Engine Dress Up

[TFA]

So i was looking around under the hood and I kinda thought to myself that stock, the engine bay looks like crap. Anyone have any links to any engine dress-up kits for our car? Or, general ideas on making the engine bay look more presentable?

[cardude007617]

wire loom, braided hoses...

[99GTCoupe]

Do we have any pics of GAs with such things? Or anything else that looks nice

Other than coupe's ride, course, he doesn't count :D

[Jake]

Get a cai, polish your UIM, and polish your front valve cover. That will make it look much better :)

[cardude007617]

strut brace, deep cycle battery, turbocharger/supercharger :-p lol

[PhantomLover007]

There's already been threads on this....

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76848&highlight=billet+covers

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1312134

[DrFabulous]

Clean it really well?

[SSRacer]

I've got pics of mine somewhere on here, on my cardomain too I think. I painted the UIM and valve covers, put on a braided hose cover kit and installed a cone filter.

[cardude007617]

i think this is a pretty simple package to create:
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/9/web/2565000-2565999/2565053_38_full.jpg

strut brace-20 bucks off of ebay, deep cycle battery 180-200, MSD wires 40-50 bucks depending where you find em, CAI- MP Racing etc etc

[AaronGTR]

How about this? An SC is always a nice dress up item. :D

http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/29927/2858828310052938416S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2858828310052938416KTQAqb)

Really the most important thing is just keeping it clean. Keep the black plastic black and keep the silver aluminum stuff bright. Beyond that, you can paint or polish some parts if you have the time and mechanical inclination. You can get colored wire loom and silicone vacuum hoses, but those can end up looking tacky if over done or you choose the wrong colors. The addition of some nice performance parts like a polished CAI or strut tower brace adds to the looks. You can get a CF coolant bottle cover from RK sport, and there are some other polished covers you can get (from MZR I think?). There are several different oil caps that look nice.

One word of advice, avoid the slip on fake braided hose kits with the fake aluminum covers with hose clamps inside them. You know the ones... they are supposed to look like -AN braided hose and fittings. They are cheap crap, and they look like it. The braiding always gets shifted around and pulls apart, and everyone can tell they are fake. If you're going to go that far with dressing up the engine, spend the coin on real braided hoses and/or fittings. Or just leave the black rubber hoses. ;)

[cardude007617]

damn iv never realized how massive that thing is.

but x2 on keeping it clean, something as simple as that can go a long way

[ryanbgb22]

find pics of coupe's bay. That was NICE

[SSRacer]

Mine:

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/ssracer77/GA12.jpg

[PhantomLover007]

http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/29927/2858828310052938416S600x600Q85.jpg

Damn Aaron. The UIM is shiny as fock. I could shave w/ it.. lol

I was looking on MRZ for that coolant cover, but didn't find it anymore.. ;crap

I need to get that black cowling too. No since in having "Ram Air" plastered under the hood when you don't have it hooked up anymore... lol

Your UIM and valve covers are orange Sean? They look good. What size braided hoses did you use?

[SSRacer]

They were actually red. I used duplicolor metal cast paint. Same as I used on the interior. It's a metalic silver base with a translucent top coat. It has faded a bit over the years on the engine.

The hose isn't actually braided...its a hose cover kit from autozone. You just slide the braided stuff over the hose. Did that and the paint when I replaced the LIM gasket.

This was it right after I did it...all the reds look a little orange cause my camera was a POS back then....lol
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk133/ssracer77/DSCF0008.jpg

[cmtapanes]

Just keep it clean

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/2203000-2203999/2203281_5_full.jpg

[lightningGA]

mine
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/42617/2991889130103083754S500x500Q85.jpg

[99GTCoupe]

Nice
I'd love to eventually throw some paint on mine and stuff as well as all that. I love the colors, it's always sharp

[peshields]

as far as painting the engine components goes, how did u guys do it? or did you pay someone?

i'm assuming aaron had someone do a shine job on his lol

[SSRacer]

Like I said, I painted mine when I had it apart for the LIM leak. If I had it to do over again I would have had someone powder coat it for me.

[AaronGTR]

as far as painting the engine components goes, how did u guys do it? or did you pay someone?

i'm assuming aaron had someone do a shine job on his lol


Hehe, yeah I had the polishing professionally done. I did all the painting myself though. I painted the lower intake manifold too with some silver ceramic high heat paint and it turned out really well. The most important thing is really to use the right paint and primer first, and take your time with the prep work. I like to take off whatever I'm painting and wire brush to remove heavy stuff if needed, then I like to scrub it thoroughly with a brush and mineral spirits to make sure it's totally degreased. Then just tape off and trim the masking on anything you don't want paint on and go to town. Good painting technique of course. Couple light coats of primer, then several light coats of paint and a final medium/heavy coat for a glossy finish.

[lightningGA]

my engine was all powdercoated

[blackgt2k]

everytime i look at this thread its while im at work and i cant upload my photo. finally. heres my engine dress up.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/blackgt2k/04%20White%20Grand%20AM/engine_flame_1.jpg

[PhantomLover007]

God, that's nice Jay.

Did you get that reservoir cover from MRZ?

[TFA]

Im slowly collecting parts for a performance overhaul of my engine (UIM, LIM, headers, DP, TB) when I get all the parts, im going to send them out for powder coating (black) and Im going to go with braided lines. I need to figure out a good way to clean up all my wires and crap I have under there. Progress will be made dammit!!

