A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

I've been having sick thoughts lately about my '68 L72 Biscayne. Some of you saw it at SCR7 in '04, others may not know what the hell I'm talking about.

Here's a couple of pics from SCR7:

http://www.fototime.com/FFC68B5BD390580/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/6B2CBA25937EC78/standard.jpg

It is a 12,000 original mile, Butternut yellow car. Although it has 12k originally, it was raced from day 1 until the late '70's. Came factory with a *DP* coded 4.88 12-bolt. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif Interior is ALL original and gorgeous. Paint is about 60% original, with the only repaint being a dusting on the sides to cover up the "ghosting" from the original lettering on the car. It still has the original brake shoes and hardware on it.

Here's my conundrum ....

Underneath the hood it looks a little nabby to me. The DZ carb looks like a 38 year old carburetor. The *163* intake has obviously been the recepient of many carb tear downs and fuel puddles. I've got a process that I use with aluminum intakes and my Mopar aluminum manual steering boxes that make aluminum look like it was "just cast". It comes out PERFECT, and it kills me to know that I could mint out that intake and it looks like it does. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif But if I do the intake it will stick out like a sore thumb if I don't keep going. It's got non-EGR manifolds on it now, BUT I have the original manifolds and all of the original smog equipment that was taken off the car, literally the day it was bought. I really want to put all of the smog stuff back on. Like the carb, the underhood plated components look 38 years old. They aren't all rusty or crusty .... they just look *old*. There's some scratches on the inner fenders from it's race days, and a couple of other things that are kinda scuffed up from 10 years of racing. The rest of the car I'm leaving COMPLETELY alone .... it's just the underhood stuff that bugs the heck out of me. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif I'm afraid if I mint out one or two things it will snowball because it is all seen as a package.

So here's my question ??? What, if anything would YOU do in my situation ??

1. Leave it all alone and accept the fact that it looks like an old race car underneath the hood.

2. Do "some" things to kinda sex it up a bit.

3. Detail the engine compartment completely and make it look "fresh".

Keeping in mind, of course, I DO race this car at the Pure Stock Drags ..... as it was intended. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Thoughts ???

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

My opinion...Make it look brand new under the hood.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

The whole car looked pretty sweet to me... If its bugging you, detail out the underhood the way you want it, and leave the exterior alone. It would also give you the "excuse" to put the correct manifolds and smog stuff back on...plus you'd be happier knowing that your underhood looks the way you wanted. JMO.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Need more information. Give us a shot of your engine bay and let us have a better idea just how "bad" it really is. It has taken your car 37 years to "earn" that patina and you don't want to make a rash judgement.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Casey,
My opinion would be to either put it back the way it was raced, slicks, wheels, headers, decals, etc and leave the engine compartment alone with it's patina or restore the engine compartment. I truly do not believe you will hurt the value by doing an engine compartment detailing.
Rick

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

I would leave the engine compartment paint alone. I know it's been said before, but they're only original once. It's neat to see the inner fender/firewall paint that the General applied 37 years ago. Especially with the battle scars. It's just like they say about people, scars are the map book of our lives. Sorry that sounds so corny. Anyway is your car the same yellow '68 L-72 Biscayne that raced back in the eighties in those Supercar Shootouts held in Bowling Green? Somewhere around here I still have the official video of that race. I want to say it was around 83-85.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Whatever you decide to do,don't think about painting it any other color.
I love that shade!

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Leave it alone......all we see is nice shiny engine compartments....all else is left alone....why do the compartment...I'll PM you some pics of a nasty compartment later on !

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

[ QUOTE ]
.... Anyway is your car the same yellow '68 L-72 Biscayne that raced back in the eighties in those Supercar Shootouts held in Bowling Green? Somewhere around here I still have the official video of that race. I want to say it was around 83-85.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes it is. It was 1985, and had the stock stuff back in it. 4.88 gears, manifolds that are on it now, and 1 7/8" exhaust. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif Unfortunately, there are a LOT of missed shifts on that video, so it is kinda embarrassing to look at. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

i can understand your feelings about the engine compartment, iam also a very involved drag racer, and on a few occasions i have started with "mint" engine compartments, but ended up disguisted later from the hurry up turnaround for the next race. there is always a chance of jet changes and plug changes, pulling a valve cover, and sometimes tools get droppped on the fender wells and sometimes the fender itselves, fuel spilled all over the intake and motor. what i finally came up with is at the track the guys dont care, there cars look pretty much the same, but when i wanted to show the car i put me a real nice big board together with all of the cars racing history, little story line, alot of pictures at the track, and something stating that this car is still raced till this very day. it eases some of the burden of it not being the best looking car that it can be. after all we are talking about survivor car here right.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

leave it alone, I think it looks fine https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Those of us who have tried to retain and maintain our cars in as near original condition as possible truly appreciate seeing the car the way it is. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Bottom line; it's yours to do with as you please. If people don't like what you've done, or not done, tell them to get one of their own and leave yours alone! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

