What do you do to make your engine look pretty? :)
ranmas2004, that sure is a pretty UIM. I'm thinking it all comes together better with the engine cover on.
Here's a tip: get some black POR 15 and a simple paint brush, then touch up the transmission mount.
Have you notice there's a pretty blue fender washer on the headlight housing tabs, but right next to it there's a hunk of rust on the bumper tie-down? That's quite the contrast you've got going on.
Here's a tip: get some black POR 15 and a simple paint brush, then touch up the transmission mount.
Have you notice there's a pretty blue fender washer on the headlight housing tabs, but right next to it there's a hunk of rust on the bumper tie-down? That's quite the contrast you've got going on.
ranmas2004, that sure is a pretty UIM. I'm thinking it all comes together better with the engine cover on.
Here's a tip: get some black POR 15 and a simple paint brush, then touch up the transmission mount.
Have you notice there's a pretty blue fender washer on the headlight housing tabs, but right next to it there's a hunk of rust on the bumper tie-down? That's quite the contrast you've got going on.
Here's a tip: get some black POR 15 and a simple paint brush, then touch up the transmission mount.
Have you notice there's a pretty blue fender washer on the headlight housing tabs, but right next to it there's a hunk of rust on the bumper tie-down? That's quite the contrast you've got going on.
What the hell is POR 15?
they already are new. Blue RTV? I thought that stuff was not supposed to show? If is shows doesn't that mean you used too much if it oozes out the side?
yeh man.....I got alot of work to do yet on that engine bay. I seen that rust spot and I was planning on taking care of that. The installer put the new radiator mounts in but I wanted to paint them first, so now I have to take them back off. Its all good. Also what you cant see on the right is the RUSTED out hood sensor mount....its TERRIBLE. I just bought a new one and its going to get powdercoated as well! Lots of work........
What the hell is POR 15?
What the hell is POR 15?
There were a number of posts here in this thread about radiator brakets/tie-downs. They are extremely inexpensive new. Buy a couple from your local NISSAN dealership and have them powdercoated as well. Get some titanium M6 flange nuts, or a pair of SS acorn nuts w/ss washers would look good, too. (Google "acorn nut" if you're not familiar with that term.)
The open-hood sensor is kind of pricey, but since you bought one, kewl. However, IDK how you're going to powdercoat it, because you need to separate the plastic from the hardware, and I don't see any way to do that without breaking it.
OAN, no one is going to arrest you if you remove those yellow stickers.
Here's a pic to give you some ideas. Titanium M6 flange nuts, a titanium washer on the radiator tie-down, and a SS rubber-backed washer on the bumper tie-down. The Radiator tie-down is powdercoated in black-chrome. The headlight assembly is secured with a JDM fender washer and a M6x15 stainless steel countersunk bolt. And there are silver hole caps on the holes across that beam.
Last edited by Rochester; Mar 20, 2012 at 07:34 AM.
In for pics fosho. I like my UIM the way it is because I have spent hours cleaning it and hours keeping it clean so I want to clean it good 1 more time and them clear it with a few coats to seal in the shine. Either that or a flat black. Im not one for bright colors. Are you using a ceramic paint? I know it says it can withstand engine temps but I painted my stock snorkle when I had it black and grant it, I didnt primer it, but it flaked after a month. If I have to prime it then its pointless but the UIM is pretty rough as is so it should stick fairly good
And this.... I've NEVER understood this! This goes hand in hand with my above comment, wires are kind of an expected thing in the engine bay, alongside reservoirs, while they may not look great, they're kind of overlooked. When you put big flashy blue loom and red sweatbands on them though, that's ALL YOU SEE. Why, why? WHY? do you want to draw attention to your not-so-appealing components? I should think the idea would be quite the opposite, if you're going for looks.
Expecially for you Ranmas, with that beautiful blue IM, but all I can look at in that pic is blue lines going all over the place with no rhyme or reason. The Powersteering/coolant lines, etc over on the Passenger side look good in blue, because they have a nice smooth flow line, and are routed with purpose, following the lines of the engine bay. The other lines though, look like you had some loom left over and just felt compelled to use it. Pull a few off, especially over around the battery and brake reservoir side, for what it takes, and re-evaluate, I'd bet you'll leave them off.
