Methods to smooth engine bay?

KAILUAZ · 07-26-2007, 01:42 PM

So I'm wanting to get rid of all the holes in the engine bay. I'm not looking for show quality stuff, in fact I'm going to spray a flat color when done. I just want to fill in the holes.
So besides using a welder to fill all the holes (don't have one or know how to weld), whats the next best option?
Thanks!
Heres a nice one:

93-331-29PSI · 07-26-2007, 01:54 PM

I would think that the cheapest way would be to invest in a welder and learn. This would probably be a $500 or more job from a body shop.

85LXDRVR · 07-26-2007, 03:19 PM

Most of the holes in the engine bay are pearcings meaning they're punched rather than drilled. This means the metal displaced has been pushed thru to the back side and is hidden behind the fenders and wheelhouses. They're done this way to provide metal for the self tapping screws to bite into.

I suppose you could grind them to bare metal, fill them with a good epoxy then skim coat with filler, sand and paint.

From a labor perspective it's probably as much work as welding and not as permanent.

Mark B...
85' LX
Bold Springs, GA.

85LXDRVR · 07-26-2007, 03:20 PM

That's the cleanest engine bay I've ever seen!

Nicely Done!

Mark B...
85' LX
Bold Springs, GA.

TheGreenFox · 07-26-2007, 05:33 PM

you could bondo the holes with filler.

TheGreenFox · 07-26-2007, 05:35 PM

wow thats a really nice engine bay. Id aim lower if i were you lol

hsean · 07-26-2007, 08:40 PM

nicest engine bay i have ever seen good luck definately motivates me someday when i get my rust issues with my framerails.

ujslost · 07-27-2007, 07:46 AM

do a search on google for dugan racing. they used to sale some fiberglass smooth panels to cover that stuff up.

n20capri · 07-27-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsean

nicest engine bay i have ever seen good luck definately motivates me someday when i get my rust issues with my framerails.

+1

Definitley the nicest I've seen!! WOW I love the blacked out look...
I'd like to see other pics of that car...I tried to back into the gallery but nothing loaded...post up other pics of that car or a link if you can...

KAILUAZ · 07-27-2007, 08:14 AM

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthrea...14#post7005014

85vert · 07-27-2007, 12:02 PM

Anybody else notice the bracing from the strut tower to the rail?
Very nice engine bay.

Mustang Marty · 07-27-2007, 12:03 PM

That is a sweet notch in person. They also have a really nice Capri they use for road racing. They were built by Brad's Custom Auto.

dawaki · 07-27-2007, 06:47 PM

I am confused...is that your engine bay or one like you would like yours to look....cause it looks damn good to me...wonder if someone has tried to eat off it.....looks clean enough to eat off of......

KAILUAZ · 07-27-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawaki

I am confused...is that your engine bay or one like you would like yours to look....cause it looks damn good to me...wonder if someone has tried to eat off it.....looks clean enough to eat off of......

Not mine, just an awesome example.

gtluke · 07-27-2007, 09:46 PM

that guy did a monochrome engine like me.
thats awesome

TurboboyRS · 07-27-2007, 11:29 PM

JB weld or fusor little slugs of metal to the backsides of the holes.
The popout plugs from electricians junction boxes come to mind as a perfict fit for the project or the little slugs my pnumatic hole punch makes. Then use USC All Metal to fill the holes and after spot sanding flush use a skim coat on the whole engine bay and spend many tedious, mind numbing, finger aching, and temper testing hours sanding it all smooth and contouring it. Or........ buy a little gas mig from ebay or the classified ads and learn to use it. Grind it all flush and smooth it with a PSA disc, then use the all metal to finish.
This will smooth out the fender aprons and the firewall, you'll need a welder to cap the framerails like the engine bay you used as an example. You could try to epoxy a cap over it, but I believe the flex will cause it to crack the epoxy.

hsean · 07-28-2007, 10:37 PM

i was planning on going the polishing route once i picked up the cobra intake . after seeing this engine bay i'm doing a complete 360 why not black on black i know it won't stand out but that engine bay is simply amazing.

ujslost · 07-28-2007, 11:43 PM

Ya know what makes that engine bay look even better. No hood prop, it has hood schocks which looks great.

