Make Engine Paint Stick

[Sharps40]

So, my new engine is 5000 miles down the road. Everything was cleaned and degreased and painted with VHT engine paint.

Carb cleaner removes it.

Oil removes it.

Water removes it.

Raising the hood removes it.

Air rushing by the motor removes it.

Looking at it makes it loose its gloss and then wear off.

The only place it won't come off is the intake manifold....nothing short of an atomic bomb can remove it from there.

So....do engines / tins get primed first? If so what kind of primer?

Or am I living in the misery zone of no paint is ever gonna stick and should just pop for a totally chromed block and tins. (which would look great with the black accents of hoses, belts and perhaps gaskets)