Suggestions on a light engine bay restoration

[CW240Z]

Over my winter break I was planning on redoing the engine bay in my 240z.

To me this included:

1. Repainting the firewall and inner fender wells

2. New rubber pieces all around

3. New exhaust manifold gasket

4. Repaint the engine block

5. Pull of the entire carb assembly and clean it up

6. Send of the parts needed to be zinc plated

(not necessary in this order)

The engine bay as of now is very clean and original. No rust worries and the car runs great with the SUs on it. I'm not planning on pulling the engine, rather pull everything off of it and do a light and period correct restoration. The engine has been tuned up and adjusted, so I didn't want to go very deep into it mechanically. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to approach this idea and the best way to do it?

I was thinking pull off all the engine accessories till I had basically a bare block, head, and valve cover on it. Once that phase is completed the block sides would be cleaned and sprayed the factory blue. All the front engine components would then be cleaned and sprayed with a VHT high temp aluminum paint. The carbs, intake manifold, and linkage would be polished and cleaned up. I'll clean the rust off of the exhaust manifold and spray it with a high temp cast iron paint. Before reassembly, I'll prep and paint the firewall and fender wells, adding new grommets and hoses where needed.

This is just a rough idea of what I'd like to do. Any input on how to improve this or extra precautions to take would be greatly appreciated. And as always there will be several pictures of the tear down process!

Here is what I'm starting with now.

Chase

[Bonzi Lon]

I want to do the same with my engine bay also. It seems like it would be a whole bunch easier without the engine and transmission in there. You would be able to detail the engine to a finer degree if it were on a stand. Then you (I) could drop the rest of the front end to make it as nice as the engine bay... then while I'm at it.....

Bonzi Lon

[Hank240]

Gents, this is very timely, I am about to start the engine and engine bay refresh on my yellow 1971 Z. Does anyone have a few good colour pictures of the 1971 engine/engime bay showing the correct colours,zinc plated parts, hoses, etc? It would be great to have a reference. The engine/enginebay area on my 71 is all original but has about 100,000 miles on it By the way Chase - you engine and engine bay look pretty good to me already.

thanks for any assistance

[CW240Z]

.. then while I'm at it.....

Bonzi Lon

That is the fear I have if I start pulling the engine and trans. In my case the suspension and front end are in good shape so i'll hold off on tearing those down for now. Having the engine on a stand would be the most idea setup. I was planning on pulling it and going through is when the whole car is being restored.

Hank240 thank you for the compliment. The engine bay is clean, but it could use a little more. The side of the block is the wrong blue and the carb setup could use a more thorough cleaning.

Check out the photo albums from one the members "Diseazd" has of the 112 green 240z. It is an amazing car and he did a great job on the engine bay. I am planing on replicating what he has as best I can.

Here are a few photos from Diseazd's album:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4650810125/in/set-72157600346077563/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4651427890/in/set-72157600346077563/lightbox/

Chase

Edited December 3, 2012 by CW240Z

[Ben's Z]

Here is my engine bay refresh. I am not done and this included a L28ET swap. You 240 guys got it so much easier on this project. These are my before and after photos.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread46890-3.html Midway down this page or so.

[jfa.series1]

Hank,

Here are a couple of pics of my engine just before it was installed. As to colors of fasteners, it is pretty easy: all fasteners forward of the firewall are done in yellow zinc (or cadmium if you want to spend more $). All fasteners behind the firewall are white/clear zinc. This also includes door locks, hatch hardware, ...etc. There are at least two incorrect OE color items on my engine: the fuel rail was yellow zinc OE, I painted it silver to match the hydraulic and fuel lines. The carb heat shield was probably yellow zinc OE also, I did it in silver HT. My carbs/linkage/intakes were done by Z Therapy, all emissions pieces removed.

Jim

[Hank240]

Gentlemen, thanks very much for the information and pictures - truely appreciated. I can only hope my engine will turn out as nice. A couple of more quick ones - what colour were the original spark plug wires? Black? Also - for the engine rebuilds, did you purchase the OEM braided heater hoses form The Z Store?

thanks again

[jfa.series1]

I think the original plug wires were black as you suggest. I now have a NGK set, a transparent blue/green. I did not purchase braided hoses since my car is a resto-mod, not restored to as-delivered or to concourse standards.

[Hank240]

Thanks Jim. I am in the midst of the resto-mod on the silver 71. I'd like to go as close to stock as possible on this yellow 71.