Spray painting hood underside?

[ThatOneBlue67]

Hi again!

First, I think I'll explain myself. I plan on replacing my hood as it seems to have a cink right in the center "spine". I think it would be worth my time to just buy a new one. Until then though, I'm stuck with it and I am attending a local car show in the next couple of weeks.

My engine bay looks fairly clean, but the underside of the hood is all geasy and not a solid color. What should I use to clean the grease off? I've only tried engine degreaser, but it does not seem to work well. How should I prepare something for paint that has become this greasy over a 40 year period? I plan on using HI-Temp black spray paint. UNless you think the "regular" semi-gloss stuff will be ok. I would prefer some sort of gloss to the surface, but not if it melts.

[short69]

is it like surface oil or that nasty caked-on crap? if you took the hood off and scrubbed it good with a brillo pad it should work good depending on how severe it is. you'll probly wanna use a coat or two of primer also. good luck!

[ThatOneBlue67]

Surface oil, no caked on stuff, thankfully! One less puddy knife to deal with. But do ya suppose it needs to be High Temp paint or can it be plain jane semi gloss?

[RACINJASON22]

What short69 said and then a good wipe down with wax and grease remover before the primer or paint. Thats what I was thinking.

[DESTRO]

Originally Posted by ThatOneBlue67

Surface oil, no caked on stuff, thankfully! One less puddy knife to deal with. But do ya suppose it needs to be High Temp paint or can it be plain jane semi gloss?

No need for Hi-temp paint, regular will do just fine. The factory used reg paint.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

regular rattle can paint will be fine for that and if you can use a pressure washer it might help a bit to then use a degreaser before painting and scuff it good then prime and paint for best results

goodluck with it, and you owe us some pics when youre done

[ThatOneBlue67]

Will do, thanks guys!

[DUD2STUD]

Take the hood of and spray some oven cleaner on it. Oven cleaner will take every thing off!!!!

[pimperout]

brake cleaner works pretty good with oil and what i dunno what it will do to paint tho i used to clean oil out from behind my dash wen my oil guage was leakin

[TONE]

Yes, brake cleaner works alot better than engine degreaser. Then oven cleaner for the knock out punch. As stated, regular paint will do fine under the hood.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

brake cleaner is my best friend, just dont get the oven cleaner on the outside of the hood otherwise itll take that paint off to

[DangerBoy]

I used a can of gloss back Rustoleum on mine. Holds up quite nicely.

[bryanw1968]

Originally Posted by GREASEMONKEY72

brake cleaner is my best friend, just dont get the oven cleaner on the outside of the hood otherwise itll take that paint off to

So I've never used oven cleaner before at least on a truck. How do you apply it? Do you have to scrub on it or just wipe off the gew when it's done?

[rust!!whatrust?]

Scrubbing will be necesary at some point. Chemical cleaning alone will break down the grease but not make it go away. I'd do what these guys are saying then I would wash it with regular water and dish washing liguid with a spounge. Then wipe it with wax and grease remover just pryor to painting. Wax and grease remover isn't really very cheap. Lacquer thin works too and is much less costly. If your using a spray can understand that it is difficult to make a large open surface to look good whe using gloss paints.

[70c10]

Originally Posted by rust!!whatrust?

If your using a spray can understand that it is difficult to make a large open surface to look good whe using gloss paints.

I agree!. I would use the plastic handle you snap on the can and make nice long passes.

[Yeller68]

I just did mine a couple of weeks ago. It had been pressure washed last time the engine was out, so it wasn't too dirty. Just did a little sanding, primered, then painted with Rustoleum High Performance Enamel, gloss black. I did take it off the truck, mainly just so I wouldn't worry about overspray. I'm very pleased with how it came out.

[Richard H.]

Originally Posted by Yeller68

I just did mine a couple of weeks ago. It had been pressure washed last time the engine was out, so it wasn't too dirty. Just did a little sanding, primered, then painted with Rustoleum High Performance Enamel, gloss black. I did take it off the truck, mainly just so I wouldn't worry about overspray. I'm very pleased with how it came out.

All of that is nice ! Very clean

[mrein3]

I treated the underside of my hood like I treated the top side.
I removed all the paint. I covered it with PPG epoxy primer. Then I did something a little different. I had a quart of black left over from another car. I sprayed the backside of the sheetmetal with the black. Then I masked that off and sprayed the supports body color. Sorry about the dark picture. This is all I have on this computer.

You probably don't want to do this to your current hood but you may want to consider it for the replacement - especially since you'll have it off the truck and could easily do something like this.

[tiggerstoy]

allso....a little trick with rattle cans, just before you are ready to spray, set the can in a sink off hot water for 10-15 minutes, it will help the paint flow out beter, and you get a more even coat.

[stllookn]

To take the dent out of the center spine on a '67 or '68 use a 1x4 about 2-4" longer than the distance between the carb and the hood. Remove air cleaner, center bolt and cover carb with another piece of 3/4" plywood. Close the hood while adjusting the 1x4 on edge under the dent. Use enough pressure to push the dent out...go slowly to judge how much pressure to use. It take quite a bit but take it in steps. I have never over-bent a hood in this fashion. I have had to do this to at least 4 or 5 trucks where someone either walked or sat on the hood and dented the center spline.

[19673ontree]

yeller 68 your truck is too clean , I don't like you ! (LOL)
nice looking truck ,

[ThatOneBlue67]

Hey, thanks for the tip on the dent removal! That sounds like a pretty good plan (I just hope I don't scratch the shiny Edelbrock!)

Oven cleaner or brake cleaner? Cool cool.

[oj70chevy]

Originally Posted by 19673ontree

yeller 68 your truck is too clean , I don't like you ! (LOL)
nice looking truck ,