Get your engine bay pics out!

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Hiya, I'm after giving my engine bay a bit of a spruce up, I can't say I've really ever given under the bonnet that much of a look in tbh, I'm not one for popping the lid at a meet for instance, especially with all the oil leaks!
But now I've had the leaks sorted its starting to get on my nerves a bit now, so started a tidy up, nothing drastic but you get the idea, just a presentable freshen up.
I might swap out of the existing bolts etc, some a pro bolt blue and some silver and wondered how others have done their bays, my existing rocker cover is silver for instance, what have you got?
I quite like the gold bolts but with a silver cam cover that will need changing, its been done well over 9 years ago now, so you can imagine the state of it, I'll add a few pics when I can.
Any examples of yours would be really appreciated to see.
Cheers
Mark

[DanT404]

Not the prettiest on here im sure, but its reasonably tidy!

[S1 RST]

Nothing too special, just keeping it as clean as possible without dismantling anything. Other than that silicon hoses and couple CF covers. Got some alloy tanks but can't seem to find the time and motivation to start it 🧐

[Rutts]

Not the best photo in the world but this is my bay. Plan for this wonder is whole new wiring loom remade to smarten it up, replace loads of bolts and repaint the manifold.

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Not the prettiest on here im sure, but its reasonably tidy!

Nice one, you've just reminded me that about two years ago I bought some wrap for the mani and never go round to fitting it.
I kept hearing what a pain in the arse it was and how itchy it is to work with even if you soak it, is that true?
Looks nice tho.

Nothing too special, just keeping it as clean as possible without dismantling anything. Other than that silicon hoses and couple CF covers. Got some alloy tanks but can't seem to find the time and motivation to start it 🧐

Good stuff, I quite like a plug cover.

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Not the best photo in the world but this is my bay. Plan for this wonder is whole new wiring loom remade to smarten it up, replace loads of bolts and repaint the manifold.

Ok, so you've gone the metal cam cover route, did you powder coat it or paint it?
Looking good, is the mani sprayed with VHT or I expect zircoated or whatever its called?
Mines bareback and looks bloody awful, I was toying with the idea of covering it up with the heat wrap or trying a few coats of VHT as it can't look any worse that it does, looks like its got the clap at the mo.
Only thing with the wrap is doesn't it cover the bay in itchy fibres I gather, hence me thinking VHT?

Thanks guys for bothering to upload the pics, always good to see what route others have gone, don't be shy fellas, any with coloured bolts?

[Derbyshire DUK]

Here’s the 🦆engine bay

[Rutts]

Ok, so you've gone the metal cam cover route, did you powder coat it or paint it?
Looking good, is the mani sprayed with VHT or I expect zircoated or whatever its called?
Mines bareback and looks bloody awful, I was toying with the idea of covering it up with the heat wrap or trying a few coats of VHT as it can't look any worse that it does, looks like its got the clap at the mo.
Only thing with the wrap is doesn't it cover the bay in itchy fibres I gather, hence me thinking VHT?

Yeah metal cam cover and it's just power coated. Manifold is Zircotec ceramic coated been done about 8year no so holding up well I was thinking of just giving it a over coat of VHT paint to freshen it up though.

I wrapped my sports cat with DEI heat wrap it wasn't that bad to be fair alittle itchy but not aweful. Buy decent stuff like the DEI titanium wrap and not the cheap Chinese stuff. And don't soak it. But for a manifold I think a coated one looks better but that's just my opinion.

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Here’s the 🦆engine bay

Nice, I've not seen that heat shield before, is it an Auto specialists one?

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Yeah metal cam cover and it's just power coated. Manifold is Zircotec ceramic coated been done about 8year no so holding up well I was thinking of just giving it a over coat of VHT paint to freshen it up though.

I wrapped my sports cat with DEI heat wrap it wasn't that bad to be fair alittle itchy but not aweful. Buy decent stuff like the DEI titanium wrap and not the cheap Chinese stuff. And don't soak it. But for a manifold I think a coated one looks better but that's just my opinion.

Does look good, I do have the mani wrap, I bought it from Airtek as I used to live on the same road as them so was handy, but never ended up doing anything with it, it's still unopened.
Touch wood its the good stuff!
Did it leave hairs all over the shop?

Here's mine as it stands atm, the throttle elbow needs to go black.








As I say the cam cover was done waayyy back in 2009, so considering its me who did it with rattle cans from Halfords, then its not done to badly tbh!
But does need doing again obviously.



I do have another that I plan to make standard (excuse the dust) so will pinch a few bits of that, it has a zircoated mani and full BCS but will probably sell that to free up some cash for over priced standard parts the way its going!
Going to keep the alloy thermostat and a few carbon bits I expect, would be rude otherwise...

[RSRick3290]

My bay before I took it apart for a few more changes currently in progress
Instagram RSRick3290

[DanT404]

Nice one, you've just reminded me that about two years ago I bought some wrap for the mani and never go round to fitting it.
I kept hearing what a pain in the arse it was and how itchy it is to work with even if you soak it, is that true?
Looks nice tho.

It is fiddly to do, worth spending the time to do it right though. The old school cheapy fibreglass stuff was horrible to work with and super itchy even if you wet it.
The Dei Titanium stuff i used is whats commonly recommended now and is way better, dont need to wet it and nowhere near as itchy. I thought about Zircotec coating but i dont really see the value in it myself.

[BartFRS]

I went for Zircotec but ended up wrapping it anyway 😂 Won’t be going for Zircotec again as it started to peel within 1000km/600miles.

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

My bay before I took it apart for a few more changes currently in progress
Instagram RSRick3290

Jesus, you've been busy!
That inlet looks a lovely bit of kit, very nice!

[RSRick3290]

It's a jenvey inlet, it's a very nice peace of kit indeed

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

How do you find the drivers side vibratechnics mount compared to the original out of interest?
Is there a lot more vibration throughout the cabin?

[RSRick3290]

I have all three Vibratechniques mounts road version and didnt notice much more vibration in the cabin

[Imperial-Blue-RS]

Also, has anybody re dyed the black bulkhead material as mine is going white in places!
I figure any black carpet dye should do the trick?

Thanks for the responses, don't be shy people, keep em coming!