Painting the Engine Compartment

[CaCuda]

Hello, currently the engine, radiator and transmission are out of car as we are going to repaint. My question is as follows: Would it be better to just have the engine compartment painted first, install Engine/Radiator/Trans and get the car running then take to have the rest of car painted? This way we would not damage the outside paint while getting the car running. Probably a stupid question but your help would be appreciated.

[73Chally]

That's the same route I took starting a couple years ago.  I swapped in a 440 and 4 speed, and while the engine bay was empty had that painted.  The motor and everything was done for about a year before I took the car back in and had the body work and paint done.  There really is no correct way to do it (any way is good as long as the end result is what you want), but the nice thing about doing it this way is it spreads out the cost.

[CaCuda]

73Chally, thanks for this. Good point about spreading the cost.