advice on engine paint

[Mike70gtx]

Going to be getting motor back. Any advice on painting the motor itself. Color, type of paint, etc. I need to do under the hood too. Do I just use the same stuff?
Thanks,

 

[kh440]

As far as the engine, I've always used plast-kote engine enamel from the can. The rest of the underhood I'm not sure, but Eastwood makes several different types of "chassis black" (a semi-gloss).

 

[49-blues]

I gonna use por-15 engine paint but you need a totally paint free block to start with for the metal prepper-comes out looking like epoxy.

 

[Mike70gtx]

Can you get plast-kote anywhere?
My block has been totally cleaned, I probalby could do the por 15.
What color does the por15 come out like. Do you go over it with a black?

 

[kh440]

The plasti-kote should be available at most of the parts houses (carquest/napa/etc) runs on average 5-6 dollars per can, 2 cans should be more than enough to paint the engine and heads (probably want to use several light coats on it)

 

[Red Regal T]

You can use any aerosol can spray paint you want. $2. stuff works fine. The engine doesn't get hot enough to affect it. Another thing about TRs is you can see very little of the motor. I just paint the short block semi flat black and the heads dull aluminum and forget about it.

 

[zam70]

Like Red Regal T said - any paint will work BUT - clean clean clean.
I like to use brake cleaner (tons of it) clean the engine even if you think it's clean...then clean it again. Paint won't stick unless it is completely grease/oil/contaminate free.

If you won't lick it, don't paint it! (then clean it after you lick it!)

 

[Mike70gtx]

Thanks for the advice. Even though the block has been stripped, I'm sure there is some oil and unseen stuff from the rebuild.
I've had plenty of time to get everything else ready. They told me the guy building my motor was retired. In June it will be ONE YEAR. He really was retired. My 84 has kept me busy in the mean time. I was going to put it in on my Christmas vacation. It looks like I still can!!

 

[49-blues]

POR 15 engine paint comes in a variety of colors, black and silver just two of them.

 

[turbo6x2]

The only thing about the POR15 is it will dull in direct sunlight unless you use a top coat that they make. I mean really dull. You might be better off using the paint as mentioned above since the motor itself doesn't get hot. We use vht flat black just because we light the look and you can get it in varying degrees.

 

[49-blues]

How much direct sunlight is underyour hood? I ve had it on my engine for over 3 years and it still looks like high gloss black epoxy.

 

[turbo6x2]

I'm just saying that paint is uv sensitive and the color changes a lot. Unless you use the top coat from POR. It doesn't take much sun to discolor this. I was just pointing this out to anyone wanting to use the POR 15.

 

[Kent C]

I painted the small block in my Camaro with Automotive single stage paint, if your block is really clean then just epoxy prime it and paint with any good single stage. I have a buddy who used Base clear but the clear tends to yellow in high heat areas. I painted my motor 5 years ago and it still looks great. IMO anything out of a spray bomb is garbage the paint is way to thin and doesn't give the adhesion or the protection that a real Automotive paint will give.