86GT2go · 07-29-2007, 06:25 AM

Holy crap, that engine bay is just sexy! I am mig welding all my holes shut, and it is a pain.

Dynamic · 07-29-2007, 09:48 AM

I love that engine bay... welding is the best way to go... and if done right it will last forever.

85foureyed · 08-12-2007, 12:34 PM

Man I'm so used to seeing 'holes' in these engine bays, that seeing this is freaky! Nice to see a change. Clean though!!

07-26-2007, 01:42 PM	#1
KAILUAZ FEP Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: St Pete, FL via Kailua, HI Posts: 677	Methods to smooth engine bay? So I'm wanting to get rid of all the holes in the engine bay. I'm not looking for show quality stuff, in fact I'm going to spray a flat color when done. I just want to fill in the holes. So besides using a welder to fill all the holes (don't have one or know how to weld), whats the next best option? Thanks! Heres a nice one: __________________ 911 NEVER FORGET!! MILStang Last edited by KAILUAZ; 07-26-2007 at 01:51 PM. Reason: Added pic

07-26-2007, 01:54 PM	#2
93-331-29PSI FEP Supporter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Mills, North Carolina/Norfolk Virginia Posts: 2,763	I would think that the cheapest way would be to invest in a welder and learn. This would probably be a $500 or more job from a body shop. __________________ 83 GT Turbo 84 GT Turbo (on it's way) 84 RS Turbo (Rotter) 86 Capri (Project Green Bean)

07-26-2007, 05:33 PM	#5
TheGreenFox FEP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bethel, PA Posts: 255	you could bondo the holes with filler. __________________ 1985 Deep Emerald Mustang GT

07-26-2007, 05:35 PM	#6
TheGreenFox FEP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bethel, PA Posts: 255	wow thats a really nice engine bay. Id aim lower if i were you lol __________________ 1985 Deep Emerald Mustang GT

07-27-2007, 07:46 AM	#8
ujslost FEP Power Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albertville, AL Posts: 1,283	do a search on google for dugan racing. they used to sale some fiberglass smooth panels to cover that stuff up. __________________ 79 Coupe 5.0 swap complete, T5 swap complete, 8.8 swap complete. 13.9s @98

07-26-2007, 03:19 PM	#3
85LXDRVR FEP User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bold Springs, GA. Posts: 76	Most of the holes in the engine bay are pearcings meaning they're punched rather than drilled. This means the metal displaced has been pushed thru to the back side and is hidden behind the fenders and wheelhouses. They're done this way to provide metal for the self tapping screws to bite into. I suppose you could grind them to bare metal, fill them with a good epoxy then skim coat with filler, sand and paint. From a labor perspective it's probably as much work as welding and not as permanent. Mark B... 85' LX Bold Springs, GA.

07-26-2007, 03:20 PM	#4
85LXDRVR FEP User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bold Springs, GA. Posts: 76	That's the cleanest engine bay I've ever seen! Nicely Done! Mark B... 85' LX Bold Springs, GA.

07-26-2007, 08:40 PM	#7
hsean FEP Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: dearborn,michigan Posts: 248	nicest engine bay i have ever seen good luck definately motivates me someday when i get my rust issues with my framerails.

07-27-2007, 08:14 AM	#10
KAILUAZ FEP Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: St Pete, FL via Kailua, HI Posts: 677	http://forums.stangnet.com/showthrea...14#post7005014 __________________ 911 NEVER FORGET!! MILStang

07-27-2007, 12:02 PM	#11
85vert FEP Supporter Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,866	Anybody else notice the bracing from the strut tower to the rail? Very nice engine bay.

