The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rattlecan paint for engine

I have never painted so as I am putting my 216 engine back together I am using Rust-o-leum engine primer and engine enamel. Am I going to regret this later. It didn't seem like a bad idea when I started but after spending so much time getting 60 years of grime and rust off of engine parts I hate to think it has all been for nothing. What should I be using?

VHT paint is high temperature paint for the engine compartment.

As long have you have cleaned and degreased the parts that you plan to paint well, I don't think you'll be disappointed with any brand of "engine" paint. You don't actually need primer anyway to duplicate the factory look. The factory did not waste the money on primer. Joe

If the paint you use recommends primer you should use the suggested primer.

I used Duplicolor engine paint (and primer) from NAPA on my engine, turned out very nice.
Most of the work was in the prep, stripping all the old paint and scrubbing every last inch with a brush and lacquer thinner.
Here's a picture of the stripped block
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2387721890080251109siGDXz
Here are a few in progress and completed.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2987531930080251109rscvBI
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2139348100080251109hatrCb
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2205440580080251109TNUrGL

In the past I tried just steam cleaning and scrubbing the old paint really good, and painting over it. That worked well for a while, but eventually the old paint started to come off in places, with the new too. From now on I'll completely strip an engine before painting.

Grigg

I used por15s engine paint kit, comes with everything you need including industrial degreaser that work better than my farm implement degreaser. Ive used por15 for some quad frames before and the stuff is still going strong and looking great. Grigg is right tho, I would completely strip it down with thinner so you would have the best adhesion. Pic of my painted engine back in the frame. Painted Engine..

Thanks for the advice. Most of the parts I'm working on are so rusted that I'm taking them down to bare metal and the engine block I took to the machine shop where they vatted and tested it. I asked them not to paint it since they usually use a blue so they left it bare. The good thing I do like about the primer is that since most of these parts are pretty rusted there is a lot of pitting and the primer does a good job of smoothing out the small stuff

Could someone powder coat a valve cover without problems down the line?

Of course. It would look great and hold up very well.

Only issue may be matching paint to powdercoat if you intended for them to be the same color.

Grigg