That’s a question I would have wrestled with myself. I probably would have painted the engine itself, but left the rest alone.
Just saw this, and had to comment... 72? Best looking year?... No offense guys, but those faux wood door panels make me throw up a little in my mouth, every time I see them. Rubber tit bumpers?... painted headlight bezels?.. and come on, we can all get together on the fact that the bumper guards belong on Grandpa's Electra, can't we? I see more 72's with bumper guards than any other year. They got it right the first year, 1970.. best looking, best performing. And yes, I am just another a****** with an opinion.. JW
This is a "base" model with the plain ole carry over 71 all vinyl interior,solid black door panels, but it does have the awesome black rubber tail light surrounds, and the equally awesome blacked out headlight rings, so it won't get confused with an ugly 70 model, Lol
Well, if you need rubber tits on your bumper, to aid in the " parallel park by braille" operation, who am I to stand in your way? JW
I'm afraid of the "domino effect", I'm afraid it's either ALL or NOTHING. If I paint the engine, it's going to stick out like a turd in a punch bowl. and if I clean paint detail replace everything under the hood new Ram air foams new gold cad power brake booster replate the hood latch, proper hood hinges,etc. all that stuff it's just going to look way out of place with the hood open.
It doesn't, story goes that someone spun a bearing, and it got parked back in the 80's with a hurt engine. That's why it's coming out, need to fix it.
Most 70's have fake wood on the instrument housing and full length operating console but it looks lonely. IMHO the wood door panels often found on 72s complement the dash / console wood. It's a good looking combo. I don't care for the fake wood 70 console shifter though.
And this is the problem with home schooling.... you get guys like Brett who were busy playing his hand held Electronic football game and not really paying attention or even reading the material.
"you get guys like Brett who were busy playing his hand held Electronic football game" Man the hours and hours I spent playing one of those back in the 70s. Dots and hashes and I can still here the sound of that game.
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to leave well enough alone either, once I got in there. The same happened when I changed out the motor mounts in my old bomb. Out came the engine. Fresh paint on the engine and a detail of the engine bay ensued. It’s a tough call. I guess now I’m on the side of leave things alone. If you build the original block and have it hot tanked, I remember a few years ago that Muscle Car Review did a L-88 build and made a fresh engine look like it had been in the engine bay of the 1967 Malibu for decades. That way, in your car, the engine would be painted and not be bare metal.
I finally called a halt to the "while we're here" on my '72 Electra. Make it safe (new front suspension, etc), rebuilt the engine and install gauges to monitor. No frame off for me, no new paint for me. Drive and enjoy.
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Jason’s “The Beater!” Go back and look at those pictures and see if it they give you inspiration!
have to agree with Jim... this is why I didn’t buy the Flame Orange 72 off of Sobotka or took a run at this one. Wood grain door panels, tail light surrounds, the grille... Although if there is a 72 to own, this would be the one. nicely done Tom! Looking forward to the end result!
