Engine bay

[one320fc]

This is a start to some work im going to do on the 83 LE. Here are some pictures of how it looked when I got it. Im going to pull the motor and trans this week to address some minor issues. But in doing so I want to do a healthy cleaning of the engine bay. Talking to Billy (WE3RX7) I understand there isnt much to do with the dull paint due to the lack of clear coat. Any one have experience with fixing up the paint in the engine bay?
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/one320fb/100_0414-1.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/one320fb/100_0412.jpg

[$100T2]

Well, I'm in the midst of kinda doing the same thing. But, I'm doing a bit more aggressive stuff than you: I'm taking all the paint off with a wire wheel and redoing every piece of metal in there.

The bulk of my engine bay will be semi-gloss black, and there will be assorted pieces that will be taken down to bare metal and painted with a couple coats of clear, provided the metal isn't pitted and nasty.

Of course, my engine bay is in a LOT worse condition than yours.

[one320fc]

Well, I'm in the midst of kinda doing the same thing. But, I'm doing a bit more aggressive stuff than you: I'm taking all the paint off with a wire wheel and redoing every piece of metal in there.

The bulk of my engine bay will be semi-gloss black, and there will be assorted pieces that will be taken down to bare metal and painted with a couple coats of clear, provided the metal isn't pitted and nasty.

Of course, my engine bay is in a LOT worse condition than yours.

So your repainting the engine bay black? and fixing up all the brackets. I thought about that but I kinda want to keep it the factory color. I hope this weather breaks here so I can go work on it some more.

[P71]

Just order some factory paint in a spray can from PaintScratch online ;)

[$100T2]

So your repainting the engine bay black? and fixing up all the brackets. I thought about that but I kinda want to keep it the factory color. I hope this weather breaks here so I can go work on it some more.

Yep, semi-gloss or satin black. With the car eventually being painted blue, it should set off very nicely... That way, the engine will really stand out.

[WE3RX7]

Just going to chime in and let you all in on what I suggested to one320fc.

The factory never clears the engine bays - even newer cars dont have clear coat (unless its a higher end luxury, etc).

The steps I would take:
1. Pull everything out as needed (or do it in stages) and degrease the painted areas with a good quality degreaser (I like Simple Green).
2. Starting with 2000 grit wet paper, let it soak overnight and using a smaller sanding block, hit all the big areas (shock towers, firewall, etc). This will make sure you've cleaned and provided an even surface to apply some clear. BE CAREFUL though, I'm not sure high thick the color coat is in the engine bay of the FBs, so only one or two light passes w/ the wet paper should do.
3. Reclean and wash with a soap that DOES NOT contain waxes, dye, etc.
4. Get some simple auto-grade clear in the rattle can from either Duplicolor or similar. Mask and spray a very light coat over the painted areas. Let it dry and reapply another light coat.
5. Take some 3000 grit wet paper, soak overnight, and then go to town again sanding all the newly cleared areas.

For a final step, you could hit it with a buffer and polish, but would be hard to get into all the little areas of an engine bay.

This will not result in a 120% show quality paint job, but it will add some nice luster to the engine bay, keep the original color and provide a surface you can apply some wax to (after 30 days) in order to protect it against things like oil, brake fluid, etc.

If you find that after wet sanding the color layer, the paint was either too thin, or just too dirty you may need to repaint.

Another idea would be to clay bar after you've wet sanded the color. The wet sanding will at least provide a smooth surface for the clay bar to run across and pick up dirt and grime.

Just my two cents...

[Kentetsu]

I just cleaned the hell out of mine, then cleaned up the oxidation and remaining dirt with McGuire's paint cleaner wax. Came out looking great, and still does a couple years later.

Details and pics are here: http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=441703&highlight=pics

[one320fc]

I just cleaned the hell out of mine, then cleaned up the oxidation and remaining dirt with McGuire's paint cleaner wax. Came out looking great, and still does a couple years later.

Details and pics are here: http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=441703&highlight=pics

Wow man that looks great. Gives me lots of hope that mine will turn out just as nice. My car only has 60k on it so under all the dirt there should be some good paint.

[WE3RX7]

It almost looks like your red bay had clear! I know my FC didnt have any!

If there is a coat of clear on the FB then hell yea - good cleaner wax and elbow grease will fix it right up, lol...

[Kentetsu]

No, there was no clearcoat. However, since the engine bay is not subjected to ultraviolet light at the same levels (if at all) as the exterior surfaces of the car, the paint should still be in good shape. Just needs some cleaning and a good coat of wax. :)

[djjjr42]

That does look great. The MR2 fans fit in nicely as well. But, where's your snorkel? :)
I've got an extra one if you need it.

[Kentetsu]

lol, shortly after those pics were taken, the air cleaner was replaced with a RB unit. Thanks though... :)

[one320fc]

Well time for a update, I have been working on it here and there. So here are some before and after pics.
Before
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/one320fb/000_0028.jpg

After
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/one320fb/000_0035.jpg

[one320fc]

The damn washer fluid stained the paint over the years. I was looking for a better end result but oh well 25 year old engine bay paint!! The front part of the passenger side turned out real nice
Before
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/one320fb/000_0029.jpg

After
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/one320fb/000_0036.jpg

[WE3RX7]

Def looks cleaner - but those stains are odd. Needs more abrasive cleaner I guess...

[$100T2]

Lookin' good.

[one320fc]

So yea its been almost three years, my LE has been off the road with the engine bay cleaned out. I am now making a solid attempt to complete it. So I don't look so bad.. I was a single father of two little girls so time and money are hard to come by. Back to the good stuff, I have purchased some paint :o16:
9506


Working in the bay I found some very light surface rust
9504

So I attacked it with some POR 15..The rust is located below the bumper shock the 2 bolt holes below it are the for the tow hook, for reference
9505

[one320fc]

So today Billy (WE3RX7) put some fresh paint on her, looking pretty good if I don't say so my self!! :o16:

9515
9516

[2gslse]

Looks great in the pics!!!

[WE3RX7]

Looks great in the pics!!!

Thats all that matters, lol....

Chris let me bust my auto paint cherry on his car. A couple of lessons learned, but overall I think it looks 100% better than it did. I'm anxious to see it after the tape comes off and its fully cured.

I've got more pics of the engine bay I'll post up....

[Banzai]

You won't be able to beat the fresh paint. Clean everything good before it goes back in and if you really want that showroom appearance, replate all the hardware and components which were originally zinc'd. The difference is in the details!

[one320fc]

Man that is sweet! I would think that a job like that would nickle and dime you to death..

[Banzai]

Not as bad as you might imagine. A local plating shop charges by batch. $35 will get you a box of hardware/small parts gold zink'd. You just have to strip it all down and remember where it all goes back to. Your already halfway there. New hardware makes a huge difference in the finished appearance.

[RX-7 Chris]

Great engine bay pics.

[rx71king]

:biggthumpup:looking good .......whats next?

[one320fc]

:biggthumpup:looking good .......whats next?

I got a build thread going over in that section..not much new at this point getting there!