To Re-Finish or Not to Re-Finish?

[Bob Eyres]

To Re-Finish, or Not to Re-Finish, that is the question.

My '91 is far from "original". In fact I've got just about every bolt-on that has been offered in the last twenty years i've owned it. But nothing has been done that couldn't be returned to original. The LT5 has never been painted, polished, or even cleaned very often since new. And, like most LT5's in their original state, it looks pretty shabby in the "battleship gray" that the original finish has oxidized into.
Seeing as this engine is the focal point of the car, and it's reason for being, what do you do with what has turned into a gray lump instead of a source of pride.

1. Get it re-finished. The reasons:

- The most beautiful Corvette engine of all time should be saved from the crappy paint it was born with, originality be damned.

- You can have any color you want, even have it polished. Unleash your creativity.

- It's the focal point of the car. Make those C5, C6, owners green with envy.

- Be proud of your ZR-1, not ashamed of that crappy gray motor.

2. Or, Not Re-Finish. The reasons:

- Like the NCRS would say, "It's only original once". How many original mid- year Sting Ray owners years ago succumbed to the temptation of getting out the rattle cans to spruce up their engine compartment. Thereby losing the original factory finish, and some value, forever.

- Even if it doesn't look nearly as good. You can clean up the engine surface and restore the paint... somewhat.

- It costs time, and money to re-finish the motor. Why spend the cash and effort to do something that will actually lessen the future value of the car.

I'm sure there are as wide a range of attitudes on this as there are ZR-1 owners. And of course, any approach is valid.
It's your car and you can do anything you want with it. But why are you painting, powder coating, polishing, or leaving it "original"?