Painting an engine block

[1967_Joe]

Just had my block cleaned and I plan on painting it. Any advice on prep that should take place before paint?

 

[Pistol Pete]

Wax and grease remover. I've been using the waterborne stuff lately and it works quite well.

http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/Product%20lines.htm

http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/Product Info/waterborne Wax & Grease remover.htm

 

[coloradodave]

Wipe down with laquer thinner, tape off anything you don't want to paint, put on a facemask to protect your lungs and have at it with 2 cans of either VHT Engine enamel or Rustoleum Engine enamel. Any parts store or even box store on the Rustoleum. Use a heat lamp to warm the block first if it's cold outside. And, don't paint if it's raining outside...

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I'll be doing my 383 in a couple of weeks, after a good de greasing I hit the whole block with brake cleaner then assemble most everything that I want painted in this case all of it will be hemi orange except brackets and some bolts, I will prime the block first to make sure the orange sticks good with some Rustoleum and if it's cold use a heat lamp. good luck post some engine **** pics during and after

 

[moparmarks]

Like stated above.
Nice clean motor.
Paint at around 70*
Primer will make for a longer lasting job.
VHT is my 1st choice.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Like stated above.
Nice clean motor.
Paint at around 70*
Primer will make for a longer lasting job.
VHT is my 1st choice.

moparmarks,

In your first engine pic, looks like you painted aluminum heads. I plan to do the same thing. Did you have to do any extra prep for the aluminum? Scuff 'em up? Etching primer? ?? ??

 

[moparmarks]

moparmarks,

In your first engine pic, looks like you painted aluminum heads. I plan to do the same thing. Did you have to do any extra prep for the aluminum? Scuff 'em up? Etching primer? ?? ??

Yes I did. No extra prep. I do use motor primer. I have not tried etching primer on the block and heads yet. Have on the backets with good results.
Also notice that the motor in the first pic is Chevy orange compaired to the others that are Street Hemi Orange

 

[fatecaptured]

I was told by restoration shop to not use mopar paints, their colors are off. Hemi orange is like a pumpkin color. I was told to use Plastikoat's chrysler orange engine enamel. It's the closest to the original street hemi orange and I've used it for my last 440 and going to use it for then next. Here's the link:http://www.plastikote.com/products/Specialty/Engine-Enamel.html

 

[moparmarks]

Plastikoat is my 2nd choice. Them and VHT are more correct than the Moapr paint. The problem with the Mopar paint is that it is junk. I bought a case of it and threw out most of it. Tip is always clogging up even after I took it to the paint store and had them put it on their shaker machine.
Hemi Orange is more milky than Chevy or Air Grabber Orange.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I just painted my 390 with VHT, and after a good degreasing I treated the bare iron with POR metal ready. The paint seemed to adhere just fine so we'll see what happens. On the 440 in my 66 Bel I used the POR 15 paint and it seems to be holding up. I plan to use POR 15 on my 426W.

 

[mosquito13]

I just painted my 390 with VHT, and after a good degreasing I treated the bare iron with POR metal ready. The paint seemed to adhere just fine so we'll see what happens. On the 440 in my 66 Bel I used the POR 15 paint and it seems to be holding up. I plan to use POR 15 on my 426W.

i second the por 15 paint. best stuff i have ever used. don't know on the color match to street as i used mopar on my 440(when you get 5 cans free...) have used the por15 gloss black on my john player norton and several other motorcycle frames. after cured stuff is super tough. their hi temp is great stuff too.

 

[shag766]

i have used por 15 a couple of times on delivery trucks after extending the frames and it hangs on good. we have salt and sand up here to deal with.

 

[696969]

Like stated above.
Nice clean motor.
Paint at around 70*
Primer will make for a longer lasting job.
VHT is my 1st choice.

Good reference photos of what to and what not to paint. I'm gonna paint soon too.

 

[moparmarks]

I've never used POR-15 on a motor. Have on chassis and drivetrain parts. I'll didn't think POR-15 worked well on clean bare metal. Thought it needed rust. Do they make it in Hemi Orange?

 

[ga66mopar]

The problem with all spray can paints is they don't have a hardener. Without any hardener the paint would remain flexible and peal off at some point. When I decide on a shade of color by using spray cans I take a sample down to my paint store. They index the color then mix up a small can of paint. After cleaning the block with brake cleaner I spray it with single stage enamel which includes a catalyst using a gravity feed spray gun. I have suspicions the factory did it this way. With a hardener the paint is much more durable. The paint doesn't run off if gas drops on it.

 

[MoparMitch]

The problem with all spray can paints is they don't have a hardener. Without any hardener the paint would remain flexible and peal off at some point. When I decide on a shade of color by using spray cans I take a sample down to my paint store. They index the color then mix up a small can of paint. After cleaning the block with brake cleaner I spray it with single stage enamel which includes a catalyst using a gravity feed spray gun. I have suspicions the factory did it this way. With a hardener the paint is much more durable. The paint doesn't run off if gas drops on it.

X2 Thats exactly what I did. I did spray a light coat of primer first though. My local Carquest Parts Store matched my sample and I used Nassin single stage urathane. Hasn't even started to discolor yet , even by the stock manifold heat crossover.

 

[fatecaptured]

Here's the pastikote chrysler orange color:
That's three coats from the spray bomb can.

 

[Malicious]

I'm going to use KBS Coatings MotorCoater, brush on or spray. Its basically a similar product to POR15 but doesn't need rust to have good adhesion.

If your going to go this way, make sure you grab the Aqua clean and Rust Blaster. Aqua Clean is the BEST cleaner I've come across, makes dirty old ali look like new etc. I only ever use it 1:1 preferably with warm water, soak it scrub it soak it, but man it's good! Also the rust blaster works like an etcher, so they say, to give you good adhesion on already painted and smooth surfaces.

I'm also using the Rust Seal (POR15 equivalent I guess) to paint the floors and under carriage.

Forgot the link:
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/engine-paint.html