And when all you need to do to make a very nice engine bay out of that, is to remove a few pieces of loom? Kind of a no brainer, at least, for me.
Something to think about, just from another's perspective, as 4 eyes are better than 2.
(unless 2 of those 4 eyes have no taste of course)
Last edited by TunerMaxima3000; Mar 20, 2012 at 10:56 AM.
In for pics fosho. I like my UIM the way it is because I have spent hours cleaning it and hours keeping it clean so I want to clean it good 1 more time and them clear it with a few coats to seal in the shine. Either that or a flat black. Im not one for bright colors. Are you using a ceramic paint? I know it says it can withstand engine temps but I painted my stock snorkle when I had it black and grant it, I didnt primer it, but it flaked after a month. If I have to prime it then its pointless but the UIM is pretty rough as is so it should stick fairly good
there is an engine primer base coat, then some "aluminum" engine enamel and engine clear. All the stages were wet sanded with 2000 grit to give a "smooth" look
installed
and this is my intake piping
Last edited by tigersharkdude; Mar 20, 2012 at 11:23 AM.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/40-PC-FLUSH-...ht_3925wt_1270
$24.99 shipped. Your choice of color. 20 total bolts with washers (40 pcs.)
they also have a pack of 40 (80 pcs.), they come without anodized coating
http://www.ebay.com/itm/80-PC-FLUSH-...ht_3096wt_1270
$24.99 shipped. Your choice of color. 20 total bolts with washers (40 pcs.)
they also have a pack of 40 (80 pcs.), they come without anodized coating
http://www.ebay.com/itm/80-PC-FLUSH-...ht_3096wt_1270
And this.... I've NEVER understood this! This goes hand in hand with my above comment, wires are kind of an expected thing in the engine bay, alongside reservoirs, while they may not look great, they're kind of overlooked. When you put big flashy blue loom and red sweatbands on them though, that's ALL YOU SEE. Why, why? WHY? do you want to draw attention to your not-so-appealing components? I should think the idea would be quite the opposite, if you're going for looks.
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 217
Ok, so I know that some aren't as concerned as others about the appearance of their engine bay... but I just am curious to see what ideas people have to make their engines look pretty 
For instance, NWP hardware tends to look good, many have FSTBs, which might have more of a "look" benefit than a performance benefit, and a good ol' SRI never hurts either hehe... I'm not toooo crazy with the aesthetics of my engine bay, but I have painted my engine cover, and put some red tape on a few of my wires/harnesses (ghetto, I know, but I like it... and there isn't tooooo much )... So just to be clear, this isn't JUST an engine cover thread... there've already been plenty of those. I was just curious as to what other bling/good stuff other people have done in this department (original ideas welcomed!).
Here's mine: (I know the pic is pretty huge...)
For instance, NWP hardware tends to look good, many have FSTBs, which might have more of a "look" benefit than a performance benefit, and a good ol' SRI never hurts either hehe... I'm not toooo crazy with the aesthetics of my engine bay, but I have painted my engine cover, and put some red tape on a few of my wires/harnesses (ghetto, I know, but I like it... and there isn't tooooo much )... So just to be clear, this isn't JUST an engine cover thread... there've already been plenty of those. I was just curious as to what other bling/good stuff other people have done in this department (original ideas welcomed!).Here's mine: (I know the pic is pretty huge...)
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 257
thought id might share this cause it will be the cleanest 5th gen bay EVER LOL.......cant wait to put the motor back in with alllllllll the polished goodies and full wire tuck...imagine the bay painted and just the motor and tranny and radiator in the bay.....shaved engine bay pics
Expecially for you Ranmas, with that beautiful blue IM, but all I can look at in that pic is blue lines going all over the place with no rhyme or reason. The Powersteering/coolant lines, etc over on the Passenger side look good in blue, because they have a nice smooth flow line, and are routed with purpose, following the lines of the engine bay. The other lines though, look like you had some loom left over and just felt compelled to use it. Pull a few off, especially over around the battery and brake reservoir side, for what it takes, and re-evaluate, I'd bet you'll leave them off.
And when all you need to do to make a very nice engine bay out of that, is to remove a few pieces of loom? Kind of a no brainer, at least, for me.
