Engine Compartment Colors

[nomadbird]

In response to a color question from Jim793 in another thread. The engine compartment in all three years was always painted the same color as the body. This includes the hood, inner fender panels, fire wall, radiator support and panels on either side of the radiator.

It was common practice in the auto body repair business to "black out" an engine compartment when repainting the car in a different color from original.

Tom D.

[Gregory]

Question about painting the engine compartment. Someone in the past blacked out the engine compartment in my 57 bird and I like to know if it would require pulling the engine to repaint it the same as the outer paint? Looks like a big job.

[Jim 793]

I have the same issue. My orginal color was white and someone blacked out the engine area. They also did some third class patch work to the sheet metal around the blower fan area and the opposit side. I asked the paint shop what the difference in cost was. He basically said to do the right thing. Pull the engine and strip the compartment so you can put it back. The parts people have replacement panels for both sides. So, I bought a engine cherry picker. pulled the engine with transmission. I am currently working on the body work to do the sheet metal.

In checking for the value differences, The value (if you try to resale it) is as much as $10,000 more with the correct sheet metal and paint job.

Plus it looks neat when it's all done. On top of that, I find it is very easy to change the clutch and pressure plate.

[Gregory]

Looks like I have some work to do. Repainting the Engine compartment is a big job.