Five Ways to Dress Up Your Engine Bay

It doesn’t matter what you’re taking to the next car show – popping the hood and showing off the engine bay is a mandatory part of the process. And, unless you’re going for a factory-fresh restoration, you’ll need to make some upgrades to tie everything together.

Upgrading your engine with some stylized parts is a great way to show a little more of your personality. It’s a step you will also need to take if attention to detail is important to you. Having an engine dressed to match the remainder of the build will help everything blend together, producing that show-winner build quality everyone’s after.

It’s easy to get carried away and forget the importance of “form over function,” though. If you’re not careful, some “upgrades” might actually be a major step in the wrong direction. That can make it hard to decide where to even start, but that’s what you’ve got us for. We’re serving up five essential tips for you to take to heart when you decide to dress up that engine bay. We’ll talk you through some of the best ways to make it show-ready as well as when to be a little more reserved in the name of functionality.

1. Detailing and Tidying Up

There’s a lot going on under the hood of any vehicle. On many rides — especially newer models or those with a lot of add-ons — it can look like nothing more than a jumbled mess of wires and hoses under there. Built-up grease and road grime aren’t doing you any favors, either.

A good cleaning is the best place to start. Removing caked-up debris and dust will have an engine bay looking as good as new again. Cleaning up any of the wiring and hoses that are scattered throughout will take it to the next level. Some protective upgrades, such as looming and heat shields, can even help with styling if you put some consideration into your selection.

2. Engine Dress Up Kits

There are a few ways to dress up an engine, and the parts you use are mostly based on the year and make. Older engines are traditionally outfitted with stylized valve covers and an air cleaner to match. Modern engines can similarly be upgraded with dressy valve covers and an engine cover.

In many cases, aftermarket performance parts are also built with styling in mind. So, you will want to think through your decision so that your cold air intake or bolt-on power adders match your shiny new parts.

3. Shined-Up Drive Accessories

High-performance parts aren’t the only ones that can be pretty. Aftermarket alternators, power steering pumps, AC compressors, and even water pumps are often available in some sort of stylish finish. Depending on your engine, you can select a matched set to really help that engine bay pop when you open the hood on show day.

This is the area where you need to be mindful of the performance of the parts themselves. It’s not uncommon for any one of these components to have been upgraded to a better-performing model based on the vehicle’s demands. If you can’t find a part with both the performance specs and the finish you need, stick to the former. There’s no reason to make a downgrade in favor of style.

4. Beauty Pulleys

If you’ve upgraded to shinier aftermarket belt-drive accessories, they may have come with pulleys that match. That probably means that the other (most likely stock) pullies make for a mismatched setup. Aftermarket pulley sets can fix this issue by replacing all of the pullies with chromed and even stylishly-designed counterparts to provide a common theme across the system. This is yet another step that’s often overlooked but can quickly tie everything together, separating your car from the many others that were quickly slapped together with no attention to detail.

5. Chromed Radiator and Accessories

Radiators are often the ugliest part of an engine bay. Their rough, finned, often blemish-littered surface can really hold back an otherwise pristine engine bay. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most critical components of the engine, and you don’t have the option to remove them altogether. You can dress them up, though.

Aftermarket radiators are among the upgrades that are generally built to look as good as they perform. They can still stand out like a sore thumb, though. Adding in chromed radiator extensions and shrouds can really help it blend in with any shined-up motor. You can also take things a step further by moving to braided water hoses to match fuel lines and other braided hoses used to plumb the engine.

Check Out SpeedFX

Think you can’t have the “wow factor” of a spruced-up engine bay while staying on budget? Think again. Plenty of affordable brands recognize the market for engine dress up kits and attention-grabbing accessories is still hot — and that includes SpeedFX.

SpeedFX offers a wide array of quality performance parts, including distributors, water pumps, alternators, exhaust products, and, of course, engine dress up kits. The accessories expertly combine classic styling, modern technology, and a showroom shine, ensuring an end product that engine builders and enthusiasts want.

Whether you’re at a car show, drag event, or just hanging out in your own drive way, make popping the hood of your prized possession a proud moment. To learn more about SpeedFX, head to https://www.speed-fx.com/