Just thought I'd let you know what I've been up to lately. My '57 Star Chief was fitted with an LS 5.3 Vortec engine when I bought it from the US back in 2012. The engine has made the Poncho into a great driver, with instant starting everytime, and great fuel economy. One thing that has always bugged me and the reason I never opened the bonnet at shows was that I didn't like the look of the relatively smallish engine inside the huge engine bay, exposing all the messy looking A/C hoses and other misc. wiring at the sides.

 

After much deliberation and procrastination, I decided this year that I would hide some of this by way of a pair of custom engine compartment covers. I set to making some cardboard forms that fitted the space, then fibreglassed over these, followed by lots of Bondo smoothing, and heaps of sanding and finishing. It was a mammoth task and very messy and dusty, and one that I wouldn't undertake again I don't think. 

 

The covers are painted in a matt black spray on underbody coating, and are attached via modern plastic trim plugs into small L brackets. I'm very pleased with the look, which I think tidies up the the engine bay, as can be seen from the attached before and after attachment. Let me know what you think; good or bad.

 

I obviously have way too much time on my hands now that I'm not a committee member of my car club, so now will have to ponder about what to do next to occupy all my spare time!

Nice work Russ, although I'm going to say I think you overthought it - the original setup looked fine. This is clearly a product of too much time on one's hands - a debilitating condition where the sufferer will spend hours looking at their project car until a perceived 'problem' manifests itself and becomes a must do event.

In spite of all that, your handiwork is impressive and it has certainly cleaned up the engine bay.

Chris also has nothing to do...perhaps he can take inspiration and do the same on  his dozens of cars. I also have very little to do and am trying desperately to NOT follow your lead!

Great work!

Got any intermediate pictures of your work there? It would be informative to see how you did it. You know how we like pictures around here.

Edited August 31, 20241 yr by Frosty

Nice work Russel 👍👍👍👍

that looks way clean 

enjoy your time now your not babysitting your club !!! 
I stepped down from committee for TRCC 

5 years ago now !!! All I do is turn up and enjoy events that the new team are running !!! It’s way more fun ! Less stress !!!

it’s snow run next weekend and 50th anniversary ! I got dragged in to being guest speaker on the Friday night , since I had been running the event since 1991 ! 
I so haven’t prepared !!!!

and yeah like frosty said ! Show us how you got to the finished product 

Thank for the likes guys. I didn't take any progress photos, as it was a long involved and very messy project. This underside view is the only photo I took while working on it.

 

I found this guys video on YouTube, and basically followed his lead. Didn't work out as simple as he made it look, but then it never does.

https://youtu.be/dRHUES3Wvc0?si=YxnCutRQUKDaLn1K

 

 

very cool !!!

Looks awesome bro!!!

2 hours ago, Wrongway said:

Looks awesome bro!!!

Welcome back mate !!!!

Well, after much scratching of nuts, naval gazing, and Coruba and Cokes, I decided that I didn't like the look of the rubberized black undercoating on these panels. So after many hours of scraping and cleaning, I have painted them a satin black for a more professional look.

Also, for a long time I have not been happy with the exposed throttle body look that the Chevy SSR engine cover shows. Again head scratching followed by more Coruba and Cokes, an idea started to germinate. What if I could transfer the "rocket look" from the rear fenders somehow to the front of the engine cover. After much hunting on eBay, I came across a shorter version that fitted a '57 Pontiac 4 door Wagon, which was just the right length. A convoluted and complicated bracket later which bolts to the inlet manifold, and it is "alive", as Dr. Frankenstein said.

Alright, that has sapped my available brain power for the next decade, so now off to have a snooze and dream about the next pointless project!

looks Great Russel !!!

are you heading to beach hop this week ? 

Looks damn good bro!

15 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

looks Great Russel !!!

are you heading to beach hop this week ? 

Unfortunately not Chris, as have family thing on. Have a great time!

2 hours ago, KiwiStarChief said:

Unfortunately not Chris, as have family thing on. Have a great time!

Ah ok 👍

 

That looks really good Russel! Never settle! Always keep innovativing! It's what moves us forward. Remember, without the hot rodders Detroit would still be turning out model A's