The problem there is that the tops of the exhaust ports will eventually burn the paint off and they will rust, exposing the poser-ness of painting the heads. Its sort of like stuffing a cucumber down your pants to impress the ladies and leaving your fly open.

 

True, but something is still bound to come out and bite ya. Cucumber or not. Performance is performance.
The Merlin cast heads were painted blue by Bill Mitchell. Regardless of what paint is on them the headers might burn the paint off and rust will occur. But I also have ceramic coated headers so that may not even occur. And touch up paint isn't difficult.
I think the alluminum paint looks better than the blue.
With 579+hp (crank hp), I don't think someone will ask if my heads are alluminum or not. However they may ask for a ride.

 

Here are a couple pics of the preperation of my 502

 

It's all wet looking like a professional body builder or wrestler.

 

it does have a nice shine to it. We'll see how it looks after a good break in.....

 

 

Mako, very nice. Love the paint. I remember seeing the pics of your tranny being painted, awsome color combos.

DB, I'm worried about ya.

 

(In my best Peter Graves voice) "Durango Boy, do you like movies about gladiators?" (from the movie Airplane, for you young 'uns).

 

I sanded my block and then used acid etching primer then epoxy primer and then automotive urethane

 

I redid mine a week ago!I decided to do something different and went with white.I like it better than I thought that I would.It has always been a clean motor so I went with it.
Nothing is loomed or routed yet.

 

Greetings!

NICE WORK to all that posted pics.
I think each and every one of you should
be pleased and proud of your work. Outstanding!


Regards,

Rudy

 

[QUOTE=68 NJConv 454;1561720535]I'm painting my Merlin block Chevy Orange instead of the Bill Mitchell blue. The heads are cast but I wanted them to look aluminum. I picked up a small can of POR-15 Engine Enamel Chevy Orange and POR-15 Engine Enamel Aluminum at Carlisle.

I used Laquer thinner to get as much of the blue paint off as I could using a rag. Stupid shop paper towels left peices stuck to the cast iron heads. Use a real rag.
Sprayed the areas with POR-15 Metal Ready (first step is taping everything off so you don't get drippage or damage any other parts)
Then used Paint Prep from Eastwood to clean the block.
Then painted the heads with a few coats. The paint was very thin and the blue and cast iron color came thru until maybe the 3rd time around. As the paint started to dry and get tacky I would hit it with another coat, this started to look better and the blue started to disappear.
Then I started painting the block with the Chevy Orange. Always work from top to bottom if using different colors incase drippage occurs.
The orange was just as thin and the blue came through.
I didn't get to apply a second coat b/c i was falling asleep with brush in hand. Will do so tonight.

Here are some pics.
Any recommendations?
Hard to see the blue in the pics b/c of the cameras flash. I promise you the orange looks dirtyish and the blue still comes through.
Btw, the valve covers in the newer pics are old spare ones I had, not the Merlin ones I will be using.

Before:







I might be interested in the intake manifold sitting on the floor in the picture?????
mobjack68

 

Here's mine :


Cleaned the block with solvent and wire wheels.
Painted it with 4 coats of bright red VHT paint