A Conundrum with my Biscayne -- Opinions solicited

[camarojoe]

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.

[mockingbird812]

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.

[SS427]

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

[markjohnson]

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.

[Casey Marks]

[ 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. Unfortunately, there are a LOT of missed shifts on that video, so it is kinda embarrassing to look at.

[txracer70]

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.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

leave it alone, I think it looks fine

[ZAPPER68]

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.

[PeteLeathersac]

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

[budnate]

1 more vote for leave it as is...I like looking at untouched cars way more these days then done cars...