Something to think about, just from another's perspective, as 4 eyes are better than 2.
(unless 2 of those 4 eyes have no taste of course)
Ah, I see what you did there John.... I wouldn't have seen that post if not for your quote.
My engine bay is not detailed, it's stock. I've never cleaned it. I'll wash it before I sell the car though, it has a protective coating throughout, so when I do clean it, it's going to sparkle pearl white
This is very old, I recommend the squeemish to avert their eyes:
My engine bay is not detailed, it's stock. I've never cleaned it. I'll wash it before I sell the car though, it has a protective coating throughout, so when I do clean it, it's going to sparkle pearl white
This is very old, I recommend the squeemish to avert their eyes:
At least you went with a contrasting shade of blue, yes? Otherwise it's going to look like a Smurf exploded under your hood.
Well, you get bravery points for posting that here. But that's about it.
Ah, I see what you did there John.... I wouldn't have seen that post if not for your quote.
My engine bay is not detailed, it's stock. I've never cleaned it. I'll wash it before I sell the car though, it has a protective coating throughout, so when I do clean it, it's going to sparkle pearl white
This is very old, I recommend the squeemish to avert their eyes:
My engine bay is not detailed, it's stock. I've never cleaned it. I'll wash it before I sell the car though, it has a protective coating throughout, so when I do clean it, it's going to sparkle pearl white
This is very old, I recommend the squeemish to avert their eyes:
My engine bay is a mess, I know it, I don't care much either. If I was keeping the car I'd have it on the list of things to attend to, but it'd still be on the back burner.
All that said, a CLEANING is high on my list of things to do, and it's another nice day today, so I think I'll find an old toothbrush and go to it. I'll try peeling a few obnoxious stickers off while I"m at it. If I get really ambitious Ill try painting the yellow caps that I hate so much. Should make for a nice before/after in this thread LMAO
And I'm putting that yellow battery in the G, so it's colour won't play in at all. Thank god the G has a cover over the battery so I don't have to worry about it
Ready to sell!
I should've and might paint the caps black though.
The oil spray stuff was a PITA to get off!!! But as expected it left some nice paint underneath
A little while ago, I was thinking what to do with the strut bolts, as a temporary measure. Later this year, I'll be getting a GT-Spec FSTB, and when I do I'll get the brackets powdercoated, and get some titanium hardward. But in the meantime, I was thinking about how to make the strut towers look a little better.
Then I tried some black rubber vacuum caps, and I like it. They give it a nice, finished touch.
I also replaced the two acorn nuts at the bottom of the engine cover with stainless steel and a couple of polished titanium washers. All in all, it's looking pretty clean. Although you can see why I want to get the oil cap to match the radiator cap cover.
But it is new(ish) after all. A work in progress which should keep me entertained for a number of years.
Then I tried some black rubber vacuum caps, and I like it. They give it a nice, finished touch.
I also replaced the two acorn nuts at the bottom of the engine cover with stainless steel and a couple of polished titanium washers. All in all, it's looking pretty clean. Although you can see why I want to get the oil cap to match the radiator cap cover.
But it is new(ish) after all. A work in progress which should keep me entertained for a number of years.
: 
LOL...just jokin bro.
I tried to remove those yellow stickers near the Radiator. The one came off perfect with no residue but the other one peeled off but left the back in sticky crap all over. Tried using a razor blade to scrape it off but did not want to ruin the paint. Any suggestions?
I also got that radiator cap (in blue of course). Looks like GARBAGE on the OEM radiator, but will look alot better on the Aluminum Mishimoto radiator when installed.
ALSO I took your an TunerMax advice and REMOVED THE BLUE WIRE LOOMS EVERYWHERE. You guys were RIGHT.....it looks ALOT better. BUT I still like the BLUE engine cover with the BLUE manifold...PAPA SMURF ALL DAY. Especially with the letters and nissan emblem. Used scotch tape to just hold letters temporarily so they would not fall off to take a pic and see how it would look when I actually use the double sided tape on the back of the letters!
Gonna get some of that POR15 stuff and work on the rusted spots up in there! Going to continue cleaning that bay up. Wont look as good as yours did EVER, but its something to aspire too
Thanks for the advice....