What would you do? Customer is torn

Sooo i have a 1976 Buick Century/Special here with only 18,055 miles on it. We pulled motor yesterday and pressure washed engine bay today. We plan on dropping in a fresh 455 this week to go along with a black paint job. But the dilemma is the super clean frame.

He suggested to paint frame black as it sits. Im more of leave it alone. He'll never drive in winter and rarely drive in rain.

So what would you guys do? I also said if we paint it black, were pulling all brake lines and any other steel lines that are in the way, he frowned. Then said ask the guys on v8 board so this is me asking for your opinion. He will drive this car to Buick Nationals in Oct if all goes good.

Check out that clean floor too.

 

Ya gotta paint it

 

Well, I'm a paint it while you're there kind of guy. Plus, if he's going to pay for it to get done, I'd do what the customer wants.

 

gotta clean and paint it.

 

Heres the engine we took out and shot of speedometer

 

I agree with painting it if we take it all apart, he's unsure about that. I just dont want that all black look under hood when its done. I want that factory contrast look. Hate to cover up colored pencil markings on steering linkage.

 

It looks nice now...but as soon as the morning dew hits it will rust right before his eyes. Doesn't have to drive it in the rain for that to happen. Then he'll regret not painting it when he had a chance.

 

I would take the line clips loose ease the lines out of the way do some masking and then spray paint with some of the Krylon color max paint primer,...if it were me

 

Use foil to wrap up stuff
It's easy it stays in place and folds up easy

 

Yup foils and old trick ive used for years.

 

Gotta say i never thought about the engine color. I think i like that, now to convince him to change that to blue

 

I'd definitely paint it while you're there. A shiny freshly painted engine will make the frame look dingey IMO. If it were staying all original and the engine had some "patina" that coincided with the frame, I'd leave it. But fresh looking engine needs fresh looking surroundings for the full "oooh ahhh" effect. Just my 2 cents.

Love the foil trick Joe!!! I've been wanting to repaint the engine in my white car but have absolutely no reason to pull it out right now (knock on wood), that may just be the ticket I was looking for!

 

I can't wait to tear into my Rivera so much room to work with.
I'll do a thread once I get there

 

Paint it!

 

The secret is out??

 

Yes sir..check out summer thread

 

Paint it BLACK .....

Peace WildBill

 

Didn't see it ? I'll look!