firewall dress up ideas

[TommyK215]

Good afternoon, all! hope your winters have been mild and/or natural disaster free...In NE Ohio, build season has begun! I am soliciting ideas for making the firewall look....well, not plain. I know powder coating is popular. I toyed with the idea of anodizing. Does anyone have a technique for the engine turned look?
thank you!

Tom

[Mike.Bray]

What if you took a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" aluminum, anodized it a color, and milled grooves with a ballnose endmill? You could then attach it to the standard firewall with acrylic adhesive, rivets, or screws.

A little hard to see but like the firewall on this car (https://public.fotki.com/LOUD-PEDAL/1932-fords/famous-1932-fords/75-years-of-the-32-ford-/lil-john-butteras-deuce-/75-years-of-the-32-19.html).

Or these valve covers.

https://www.imagecoast.com/images/MichaelBray1/build21.jpg

[MPTech]

I liked the turned look, but my second choice was brushed aluminum look. I thoroughly sanded all of my panels in the engine bay, 320, 400, then 800 wet/dry, then carefully brushed them with scotch-brite pads for a grain look. Clean them well with lacquer thinner, then coated them with Shark-hide. This is time consuming, but I like the look clean & simple.

I believe the forum Admin Polished his firewall, then added the turned look, but masked the stripes off. It looks AWESOME, but it was a LOT of work! But looks AMAZING!!!

[David Hodgkins]

I liked the turned look, but my second choice was brushed aluminum look. I thoroughly sanded all of my panels in the engine bay, 320, 400, then 800 wet/dry, then carefully brushed them with scotch-brite pads for a grain look. Clean them well with lacquer thinner, then coated them with Shark-hide. This is time consuming, but I like the look clean & simple.

I believe the forum Admin Polished his firewall, then added the turned look, but masked the stripes off. It looks AWESOME, but it was a LOT of work! But looks AMAZING!!!

Thanks for the Kudos!

I built a jig I used to engine turn the firewall, upper and lower fan shrouds, dash and cubby walls of my brothers' build:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=49174&d=1451252627

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=49189&d=1451252639

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=49190&d=1451252640

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=49194&d=1451252644

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=49199&d=1451252649

They are labor intensive to create, but I do love the look!

:)

[Ted G]

Sometimes, just a good polish works! This is the forward firewall from FF Metal which is pushed forward about 2" and much more noticeable.

197006

[John Ibele]

Silver Hammertone on this one. I eventually got a result I liked through the school of very hard knocks and a lot of rattle can paint. I'd just get it powder coated next time.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52208513197_f0f9b0f34a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2nxuh4g)
Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2nxuh4g) by John Ibele (https://www.flickr.com/photos/familycobra/), on Flickr

[DanQ]

I am also a fan of engine turning. I did this all in my garage with basic tools-a drill, some 2x4's and a sheet of old countertop. These are 1.5" diameter turns. After the firewall, dashboard, and door panels, my wife said "enough"!

197081197082197083197084197085

[MPTech]

After the firewall, dashboard, and door panels, my wife said "enough"!


Looks Great! I think firewall and dash/door panels are just enough! Nice touch

[TommyK215]

Wow! Thanks for the great ideas. Some beautiful work here!