[Jake]

Im slowly collecting parts for a performance overhaul of my engine (UIM, LIM, headers, DP, TB) when I get all the parts, im going to send them out for powder coating (black) and Im going to go with braided lines. I need to figure out a good way to clean up all my wires and crap I have under there. Progress will be made dammit!!

I hope you didn't buy a down pipe AND headers, because you realize the rear header is also the downpipe right? lol. It goes straight from that to the flex pipe and cat

[TFA]

I hope you didn't buy a down pipe AND headers, because you realize the rear header is also the downpipe right? lol. It goes straight from that to the flex pipe and cat

..good catch. Im at work and definitely trying to stay awake. Headers only, no DP involved :(

[Jake]

..good catch. Im at work and definitely trying to stay awake. Headers only, no DP involved :(

:thumbs:

[CUSTOMGAGT2000SEDAN]

blackgt2k....the wiper hosing and the cable running to throttlebody did you use coloured heat shink tubing. and you cai tubing looks like you had it highly polished or chromed ???

and the item next to the coolant recovery tank the clip looks like it was chromed ??

and the 3 braided hose attached to it , i see the braided part plus s/s clamps , but what the blk gap area between the clamp and braided area what type of oil cap is that and what is it made of ?? are your bradid hoses just the s/s coverings ???

[lvemy3100]

we (mpracing.org) sell red black and blue silicone coolant and vaccum hoses ;)

edit- coolant hoses can be seen in the pic attached (hoses coming from overflow)

[Jake]

we (mpracing.org) sell red black and blue silicone coolant and vaccum hoses ;)

edit- coolant hoses can be seen in the pic attached (hoses coming from overflow)

Where are those I dont see them O.O

[PhantomLover007]

^^^ Ditto. I didn't even know you had them Mark.

[lvemy3100]

they are listed under the DIY section...

coolant hoses (http://www.mpracing.org/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=353) and vaccum hoses (http://www.mpracing.org/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=188)

I just havent gotten around to making precut "kits"...

if there is demand I guess I will have to go measure mine and then list them on the store today since I am going to be doing my engine brace install

[CUSTOMGAGT2000SEDAN]

ya mark i was going to ask if they where neatly pre-cut. so they are not just covers . point out all of which items are available . and if there are any installs that may require so more attention etc. MAKE THEM CHEAP TO BUY ???> kits etc

i would rather these then wire looms or colour shrink wrap tubing , unless there is alot of work to de-install and re-install then i would go that way.

[lvemy3100]

the only kit I think we are going to offer is the overflow tank hoses .. but since there is interest I will list the universal hoses under the individual vehicles so they are more easily found.

edit- we do already offer a TB coolant bypass hose that can be ordered in black, red, or blue

[CUSTOMGAGT2000SEDAN]

be good to see and pointed out in the photo or photo's those items that can be replaced by your hoses and what the names of each item is. because people like me can not go by just what the hose etc is called or for. but location pointed out helps greatly to determine what hoses are being describe and whether that is one we want changed. sent pm too

[blackgt2k]

blackgt2k....the wiper hosing and the cable running to throttlebody did you use coloured heat shink tubing. and you cai tubing looks like you had it highly polished or chromed ???

and the item next to the coolant recovery tank the clip looks like it was chromed ??

and the 3 braided hose attached to it , i see the braided part plus s/s clamps , but what the blk gap area between the clamp and braided area what type of oil cap is that and what is it made of ?? are your bradid hoses just the s/s coverings ???

the blue tubing is blue pcv tubing that i cut down one side to slide over. the chrome looking pieces i had nickle plated by a buddy of mine. and the cai i just clean like a mofo.... all the hoses have s/s braided covers over them. the black area between the clamp and braided areas im not sure what your talking about, though the s/s braided parts need to have the ends electrical taped off. so i used black electrical tape to run around the ends and clamp. some of the spots i couldnt get a s/s clamp in there without messing up some of the pieces so i just put a clamp there to keep it simple but effective.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/blackgt2k/Englishtown%202008/DSC04916.jpg

[CUSTOMGAGT2000SEDAN]

thanks for you help . what does MOFO mean. ya your cai tubing defintely shinier then most others . is that tubing made of alum or s/s or does it vary from maker etc. it must be the electrical tape i see example the larger hose at the bottom of the coolant recovery tank. NICE LOOKING ENGINE

[PhantomLover007]

Mofo means mother focker

[blackgt2k]

exactly phantom.... and yes that is electrical tape. if you dont use it the s/s braided lines will fray and start to pull apart

[CUSTOMGAGT2000SEDAN]

the folksd that sell the braided hose COVERs don'y offer something better then using electrical tape .... is this the same with the real complete braided hoses to whern you use those large coloured metal end pieces .

[AaronGTR]

The braided slip on covers they sell, they usually come with some aluminum covers that have worm gear hose clamps built into them, and are supposed to look like -AN fittings. IMO you can tell the slip on covers and fake hose ends ARE fake and they don't look good. In some places that are tight you can't fit the covers in though, and you just have to use electrical tape and a standard hose clamp. It's the same if you use real braided hose, but real braided hoses are much more tightly woven and bonded to the hose underneath, so the ends don't fray as easily.

Of course, if you use real braided hose and REAL -AN hose ends, you don't have to worry about fraying... or about leaks, durability, or looking fake. Yeah, it costs a little more money, but it's worth it in the end IMO. I did that with my engine and it looks much more professional.

[PhantomLover007]

Hey Jay. I take it that they had to use some high temp paint for the covers? About how much did it run you just for the engine cover? I just want to do mine in blue leaving the lettering silver.

Using the high temp brake paint would be cheap, huh? lol lol