By Owen Webb
Meguiar’s Australia

Engine Bay - Street
For street use you can remove the engine and detail the block, head and parts. This could be by polishing alloy parts or painting with two-pack paint. Most two-pack paints will remain on the surface with good preparation and low film builds of primer and colour. While the engine is out clean up inner skirts, rails and firewall and repaint if necessary. Also hide as much wiring and plumbing as possible.

Engine Bay - Show
When building a full-on show car there is potential in the engine bay to really stand out. After removing engine, de burr all casting marks on the block, head and parts. Polish, paint and detail all parts. Weld all holes and seams, on the skirts and firewall. After welding, grinding and smoothing of the engine bay, paint and detail under the bonnet and radiator support panel as well. This is extremely time consuming and fiddly work but will separate you from the crowd.

Possibly the most difficult part here is to hide or neatly route all wiring and plumbing as much as possible. It can be run through boxed panels or under the skirts with false panels hiding the wiring or pipes. Several vehicles have moulded fibreglass panels that fit in areas of the engine bay hiding wiring, etc. These panels are more suitable for street use than the full-on show cars.

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