I own a totally bone stock GT5S complete with Kirk Evans breather box. I want to see pictures of engine bays or get some ideas on mine. Leave it stock and detail it nice, or what would you do? Would love to see what some engines look like!
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Mike you have a very rare car. I have a 74L but a 5S has always been my dream. Whatever you do I wouldn't change anything that can't be altered back without difficulty like altering the coating etc on your inner fenders. All parts removed I would clean, bag, and label for safe keeping. With that being said I am often a "Day 2" type of mod guy that likes some period correct personlization. Your block and ZF look clean I think a simple addition would be polished Detomaso valve covers, to add some shine. Polished coolant tanks would also brighten things. Your intake manifold and its hardware could use a good detailing. It could be switched out for a polished one, but a good cleaning leaving it natural might suffice for you. Polishing or cleaning the fins on the Detomaso air cleaner label will make a difference too, as would the ones on the valve covers. What you have is beautiful, a little elbow grease and an SOS pad may make a world of difference for you. That air cleaner assembly is so cool. Good luck!
...My Idea of a 'AirBox'.
Very nice guys, keep them coming. The bed liner material is such a good idea. I am curious what one would use to take off the factory undercoating from the inside of engine bay. I may like to leave it uncoated and painted like the red car in photo.
Mike
Do a search on this forum for the numerous different approaches on how to remove the factory engine bay coating. Basically you are talking about heat, putty knives, solvent, rags, scotch bright pads, and MANY more hours than you want to think it will take
Larry
The 9000 VIN series Embo coaches are much more industrial looking with square edge inner fenders rather than stamped form. I chose to leave my GT5 black as I don't think the paint option would come out well on the square edge Embo panels. If your GT5S is bone stock I would leave it that way, or at most use the black bed liner approach if you want to clean it up a little. Bone stock GT5S cars are a handful, so be prepared to detract some value as soon as you start modifying it.
I think you could clean it up, fill some holes, and maybe do some bedliner, but you should keep that engine at least looking like it’s factory.
Take that airbox off and clean it up, maybe repaint with wrinkle finish or something that matches what you have now.
Don’t get too crazy, it’s a unique, one-of-a-kind vehicle. There’s only a small number of Amerisports, and probably only one or two still running that air box.
Rocky
Mike, if I were you, I would keep it stock. Detail it if you like, but I wouldn’t change anything on it. I have a 5s as well and mine is as is when I bought it. They didn’t make a lot of these as you well know. If you do change anything keep all of the original parts. Best of luck with your decision.
Thanks for the comments and pictures. I will keep it stock. I want it to be the most complete example left. Wish me luck. I will post pictures as it progresses!
Mike
Leave it stock and detail it nice .
My 2 c
Simon
@lf-tp2511 posted:
MARLIN -
what is this device mounted on your decklid?
Larry
...'Rear-View' CCTV Camera.
MJ
For those of that own a GT5S, what is the original engine block color? Mine is black! Please chime in and let me know!
thanks Mike
Remember what you have is a Kirk Evans GT5S. Kirk installed the engines and ZF after the rolling bodies were imported.
you need to remember that distinction when trying to determine what is correct for your car
Larry
Depends if it's a 351 Cleveland or Windsor.
Have them black, Darkbleu (Australian CL) , but from what I believe German dealers has install red engines.
Simon
You could install a pair of 351-HO or Boss-351 aluminum rocker covers in place of the steel ones. Our Pantera came with them plus a date-stamped Boss/HO baffled oil pan but not the HO heads. They were included on those optional engines from Ford and are finned black wrinkle finished with no cast logos. Only a 1" flat area in the center for very small Ford steel spark plug wire separators. All this might even be 'stock' if ordered from DeTomaso back in the '80s! Not sure what was stock on an Amerisport GT5-S. Peter, how many did Kirk build?
