Do I need hi temp paint for my air cleaner?

[jlampka]

I have a 1972 GMC Longhorn with 402ci big block recently purchased. The air cleaner housing and cover could use a fresh coat of paint to spruce up the engine bay. Am I better off with high temp paint? Just checking so I don't have to paint twice. Thanks for any input

[bill3rail]

Nope.

[bill3rail]

I actually painted mine with Rustolium dark grey textured paint and it looks pretty good.

Bill

[Terrysch]

You don't need high temp paint for the air cleaner.

But highly recommend that you use an engine paint.
Engine paints are formulated to be more resilient in the engine compartment including being resistance to gas, oil and chemicals.

I actually just researched, because I am putting an OEM/original air cleaner back on my 1972 GMC Jimmy. I had a cheap aftermarket chrome one that is rusting. Bought an original one and just had it blasted.

Under the engine paint I will be using a high zinc primer for corrosion resistance.

I am new to the forum, but I am a mechanical engineer who worked for John Deere, Mercury Marine and Tracker boats. I worked closely with paint engineers. Our own plus those at suppliers.

Terry

[rjs53]

I use vht roll bar and chassis paint. Its semi gloss, but it's durable.

[70 shorty]

No. I used Krylon Gloss black on my valve covers on my Corvette, not high temp, and it has held up perfectly for more than 10 years.

[jlampka]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, saves time! Love this site!

[Coalkracker]

You can use plain old rustoleum, no engine paint needed. My father did his air cleaner on his 70 impala 22 years ago and still looks new.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Terrysch

You don't need high temp paint for the air cleaner.

But highly recommend that you use an engine paint.
Engine paints are formulated to be more resilient in the engine compartment including being resistance to gas, oil and chemicals.

I actually just researched, because I am putting an OEM/original air cleaner back on my 1972 GMC Jimmy. I had a cheap aftermarket chrome one that is rusting. Bought an original one and just had it blasted.

Under the engine paint I will be using a high zinc primer for corrosion resistance.

I am new to the forum, but I am a mechanical engineer who worked for John Deere, Mercury Marine and Tracker boats. I worked closely with paint engineers. Our own plus those at suppliers.

Terry

Looking forward to seeing a picture of that finished air cleaner Welcome to the site.

[Sloonz]

I used VHT engine matte black. The finish is more like satin and looks factory.

[Terrysch]

Sloonz,
Where did you buy the VHT engine black matte/
Thanks,
Terry

[Sloonz]

Autozone...but O'Reilly or Napa should carry it too.

Originally Posted by Terrysch

Sloonz,
Where did you buy the VHT engine black matte/
Thanks,
Terry

[May70]

Just a FYI but I used dupli color engine enamel from advance auto on my valve cover, intake and exhaust manifolds. I was told that 292 runs really hot... burned off on the exhaust manifold within a day or two but the rest seems unphased. I used the chevy orange and the clear. Looks pretty good for spray bomb.

[bill3rail]

Originally Posted by May70

Just a FYI but I used dupli color engine enamel from advance auto on my valve cover, intake and exhaust manifolds. I was told that 292 runs really hot... burned off on the exhaust manifold within a day or two but the rest seems unphased. I used the chevy orange and the clear. Looks pretty good for spray bomb.

I do not think any paint will survive on an exhaust manifold.

[Coalkracker]

Originally Posted by May70

Just a FYI but I used dupli color engine enamel from advance auto on my valve cover, intake and exhaust manifolds. I was told that 292 runs really hot... burned off on the exhaust manifold within a day or two but the rest seems unphased. I used the chevy orange and the clear. Looks pretty good for spray bomb.

Engine paint is not meant for exhaust manifolds or headers. Usually it can only take about 500 degrees before its cooked.


Any decent enamel should work fine for you. If you go with VHT dont use their epoxy paint line. It is not a true epoxy paint and has zero resistance to some chemicals and is not very durable.

[outfield]

I used NAPA chassis black paint on my air cleaner and inner fenders, its a nice satin black.

[Terrysch]

Because of sloonz post I checked out the VHT engine paint.

I went to Oreilleys and Autozone.
I ended up buying the GM black satin engine paint at Autozone.
Oreilleys had VHT, but not the GM satin black.

It was $8.99 a spray can.
Engine paint so will resist oil, gas chemicals. Plus heat resistant.

This what I will now use.

Will also use it for original valve covers I am putting on Jimmy. Currently has some cheap chrome covers that are rusting. Poor chrome job, and they are Edelbrock! Going black, not the Chevrolet orange since it is a GMC.

Returning other black gloss engine paint I had already purchased.

This is not just a satin, but specifically the black satin that is the GM black for the engine area.

I really liked the idea that was posted in the thread of repainting it with the original black satin so I revisited the gloss black I had already purchased

Thanks everyone!!! The forum comes through again for me.
I love the forum. So glad I joined it a month ago.

Terry

[Sloonz]

Terry, I originally painted my air cleaner with the satin and it was a little to glossy for me so that's why I ended up using the matte. Let us know how it turns out!

Originally Posted by Terrysch

Because of sloonz post I checked out the VHT engine paint.

I went to Oreilleys and Autozone.
I ended up buying the GM black satin engine paint at Autozone.
Oreilleys had VHT, but not the GM satin black.

It was $8.99 a spray can.
Engine paint so will resist oil, gas chemicals. Plus heat resistant.

This what I will now use.

Will also use it for original valve covers I am putting on Jimmy. Currently has some cheap chrome covers that are rusting. Poor chrome job, and they are Edelbrock! Going black, not the Chevrolet orange since it is a GMC.

Returning other black gloss engine paint I had already purchased.

This is not just a satin, but specifically the black satin that is the GM black for the engine area.

I really liked the idea that was posted in the thread of repainting it with the original black satin so I revisited the gloss black I had already purchased

Thanks everyone!!! The forum comes through again for me.
I love the forum. So glad I joined it a month ago.

Terry