Suggestions for engine bay paint
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: South-western Ontario
Suggestions for engine bay paint
As I start cleaning up the engine bay on the 'new' '75 project I'm wondering which black paint I should use. I'm leaning toward a black gloss versus flat black. Any suggestions for paint type/brand?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Gloss black paint in an engine bay looks "cheesy", IMO. Factory paint is nearest a semi-flat black. Semi-gloss black paint looks pretty close. Flat black is a NO-NO as it is impossible to keep clean. Krylon used to make a semi-flat black but recent feedback is that Krylon has gone to water-based paints and no longer makes it. If you have your own spray equipment, you can use gloss black and add a de-glosser to get the sheen you want.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Someone on the forum has a nice yellow spatter paint job over semigloss black that looks pretty good. Mine is Candy Brick red over black with a blue pearl top coat. What effect are you looking for?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: South-western Ontario
Thanks for the good suggestions. I'll try a semi-gloss on 1-2 areas of the engine bay withe a few different paint types then decide. Thanks for the help. This is one the great benefits of this forum.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: South-western Ontario
Looking for something decent (black) without too much sheen!. It sounds like the semi-gloss is the best bet for what I'm looking for. I want the engine bay to look like it was new but not all 'dolled up' and flashy as it's not going to be a show car, but a working man's pride and joy that will be driven and not bashfull to raise the hood to show off sometimes!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
I used Krylon Fusion for Plastics Satin Black, bought mine at Wally World. Painted 2+ years ago, so far no problems.
http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion_for_plastic/
http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion_for_plastic/
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Just did my engine compartment, windsheild frame and inside the nose area. I recommend SEM HR010 Hot Rod Black Kit. Catalyzed urethane, I think. Impervious to brake fluid, anti-freeze etc. Can't trust what comes from a rattle can.
www.semproducts.com
Anyway it is a satin look, not glossy. Went on well with an HVLP touch up gun.
Not good pictures to demonstrate the finish.
Blain
www.semproducts.com
Anyway it is a satin look, not glossy. Went on well with an HVLP touch up gun.
Not good pictures to demonstrate the finish.
Blain
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Don't mean to hi jack but curious how you all cleaned your engine bays for paint? I've got some serious cracking in the paint up on the firewall and, short of a wire brush and a lot of elbow grease I have no idea how to get it down to a paintable surface.
Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
This is what I use on all black parts, including the frame, and engine bay areas on the Vettes I've worked on. It always turns out great and looks original. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
I dont know in other locations, but the good old Krylon semi flat black is alive and well in New York, just with a revised can and spray nozzle, same formula, good covergae, dry in 10 minutes and still only $3.50.
If you want a really good satin black, then Spies-Hecker make a 2 part rally black, its relatively expensive ($60 a quart plus hardener) but it covers well and will not be affected by gas,brake fluid etc like the solvent based paint will.
Nick
If you want a really good satin black, then Spies-Hecker make a 2 part rally black, its relatively expensive ($60 a quart plus hardener) but it covers well and will not be affected by gas,brake fluid etc like the solvent based paint will.
Nick
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
Personally I don't like this look. It went out of style in the early 90's. IMO a nice semi-gloss or semi-flat is best unless you are going for a really show car oriented look, in which case body color base/clear with as much smoothing and decluttering as possible is the cleanest look.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
On this engine compartment I used rustoleum semi-gloos black for the metal parts and some sort of satin black (can't remember the brand) on the non-metal parts.
Last edited by mudbone64; Jul 31, 2008 at 02:13 PM.
