POLL: engine bay sprayed body color or black?

67-68 cougar was black engine comp. also.
i couldnt decide really either. sorry

 

Remember, not all Mav/Comet engine bays were body color from the factory either. My '71 has the factory black engine compartment. I prefer the contrast of the black so that's what I voted for, but it's your car so ultimately don't let us tell you what to do.

 

Personally, I like body color. Then you could paint the block black (hence, your black and chrome theme). I would ask the painter if there is a difference in price. I'm betting that body color would be cheaper , but then again...more paint.



BTW, My engine bay was black from the factory as well. Was this changed by ford year by year? I've seen other Mavericks with seemingly factory body color in the engine bay as well. Grabbers only maybe?

 

in the cougars it was car by car. i personally think it was like the vinyl top. someone does a bad lead job, throw one on. someone dings the engine bay dropping the motor in, just spray it black. just a hunch.

 

I would say the engine bay was painted before the engine install, only makes sense to me.

 

This has been a long time debate. 1970's were definitely painted black. It was switched to body color sometime in the 1971 model year. There are folks that claim they have black engine compartments in the Mavericks's past 1971 ... so there lies the mystery. The assembly line engineering book I have clearly indicates that the engine compartment was to be painted black .. however, the revision date of this page is July 6, 1970 ...

 

All of my cars are body color except the '69 I'm working on getting.

 

I stand corrected in stating that "all" older Fords were painted body-color. I guess it was more of a Chrysler thing. I have personally never seen a Maverick that had a black engine compartment from the factory, unless the car itself was black. In any case, it's a matter of what looks good to you, so there's really no right or wrong answer to your question of what color you should paint it.

 

My 72 Comet was body color as is the 73 Mav parts car,i personally like body colr engine bays it just looke like you took that extra step when you built the car.P.S my dads 67 Cougar has a black engine bay and the car is all original including the exterior paint.Derek.

 

Well, I just spent a healthy sum on a paint and bodywork. The previous owner had taken the front end apart and removed the engine, etc. He painted the engine compartment flat black. I left it that way. It was good paint and I did not feel like taking everything out ot the engine bay to paint it body color. I wasn't worth it. This '77 big bumper Mav is going to attract enough attention without the engine bay being painted bidy color.

To interject a totally personal opinion, unless you have a Grabber, Sprint, or Stallion, there is absolutely no economic value enchancement in restoring a Maverick to factory original condition. Other than the body style, lines, and looks, Mavs were simple, no frills cars. If you don't have a Grabber, Sprint, or Stallion, your Mav will be more valuable with good upgrades and custom changes.

I just had a question pop in my head. Why do we consider what to paint the engine bay, but not the trunk? If the engine bay is going to be painted body color, shouldn't the trunk be the sane color?

 

Here's a pic of my engine bay,and yes my trunk area is painted to match,as is the roll cage,and floor pans.

 

Mine will be black, simply because like Hawko, someone has already painted it black over the original body color, which is tan metalic. It will be a lot easier to scuff whats on it and respray with black again instead of having to pull all the wiring and masking off the hoses,and other things. I'd say, if the motor was out, and you planned on removing the wiring and stuff, go ahead with the body color if thats what you like, but I'd rather have a darker engine compartment to hide stains with the engine being the main focus when you raise the hood. Mine will have a aluminum intake, chrome valve covers and oil pan, and a chrome breather to get your attention!

 

Thats funny i'm going the other way,i just pulled the intake off today and painted it ford engine blue because i thought it stood out too much in the raw aluminum,and i have an aluminum air breather that i'm painting semi gloss black to match the valve covers.I'm just trying to be a little different,the whole car has kind of a 70's feel to it,sun super tach,stewart warner gauges,steel wheels,etc....not knocking any body else here,jus tryin to be me lol.Derek.

 

Looks awesome Derek