The white inner fenderwell thread got me thinking, white engine compartments were also popular in the mild custom and Hot Rod genre. Lets see some pics if you have ‘em... My ‘58 Apache
NICE! Once I detail the bay in my '65 Galaxie (after I do valve seals this winter), I will have to post as I plan on doing white to match the rest of the car.
there was a big pic thread on this a few years ago, if you want more pics than you get on this post. <<<< my car is white firewall...oh, and white primer under the fenders...I never finished the dam thing. Too busy driving.. .
I would never be able to keep a white engine compartment clean....hell I can’t even have a white shirt.... Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Hello, Back in our high school days, my friend had this cool looking white 57 Chevy Bel Air hardtop. We did a lot to make that car as fast as possible and look good going down the street. He had a lowered, California Rake, added dual quads, a 4 speed, and one thing he did not like was his inner fender shrouds and firewall. They were both glaring white from the factory. He wanted to paint his firewall black, but decided to adjust to the stock white in the motor compartment. His pet peeve was keeping that color clean after our motor modifications, tuning, and thousands of miles of daily driving to all of the places we teenagers like to cruise. My 58 black Impala had black inner fender shrouds and a black firewall, so that was not a problem, just a simple dusting kept it clean and shiny. White looks clean, but picks up stuff we could not see until it began to cake on or hide. Over the last years of ownership, we added those finned aluminum valve covers, a pair of chromed air cleaners and other accessories to spiff up his 1957 Bel Air, white compartment. He decided to keep it white as it contrasted with the black hoses and lines. He just used those new small, hose spray, car wash stalls more and more to keep it clean. Jnaki 1961-62 But, I polished my black inner fender shrouds and the firewall as well as I could. The daily ritual paid off with the shiniest compartment around. The shine alongside and between the myriad of hoses and fittings made the whole engine compartment look like a show car that was used for daily driving. It was a definite contrast in engine compartments, Black vs. White… A new, Westside neighborhood hose spray, car wash was built near the auto parts store. So, IF the 348 motor compartment got overly dirty, it, too, met the high pressure wash once in a while.
(Pics originally posted by waynejell) Dave Stuckey's "Lil Coffin Next Generation". Clean beyond compare! (Of course, this could be just a base coat for Candy to come.) Last edited: Oct 1, 2013
I'm the same way. I've never been able to keep a light colored engine compartment clean in anything. Anything that gets on it seems to stain it. I always end up with an oil leak, an antifreeze leak, exhaust leak, something to screw it up. I don't even do shiney black anymore, prefer satin or flat just because stuff doesn't show up as easy. Thought about doing polished stainless or aluminum on my firewall, but figured it'd end up looking crappy because it would be so hard to keep clean. Probably easier on 20's and 30's cars with hood sides, 40's and later, not so much.
Ditto, BamaMav. My last three builds have firewalls and inner fenders that are painted flat black. White doesn't like bugs, either. If a pregnant June bug hits it, Lordy help you.
Factory 56, firewall and under side was principle color of the car. It is hard to keep up with a non-pvc engine. Colonial white.