What paint should I use for my engine?

[Auroch]

Hello again,

so I'm getting ready to paint the engine now, a 350 on a 1970 C10. Want to stick to chevy orange of course. I was looking at Rust-Oleum, PlastiKote or VHT. DO you guys have any experience with those, should I use something else? Just want to save me the headache of having to retouch over and over.

I'll be posting some progress pics on the engine soon.

Cheers!

[Jason Banks]

You are going to get all kinds of opinions in here. I think guys have had good luck with PlatiKote and VHT. I'm sure someone will chime in.

I used the Eastwood Ceramic Engine Paint
http://www.eastwood.com/ew-ceramic-e...hev-ornge.html



I used the same Eastwood Ceramic Engine Paint, but in black, on a smoker that sits outside and it has held up beautifully.

[Jason Banks]

I forgot to mention. You want the hardener with the Eastwood Paint - http://www.eastwood.com/ew-urethane-activator-8-oz.html

[Auroch]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

You are going to get all kinds of opinions in here. I think guys have had good luck with PlatiKote and VHT. I'm sure someone will chime in.

I used the Eastwood Ceramic Engine Paint
http://www.eastwood.com/ew-ceramic-e...hev-ornge.html



I used the same Eastwood Ceramic Engine Paint, but in black, on a smoker that sits outside and it has held up beautifully.

Dude, what a beauty. Looks pristine. I hadn't heard of that paint, thanks for the reco. Funny that you mentioned the smoker, I'm about to go pickup a raw 55 gallon drum to start building one this weekend.

[Shaky]

If you don't want to spray, you can brush-on with the POR-15 engine paint. Here's my experience with it:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=427839

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

That Eastwood looks great. Word is Plasti-kote is real good. See post 3 here. http://autobodystore.com/forum/showt...ine-paint-code

[psoucy]

Just did a boat motor with KBS Motor Coater and it came out like glass with a brush believe it or not. They have a cleaner degreaser and a rust seal that worked real well for me.

[demian5]

The paint is only as good as the prep. you can spend $$$$ on good paint and blow it with a grease spot you missed.

No brainer with cars but I learned about good prep for floor coating in my garage this way. My friend is a mason and said how many home depot floor coatings he pulled up to prep and put down good product. He asked if we could try the home depot stuff with a professional prep and would redo it if it didn't hold up (normally about 2-3 years he says). 10 years later, no chipping or peeling or bubbles!

I used VHT on my 64 impala SS OG 327. Stil holding up good. Pulled a valve cover the other day and paint didn't chip or flake off even when I cleaned with purple power.

[Jason Banks]

I forgot to mention. I did not use a regular sprayer on the engine. I used preval sprayers:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Preval-9-...-267/202533738

Several of them... Can't remember.... maybe 4

However, I also used a brush to finish it up. Because, the sprayers were messing up on me at the end. So, you could also brush the Eastwood paint on. Or use the sprayers on your valve covers and timing covers...anything you want to be really smooth.

Actually I used the preval sprayers on the frame and suspension in that photo. First with epoxy and then with the black paint.

The firewall was done with a Harbor Freight HVLP.

demian5 is absolutely correct. I had the engine on a stand and used degreaser and wire brushes. Then nylon bristle brush and then some rags and then about 5 cans of brake clean. I still had a couple places that were not clean enough, that I discovered when I started painting.

[The Junkman]

If you have a spray gun another option ,can have acrylic or urethane enamel mixed up in factory colors ,the paint stays nice for many years doing this method ,and easier to clean .

[BILT4ME]

I have used PlastiKote, Rustoleum as well as VHT.

PlastiKote by far. It gives a deeper smoother coat with fewewr runs than the Rustoleum. The Rustoleum sprays like water and runs easily and takes more coats to get what the PlastiKote does in one.

The VHT will work OK on the true high temp parts (Exhaust manifolds, etc.)

[red70]

I used Bill Hirsch Automotive paint and you can spray it with a HVLP gun right out of the can or thin it down with Xylene.

[towbar]

Just painted my engine Friday, used single stage urethane, over epoxy primer. One light tac coat, and one full wet coat of each to keep the mil thickness from building up.

Clean and degrease until your arm falls off.

I got my paint from Summit, hugger orange...surprisingly really close to Chevy orange, closer than I expected. Don't think any one will know the difference...well, except you guys of course.

[davepl]

Epoxy primer plus two stage paints plus clear. Still look wet 4 years later, which is the benefit of more expensive paints: