Burning question - '72 engine bay color

[DavidPorter]

Black or body color? I have had reports of both. The Morgan book shows two 2.4 engine bays painted body color, at least what is visible, but then one of those (red) shows a different oil filter arrangement (mine points to the rear of the car) and may not be the same year after all. My car has a little of both. Body color all over but covered in some places by what looks like black paint, which won't come off with solvent or a pressure washer. Trying to clean up and get ready for the new engine, which should be ready any month now.

[tonythetarga]

And the search reveals.....

Have a look is this original - 1970 E?

[DavidPorter]

OK, busted, but sometimes I search around and sometimes I just like to ask the board questions out of sheer laziess. What that thread tells me is that "sometime in 1972" the color changed from black to body color. Anyone else with a '72 care to chime in?

Thanks.

[pwd72s]

Car built July of '72,,,what you see is ORIGINAL. My work is done here.

[DavidPorter]

Thanks. I was hoping you might take pity. So this is a vote for black, which is what I'm seeing to the immediate left of the oil filter?

[Jays72T]

Black was over the body color in your '72's engine compartment. Some areas might expose the body color.

[DavidPorter]

Excellent. Thanks all.

[pwd72s]

Black, with specs of original body color showing through. My theory is that the cars were first sprayed body color. Then, a worker was given a brush & black paint. He did the underside and the engine surround. (More theory) Beginning in the 1973 model year, this worker's job was eliminated, because engine surrounds became body color, and underneath was an overspray of body color. But hell, I don't know jack krap. You better ask Cornpanzer, the big time EXCELLENCE writer, who will then consult his buddy Jeff Smith, who was born in 1971, and really knows all. These guys know EVERYTHING. Just ask 'em....and if you don't believe them, read EXCELLENCE. Every word there must be true, because it's been published, right?

Me? Bitter? You betcher sweet Donkey!

[DW SD]

Originally posted by pwd72s
But hell, I don't know jack krap. You better ask Cornpanzer, the big time EXCELLENCE writer, who will then consult his buddy Jeff Smith, who was born in 1971, and really knows all. These guys know EVERYTHING. Just ask 'em....and if you don't believe them, read EXCELLENCE. Every word there must be true, because it's been published, right?

Me? Bitter? You betcher sweet Donkey!

WOW, step away from the ledge???

David, hope your next innocent question doesn't bring out such emotion. Let's see more of your car!

[randywebb]

The black you can see on Paul's car is the black plastic fuse & electrical area cover.

You need to see a different shot/angle to see the engine comp. paint.

It sure looks like what he says is true - a real hard scrubbing on many of these cars would expose body color paint under the black.

[onboost]

Dave,

I think 72 is a split year for this issue.. I have owned several and only one has been black in the engine bay. Another was.. but someone had obviously painted it as such.

I've had several 73s and they have been body color. My current 73S is silver, engine compartment was silver.. just repainted..SILVER!

Go body man.. it cleans-up the look!

Paul

[DavidPorter]

Here's a photo of the transmission tunnel, which looks the same as the engine bay and the wheel wells, namely red covered mostly by black. The car has been repainted but not the underside or engine bay. I think the preponderance of the evidence points to a thin coat of black partly worn off over 125k and 35 years (not mine, I'm the 3rd owner).



Photo of car:



Piston porn (85mm 9.5 JE):