My 1966 16K mile L72 Biscayne was an old race car, and if you get the light just right you can read the old lettering on the car. The engine compartment has been left as is with the exception of a detailed engine. All the nicks and dings IMO add to the cars colorful past. Do the engine, leave the rest.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

Freshen the engine up----

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

Just sell it to me, I have first dibs anyways https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

JH

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Casey,
It's tearing me apart that you are struggling so deeply with your conundrum. I'm more than happy to take the car off your hands to ease your pain. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

I've been going through the same sort of thing with my car. The engine was rebuilt about 3,000 miles ago. If you take a look at my engine pic in the post I did you can see that the engine is nicely detailed and pretty clean. The carb isn't restored just rebuilt and cleaned up. Then you look around the engine and you see "patina" all over the place. Some people tell me to leave it alone, it's cool with it's bumps and bruises. Rust in my case is the problem. It doesn't stop and one day I'll have to take action to kill the expanding patina. The paint/body on your car looks awesome. I haven't seen an engine pic, so I'm not sure how dingy things may be here and there. If you're worried about it losing it's originality/patina, do a minimum detail and repair whatever needs fixing. Otherwise go nuts!

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

What a conumdrum to be in....poor fella'. . Love the car whatever you decide but I like the idea of going original under the hood if you're going w/ manifolds too and leaving the rest of the car. . Is that B-pillar and surround chrome original to a Biscayne in '68 or Belair stuff or what? ~ Pete

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

1 more vote for leave it as is...I like looking at untouched cars way more these days then done cars... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

[ QUOTE ]
....Is that B-pillar and surround chrome original to a Biscayne in '68 or Belair stuff or what? ~ Pete

[/ QUOTE ]

The original owner wanted a little bit more "flash" to the car, so *YES*, it is original. A $21.05 option on a Biscayne. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

My vote is to ship it down here to Hillbillyville for me and Johnny Cat to play with! LOL!! But, regardless of what you do with it, keep Stefina out of it...he'll be 1-3 shiftin' that thing like there's no tomorrow! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

OK ... you asked for it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif

Here are some engine compartment shots that I just took while it was inside my trailer. (Had to move it out of the shop for a gearhead party I had last Saturday). Sorry they are a little fuzzy ... but you get the idea.

http://www.fototime.com/521B8E658290A9D/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/DF51039EF98B31F/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/1DDA11A692F7F3B/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/CB9D248F7260F09/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/727665DA12E9FAA/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/75A1B844A382368/standard.jpg

I DO have the original radiator cap and fan shroud. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

If it was 100% untouched I'd say leave it be, but if i'm thinking that at least the block has been repainted once already... if thats the case, I'm still voting to clean that girl up. I hear a clean engine compartment is good for 3/10ths anyhow. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solic
 

Leave it as it with a light cleaning of those dirty or corroded parts. I've come to appreciate the original cars more and more over the years. As time goes on I believe that the original cars will be appreciated even more. Once the engine compartment is restored or fluffed there is no going back. The engine compartment on my '66 was fluffed and the rest of the car is so original that it is a shame it was done. It would be 100% original if someone didn't paint the engine all nice and orange. Yellow is my all time favorite.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

[ QUOTE ]
Leave it alone......all we see is nice shiny engine compartments....all else is left alone....why do the compartment...I'll PM you some pics of a nasty compartment later on !

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm in with this opinion ! I constantly see freshly painted
engines & compartments. They are nice to look at, but you
tend to get tired of seeing the same old thing. I love the
BB engine compartment, but let's face it - they all look
pretty much the same. I would really love to see a "back
in the day" engine compartment once in a while. With that
being said, do some touch-up, but don't make it new. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Steve

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

It's a little hard to tell, but the chrome valve covers look
pretty darn nice with little surface rust showing. If that
is the case, leave it alone. Just seeing these pictures
takes me back to the mid-1970's, as that was what most of
the engine compartments I worked in looked like. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Steve

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

Re: A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited
 

Casey, do want to drive it, or just stare at it? Leave it alone, they're only original once.