07-27-2007, 12:03 PM	#12
Mustang Marty FEP Supporter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: N Lynnwood, WA Posts: 1,565	That is a sweet notch in person. They also have a really nice Capri they use for road racing. They were built by Brad's Custom Auto. __________________ 79 Mustang Coupe - Jade Green Metallic - 5.0 5Sp 85 ASC - McLaren 5.0 SC - ASC White - 5.0 CFI Auto - SVO brake upgrade 01 Mustang - True Blue - V6 Auto - Daily Driver

07-27-2007, 06:47 PM	#13
dawaki FEP Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: rio wi Posts: 419	I am confused...is that your engine bay or one like you would like yours to look....cause it looks damn good to me...wonder if someone has tried to eat off it.....looks clean enough to eat off of...... __________________ crusin cool, and now that I got a mustang,crusin fast too..... 1986 Mustang SVO 1985 EXP turbo coupe www.rioking.50megs.com

07-27-2007, 09:46 PM	#15
gtluke Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: orange, NJ Posts: 7,020	that guy did a monochrome engine like me. thats awesome __________________ 86gt, turbo 10's 91 galant, turbo 12's

07-27-2007, 11:29 PM	#16
TurboboyRS FEP User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 75	JB weld or fusor little slugs of metal to the backsides of the holes. The popout plugs from electricians junction boxes come to mind as a perfict fit for the project or the little slugs my pnumatic hole punch makes. Then use USC All Metal to fill the holes and after spot sanding flush use a skim coat on the whole engine bay and spend many tedious, mind numbing, finger aching, and temper testing hours sanding it all smooth and contouring it. Or........ buy a little gas mig from ebay or the classified ads and learn to use it. Grind it all flush and smooth it with a PSA disc, then use the all metal to finish. This will smooth out the fender aprons and the firewall, you'll need a welder to cap the framerails like the engine bay you used as an example. You could try to epoxy a cap over it, but I believe the flex will cause it to crack the epoxy. __________________ I work on everyone elses cars in hopes that someday, I can finish one of my own! 84 Capri RS Turbo "in the process of a slow restoration" 69 Mercury Cougar XR-7

07-28-2007, 10:37 PM	#17
hsean FEP Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: dearborn,michigan Posts: 248	i was planning on going the polishing route once i picked up the cobra intake . after seeing this engine bay i'm doing a complete 360 why not black on black i know it won't stand out but that engine bay is simply amazing.

07-28-2007, 11:43 PM	#18
ujslost FEP Power Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albertville, AL Posts: 1,283	Ya know what makes that engine bay look even better. No hood prop, it has hood schocks which looks great. __________________ 79 Coupe 5.0 swap complete, T5 swap complete, 8.8 swap complete. 13.9s @98

07-29-2007, 06:25 AM	#19
86GT2go FEP Super Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Huber Heights, Oh Posts: 4,137	Holy crap, that engine bay is just sexy! I am mig welding all my holes shut, and it is a pain. __________________ " If you're not living life on the edge, that means you're taking up too much room." 1983 GLX vert 3.8/auto (triple black) 1984 (early) Turbo GT (part coming together) 1986 GT Ttop 5spd..............all broke!

07-29-2007, 09:48 AM	#20
Dynamic FEP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woonsocket RI ... for now... Posts: 262	I love that engine bay... welding is the best way to go... and if done right it will last forever. __________________ "Speed is a Question of Money!!! How fast can you go???" 1984 1/2 Mustang GT Hatch 1984 1/2 Mustang GT Convert 1986 Ranger GT(5.0 converison) 1978 F-250 X-Cab 4x4 tool box bed And a few others on the restoration list!!! Tom I must be :hsnuts:

08-12-2007, 12:34 PM	#21
85foureyed New User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tx Posts: 10	Man I'm so used to seeing 'holes' in these engine bays, that seeing this is freaky! Nice to see a change. Clean though!! __________________ http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/parts021.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/parts022.jpg My Toy: 1985 Ford Mustang GT My future project! Previous Toys: 1984 Ford Mustang GT 1989 Ford Mustang LX (Windsor'd) 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 1968 Chevy II Daily Driver: 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 QC Lonestar "What? I get sweaty when I eat." Homer Simpson

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