Need your opinions!!

I'm 90% done with bodywork except for metal work-cut new panel for Shelby taillights, fill antenna hole + stretch side marker light for TransAm ones- which will be done by a local metal guy. I want to do my motor swap next but I'm not sure if I want body colored engine bay or just black out everything and detail later. At a lot of the shows I go to the Mustangs look pretty good blacked out but I'd like some pics of both kinds of engine bays and welcome any opinions from all!!
Thanks!
Scott

 

I think this has been discussed on here before. Do a search for the threads. My opinion is that it is definitely up to you. I have seen it done both ways and they both look good if done right.

 

Body color is my choice.

 

i vote body color

 

I'm weird on this. For a daily driver, I like a black bay. For a show car, I like body color.

 

I have one Maverick with a semi-gloss black engine compartment and one with the engine compartment the same color as the body. I like them both ways, but it's your car so go with whichever you think will look good to you.

 

How about doing the firewall with body color and the inner fenders in satin black? Just a thought.

 

my vote would be body color

 

Let's back up a step ... What color are you painting the body?

If it is a bright Grabber color, I tend to like the engine bay painted body color. Other colors tend to look good with the engine bay blacked out.

My Comet, being a light metallic green, and then having a bunch of added chrome underhood, just wasn't working for me with the engine bay painted body color. The blue engine paint wasn't helping either. I ended up blacking mine out and painted the engine that 80's Ford grey.

I agree with Hawko, a daily driver is more practical done in black, and make it a semi-gloss paint ... much easier to keep it looking clean. I shot an engine bay flat black once and that was a total mistake, couldn't clean it.

Another thought too ... no matter what you do, paint the area behind the grille and the front strut support on the frame black. This is all stuff that you don't want to take attention from the body lines of the car ... you want them to disappear instead of screaming "Hey, look at me."

 

I like body color.

 

I have had the same thing to deal with,,, and my car is white,, So I can see the fact of the bright body color on the Core suport being either liked or disliked,, So my solution for my car was to paint the engine bay body color and then paint the Radiator suport black on both sides,, I went with a gloss black,, and I like it better then when all that white was showing thru the grill ,,, If my car was a darker color or even a color that went well with the grill color I would Prob leave it body color on the radiator suport,,
I have cars that are factory body color in the engine bay and rad suport,, and others with the bay blacked out by the factory,, Gets confusing when your trying to restore to the factory look,, wondering if it was done by the factory or as a after thaught,,

But either way,,, its how you like it,,

 

Body color engine bay, black rad support. Here's a picture of mine.

 

Thanks for all the replies!! CapatainComet, I'm planning on two-tone paint like a Stallion with a medium purple on top and white on the bottom down to the rockers. Since my bay would be dark anyway, I'm leaning toward blacking it all out. Like Joe and Mav73, I was going to black out the front anyway. So, its off to the metal shop and then I'll do my motor swap!!
Scott

 

Body color for me too.
Oh yeah...I guess Shelby tail lights are okay too.

 

Maverick73,

That engine bay looks really nice.