Engine Elegance

Because every project is only as good as the prep work, we removed as many accessories as possible. We yanked the radiator and battery tray to give us access to the fan, water pump, and fuel pump.

A wire brush is great for breaking down large deposits of grease. A cup of solvent and a stiff bristle brush can remove the rest. Solvent does a great job—finish up with a rag and a chemical degreaser.

Quality brand paints are worth the extra cost because they will usually completely cover in one or two coats. We started by covering the cylinder block and heads with Plasti-Kote’s Chevrolet Orange.

Factory-original exhaust manifolds came off of the assembly line in raw cast iron, which means they rusted almost immediately. The Eastwood Company offers a Factory Gray, high-temp paint for cast iron that resists heat up to 1,200 degrees F...

...making it a perfect choice for exhaust manifolds that have been sandblasted.

The inner fenderwells and firewall can be cleaned the same way as the engine with the addition of some light sanding to smooth the surfaces. We sprayed the inner fenders and firewall with a semi-gloss OEM Black specifically designed to stop corrosion and resist fading. When painting the engine compartment, use a piece of paper to limit overspray.

We used a Fel-Pro timing cover and water-pump-gasket set to install a chromed 110-gph Holley fuel pump and Weiand aluminum water pump. We also added a TD Performance chrome timing tab.

Since the top half of the engine attracts most of the attention, it’s important to use quality pieces. This aluminum Holley Street Avenger intake manifold works best with our application. The low-rise dual-plane design makes for solid street performance while offering that new-aluminum look and four-barrel power.

Holley’s 570-cfm Street Avenger carburetor is a great choice for the enthusiast who wants a bright finish from a street-performance carburetor. The Street Avenger features an electric choke and vacuum-secondary operation for improved street manners. Also, don’t forget the ARP carburetor studs.

To match the Street Avenger’s external appearance, we added a new pair of triple-chrome-plated Holley stamped-steel valve covers and breathers.

If you prefer the performance look over that show-car shine, GM Performance Parts offers its raised- letter Chevrolet valve covers. These covers are offered in short and tall versions. The tall covers are approximately $100 less than the short covers, but the short design is more likely to fit tight with different accessories. When the raised- letter GMPP valve covers are installed with a performance carburetor, the engine looks like it makes serious horsepower.

We added several TD Performance accessories, including tall valve-cover breathers, a water neck, and a throttle-return spring to even out the look of the engine bay.

Before removing the distributor, be sure to make a note of where the rotor is pointing if you want to keep the engine timed. We replaced the points-type distributor with a Pertronix HEI Flame-Thrower distributor capable of sparking up to 7,500 rpm.

A new distributor and spark plug wires are final touches that can improve your engine’s performance and appearance. We used a Pertronix HEI Flame-Thrower distributor and Moroso wire clamps to direct a set of Moroso Blue Max spiral-core wires to the spark plugs. A universal plug wire set allows you to customize the layout.

Once the engine had received its goodies, we bolted on a Performance Distributors chromed alternator and a set of TD Performance aluminum pulleys to complete the accessory package.

We started with a 37-year-old eyesore, and, with the help of a few parts and some friends, turned our engine bay into a silver-bullet palace.

There's nothing nicer than a well-detailed engine compartment. With today's variety of aftermarket pieces and a little ingenuity, anyone can transform his engine bay into an inspiring work of functioning automotive art. Because the Chevy High Performance staff appreciates this kind of detail, we decided to transform a greasy old engine compartment into a silver-bullet palace. Our test subject is a 37-year-old El Camino engine bay outfitted with a high-mileage factory-original 283ci engine.

Before beginning the restoration process, it's important to develop a game plan. The overall visual goal should be determined before the first part is ordered or the first wrench is turned. While we wanted our engine compartment to be acceptable for a few local car shows, we weren't trying to create a trophy-winning showstopper. The idea was to have our ride in and out of the garage in a weekend's time.

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning your underhood work of art. The most successful engine-compartment detailers combine a good imagination with a few carefully selected parts. Dark colors hide, and bright colors accentuate; the trick is to match each part accordingly. Typically, a show-'n'-shine engine lends itself to chrome and bright colors, while a race engine features cast-aluminum and anodized pieces. Follow along as we perform the art of engine-bay restoration using only a couple of spray cans, some innovative parts, and some forethought.