Concours Ford Engine Detailing

15 ways to help return the heart of your legendary Ford to its original glory

Text & Photography by Tom Shawn Clemons

The engine is not only your classic Ford's powerplant, it's usually the make or break point of your restoration. It's very common to see a car that looks great on the outside, but lagging behind under the hood. A lackluster engine is one thing on a cruise night driver, but if you're entering shows, the level of engine compartment detailing is often the margin of difference between the class winners and the guys who go home empty handed.

Basic cleanliness is a good start. But from there, detailing is critical to a satisfying restoration. In our years pounding the pavement of various show fields, we've seen a lot of the same things in engine compartments. Very often an engine will look good, but a little extra detailing would go a long ways in setting it apart from the rest of the pack. That's what this article is all about.

We recently had the pleasure of examining a 1966 7 Litre Galaxie restored by Frank Tetro and crew at Harbo Auto Restoration, 2121 US Hwy 1, Rockledge, FL 32955 (321) 633-3227. This Galaxie was on a display at a recent national convention of the Galaxie Club of America. There were probably over 50 Galaxies on display, and you'd better believe this one was a standout. We took a photographic tour of this engine to show what separates a good engine compartment from a great one.

There's nothing sweeter than a super-clean highly-detailed Ford engine. Basic cleanliness, correct paint finishes like semi-gloss black paint, and the correct shade of blue engine paint are a good start. But there's usually a lot of room for improvement from there.

Engine stickers help recreate the OEM look. Most of us are up to speed on that, but we see a lot of cars that have old stickers that are peeling, stained, scratched or lifting at the edges. Stickers need replacing when they get to that point.

Here's where lots of points get deducted Ð the battery. How many things can you pick out that are right with this one? Start with the hold down. It's frequently missing. If a car has one, it is often plagued with one ore more of these problems: bent or damaged components, peeling paint, rusty shaft(s), incorrect hardware, missing washers. This is what the hold down should look like. Most of 'em don't, so this is your opportunity to score some points the other guys will miss. Also correct are the battery type, and cables. Note that the cable terminals are spotless, and the shroud is in place on the positive cable. The top is free of dust and water stains, too.

Air conditioned cars have a bit more hardware to restore. One item that's commonly overlooked is the tar wrap. It insulates the expansion valve from outside heat and is critical to the system's operation. The tar wrap is often missing or very deteriorated. A fresh wrap, available from auto parts stores or dealerships, also adds a lot to the overall engine compartment appearance.

Complete article now available in issue #6 of Legendary Ford Magazine

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