1970 E-body Factory Black Engine Bay?

[pschlosser]

I'm reviewing a 1970 E-body LA car, with a black engine bay. This BS23 `Cuda car has factory (albeit, faded) original paint, but the engine bay is painted black. On closer inspection, whomever painted the engine bay did a very nice job. There are some places where the red under color shows through, but as I work on this car, and inspect its secret under pants parts, someone did a really good job painting the black on. It was painted with the engine removed, but just about every other thing as well, such as the wiper motor, cable hanger, wiring harness, you name it.

So my question is, was there an option to deliver a car with a black engine bay from the factory? According to the owner, they are the 2nd owner, and they know the prior owner pretty well, and claim the car came this way. Is this possible? And if so, would the option not be on the fender tag?

 

[autoxcuda]

Nope.

Just someone did back in the day.

Friend has a 70 'Cuda LA built also, someone sprayed canned it black. It's just wiping off.

 

[DetMatt1]

I agree, not original.

 

[Xcudame]

My 71 Barracuda was originally FJ6, but some painted the whole car black. Engine bay, door jambs, trunk. I think the engine bay was spray can, because it didn't stick real well.

 

[Cuda Hunter]

No factory engine bay blackout on any mopar late 60's to 70's.

 

[challeng61]

Engine bay should be body color.

 

[moparleo]

It could have been one of the very rare, early " Chevy, Rust-oleum black engine bay" options....

 

[Xcudame]

The only thing under the hood that should be painted black on a non-dark painted car is the top of the cowl and front of the radiator!

 

[DetMatt1]

The only thing under the hood that should be painted black on a non-dark painted car is the top of the cowl and front of the radiator!

I think top of the cowl was a ‘70 only thing.

 

[Xcudame]

DetMatt1, you could be right. My 70 Challenger's cowl is definately black. My 71 Barracuda's cowl was FJ6, but there doesn't seem to be two shades of black now. In fact the black paint rubs off pretty easy and I don't think factory paint would do that.

 

[Cuda Hunter]

I believe, the black out was a bright color specific process.
Done in 70, possibly 71 but I am not exactly sure when it stopped.

 

[moparleo]

Here is some more info for your files.

 

[greatscot3]

I'm reviewing a 1970 E-body LA car, with a black engine bay. This BS23 `Cuda car has factory (albeit, faded) original paint, but the engine bay is painted black. On closer inspection, whomever painted the engine bay did a very nice job. There are some places where the red under color shows through, but as I work on this car, and inspect its secret under pants parts, someone did a really good job painting the black on. It was painted with the engine removed, but just about every other thing as well, such as the wiper motor, cable hanger, wiring harness, you name it.

So my question is, was there an option to deliver a car with a black engine bay from the factory? According to the owner, they are the 2nd owner, and they know the prior owner pretty well, and claim the car came this way. Is this possible? And if so, would the option not be on the fender tag?

Hey Pschlosser

This is off the subject of engine bay paint but I noticed your location is shown as Santa Rosa CA.
I am in the Grass Valley CA area.
I wondered if you have been to the Capitol City Mopars show in Sacramento or the yearly car show in Maxwell CA? If you haven't been there it's on I5 North of where Hiway 20 crosses over I5.
I've been to the CCM show in Sac and thought it was pretty great but never been to the one in Maxwell and wondered if you had and it was worth going to.

Jon S.

 

[Challenger RTA]

There was only one option code I knew of X9 9000. 9300 Black. Body color.

 

[Spyder]

Hey Pschlosser

This is off the subject of engine bay paint but I noticed your location is shown as Santa Rosa CA.
I am in the Grass Valley CA area.
I wondered if you have been to the Capitol City Mopars show in Sacramento or the yearly car show in Maxwell CA? If you haven't been there it's on I5 North of where Hiway 20 crosses over I5.
I've been to the CCM show in Sac and thought it was pretty great but never been to the one in Maxwell and wondered if you had and it was worth going to.

Jon S.

Ha, funny. I lived in Healdsburg for many years, Sacramento for a few, and out west of Maxwell most recently before moving where I am now. That Maxwell show isn't very big but it's fun. The whole town can't have more than a couple hundred population but they fill the park and field with cars. There's a green 68 or 69ish B body that lives in right in town (It's only half a dozen or so blocks square) but I never managed to talk to the owner when I lived there.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I never understood why someone would if done right, take everything off, tape things up to paint the engine bay black. Since one went that far. May as well just paint it the correct body color.
Recently, it seems to be more of a trend. The older these unrestored cars get. The more people paint the engine bays black. I saw 5 for sale yesterday while browsing the web.

 

[Spyder]

I did exactly that 23 or so years ago when I pulled the 318 out and put the 440 in. I knew eventually the car would be painted a different color but didn't know what, and wanted it to be clean under the hood so I prepped and sprayed it all in semi gloss black. 20 years later I finally decided on a body color and didn't pull the engine to respray under the hood. Probably should have but... *shrug*

I like to freak out the purists.

 

[sixpactogo]

No factory engine bay blackout on any mopar late 60's to 70's.

Except black bodied cars.

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Black engine bay's are factory Ford and Chevy colors.
The color in the engine bay is one of the things that makes Mopars "pop" better than the other brands.
There is some difference between looking good and being a purist.
Black engine bay's don't show any color reflection back on the engine and makes the entire square hole look like a black hole. No detail with black surrounding it all.

 

[Spyder]

I do plan to paint my engine bay Sublime when I pull the 440 to put a 512 in it... but I don't want to because it makes people unreasonably angry.