Guys,
I've got a million posts going right now because I'm doing a ton of silly little things to my chevelle's 350 this winter. This is a mostly cosmetic question. My engine looks REAL bad right now. Look!
http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/dauber65/Orginal%20Motor/?action=view&current=100_0569.jpg
Now I'm pulling the motor shortly and I'll be putting on vortec heads, a GMPP intake with a chrome holley carb. Looks similar to this but diffrent heads.
http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/dauber65/?action=view&current=updated2.jpg
As you can tell nothing is too pretty. I want to dress up the front. My timing point has never matched the balancer I have (I think my balancer is a 12 o'clock and my pointer is a 2 o'clock). Do you think I should just get a new balancer and timing chain cover w/ pointer so they all match? Is there an issue on what pointer you have based on a short or longer water pump? (I'm not sure what I have yet). If I get a new timing chain cover can I get a new oil pan so I'd have the once piece timing chain cover? (I really have no idea what I'm talking about, but I was told I have a two piece cover that is prone to leaks?) I know I need a bigger air cleaner too. It is silly looking. Any tips would be appreciated before I buy things that don't go together.

You're right, that looks just plain awful.

You need to do some serious detailing. Fix the oil leaks, clean and paint, detail ALL wiring and hoses. Everything secured in it's place, running in straight lines, bundled together.

For the front of your engine, I REALLY like a fully degreed balancer with an adjustable needle pointer. I bought summit brand stuff, under $100 for both. Balancer is degreed 0-90, plus hash marks at 180 and 270. Makes checking and setting timing a breeze. While the heads are off, bolt something across #1 cylinder and find TDC to properly adjust the pointer. I used an L shaped peice of metal found in the "joist hanger" aisle at menards and a few bolts.

Here's some inspiration:
http://home.comcast.net/~Jimragtop2/engine-web.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~Jimragtop2/clean/car9.jpg]
http://home.comcast.net/~Jimragtop2/clean/car4.jpg

As Jim said,fix any oil leaks,then clean,paint & detail everything.Also,any aluminum parts,such as intakes & alternators,can be polished to look pretty good,although its quite time consuming.You can get a nice braided type wire cover from Jegs,hose cover from Tech Flex,brush on high heat paint for headers from Tremclad.Heres more inspiration for you.
Guy

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/GuysMonteSS/IMG_1199.jpg

Keep it "original" looking on the outside but beef it up AMAP on the inside! :cool:

You don't need to spend a bunch of money to make it look good, just some cleaning and paint. Here's mine:

http://www.insightatlast.com/chevelle/64_engine2.jpg

Alan, that looks great. Almost stock in appearance, but spotless and perfectly detailed. Note the "vanished wires". Wires of all kinds should definitely be heard but never seen.

Sorry 'bout the bad pics, I'd meant to do a before and after, but I seem to be slightly "ftp challenged" right now.

The PO of my car had hosed down everything (except the engine) with flat black spray paint. It was truly horrible beyond words, wiring and hoses were both a disaster and painted too! It took many many hours to redo.

You show offs! Just kidding. I doubt mine is going to looking that good anytime soon, but I'm going to start my quest. I will be certainly fixing the oil leaks because the motor is getting pulled and all the seals are getting replaced. I swear my motor has left an oil field the size of Iraq's in my garage. I like the idea of an adjustable timing pointer kit. You have no idea how long it too me to figure out the previous owner had a grab bag of balancers and pointers. I thought my balancer had spun that much. Do you think its worth buying new pumps for the front. I'd probily make out ahead time wise from attempting to clean these. Anyone know of good wire looms for vortec heads? (Center bolt pattern that will be going on).
Actually I just noticed the previous post looks like he has them bolted to the heads somehow? Interesting. Plus you've removed your wipers? That is where a bulk of my crazy wiring is going to. I need to keep them because it is one of a few working electronics on the car.

when i comes to detailing engines, all you need is some degreaser (good stuff- i like the Zep purple stuff at Home Depot), some Chevy orange and satin black spray paint new black heater, vacuum, and fuel hoses, and some junkyard convuluted tubing to hide the wiring.
paint the whole engine orange- block, heads, intake, valve covers, oil pan, tining cover, balancer- and paint all the accessory brackets black. clean up the alternator to get rid of all the crud and put it back on in bare aluminum. paint the PS pump black. i like to turn all the hose clamps so you see the "back side" of the clamp and the screw is hidden from view, and i clip off any excess length so there isn't a big band of stainless steel just kind of hanging there. it just looks a lit better like that.
i have some pics of the engines in my Nova and Monte in the link in my sig so you can see what i'm talking about.

Heres a picture of a real clean engine compartment I saw at the Atlantic Nationals last summer.
Guy
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/GuysMonteSS/IMG_0831.jpg

Actually my wire looms are for the non-centerbolt valve covers that are attached to my sanderson headers because their flange is wide enough to tap a hole for the looms. I do have the wiper motor mounted but since it is a single speed it is smaller than the 2 speed so it just doesn't show in the photo.