Detailing Engine Compartment: Should I Paint engine Shroud?

[IAN]

I have a 72 911 T 2.4 MFI

I'm in the process of many projects including detailing my engine.

I have remove the yellow fiberglass shroud. It is pretty beat up with lot of very thin spider cracks. It works fine but it doesn't look so nice.

Should I clean and re-install or paint it? I'm trying to keep the car pretty original and wondering which way makes more sense.

Has anyone painted these? Any suggestions on a color match for the original yellow as well as a paint type that will work well on the fiberglass?

Thanks,
Ian

[Grady Clay]

Ian,

If your intention is to maintain originality, I would wax it and not paint it. Put up with the “less than perfect” original finish.
I have never seen a refinished fan-shroud that I didn’t say to myself; “I wonder what is under that new fine finish?” There is Original and there is “other.”

Best,
Grady

[ZCAT3]

Yep - I agree with Grady. I have a 69 911S and the shroud has been painted by prior owners at least twice. Strangely enough the shroud (originally a reddish-orange color) has been painted brown and then painted agin somewhat close to the original color. Both layers of paint are flaking off at various spots and I can see the original color under the paint. And, like Grady says, I often wonder what the shroud looks like under that somewhat crummy paint.

[GIBSON]

I agree with Grady, I'd rather see a cleaned-up and waxed
original than one someone has painted- they never look quite right. Lots of people do it but I think I'd stay with the original.
You'd think that it could be done and there probably are
experts in gel-coat who can do it but I've not found them.
Do a search on the subject, you'll find lots of discussion about this
in previous posts.

[Kemo]

I believe that boats and Jet-skis are "gel-coated" if you wanted to go all out, finding an expert there might be an option.

post some pics...

[hkspwrsche]

I think most of the complaints are going to be regarding poor prep and improper refinish material. You could have a shop match and paint the fiberglass without detracting from the finish or durability. The gel coat keeps the glass from absorbing moisture and can be scuffed and primed then painted over. If you really are going all out on looks then dont spray can it!

[randywebb]

Clean it carefully and then use fiberglass polish from any old timey hardware store. Wax only after that.

[RoninLB]

paint is an obvious non stock look. IF you want paint then proper shroud prep and acrylic-urethane without primer is doable.