Mopars cool and different.

[Ace]

Haha, I'm not being smart, but every Mustang I had was body color in the engine bay....

[smallbigblock]

I like body color.

But what about two-tone cars??
What do they do?

[Ace]

If I decide to two tone it, I'm going to paint the engine bay whatever color the top of the fenders are.

[Pro Street dart]

Body color. Balck engine bays are for the Bow tie crowd.

I agree 100%. Engine bay needs to be body color. No if , and's or buts.

[73swinger]

  I like the white idea...so you can see everyones greasy finger prints. I do agree that black is the flat/matte black is the easiest to apply, does absorb light (so it hides those little imperfections better), and doesn't attract unwanted attention. When I park it at a local cruis in or something the chevy guys walk right by it, and the mopar guys want to know all about it.

[440valiant]

i agree , body color

[Ace]

I think the more I think about it, it's going body color.