Engine Elegance

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.