Question about painting an engine...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
Question about painting an engine...
Hello,
I have always painted my engines using "engine paint."
I want to paint my engine a color that is not available in "engine paint" and was wondering if anyone has had good luck using a regular automotive paint?
Would it work to use a single stage urethane to paint the engine? I would hate to go to all the prep and paint work only to have it flake/fade after installing the engine for this summer.
Thanks,
Jeff
I have always painted my engines using "engine paint."
I want to paint my engine a color that is not available in "engine paint" and was wondering if anyone has had good luck using a regular automotive paint?
Would it work to use a single stage urethane to paint the engine? I would hate to go to all the prep and paint work only to have it flake/fade after installing the engine for this summer.
Thanks,
Jeff
Last edited by 406shark; Feb 11, 2005 at 10:55 PM. Reason: fat fingers...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
I can't remember the details, but there is a way to use body paint on an engine and have it last. I don't recall if it was the paint, an additive, or a special clear. Keep looking there IS a way.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,665
Likes: 194
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Normally don't post anything I have not done or seen myself but I was contemplating painting mine a custom color and when I asked around the general consensus was that you could use ordinary automotive body paint because it is pretty tough in the first place and a motor really doesn't get all that hot, except maybe around the exhaust ports. One reply I got was that custom car builders have been doing it for years. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I just had mine painted with regular automotive paint. The guy told me he's been doing street rods for years. I was kind of surprised, but I guess it works. Now that it's in the car, I realize I can hardly see it 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
[QUOTE=Caboboy]I just had mine painted with regular automotive paint. The guy told me he's been doing street rods for years. I was kind of surprised, but I guess it works. Now that it's in the car, I realize I can hardly see it
Yes, but you know how much time you put into it and how well it came out. You should take pride in your work knowing that you did the job to the best of your ability and even though people won't be able to see your work, you know it's there. Some of it will be seen and even though it's hard to take credit for something that cannot be seen, just knowing that it's there and you took the time to do it properly should make you feel good about yourself. And if this engine isn't for you and/or it's for a customer, he/she should be happy that you took the time to do this. I think it is a job well done.
Yes, but you know how much time you put into it and how well it came out. You should take pride in your work knowing that you did the job to the best of your ability and even though people won't be able to see your work, you know it's there. Some of it will be seen and even though it's hard to take credit for something that cannot be seen, just knowing that it's there and you took the time to do it properly should make you feel good about yourself. And if this engine isn't for you and/or it's for a customer, he/she should be happy that you took the time to do this. I think it is a job well done.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
[QUOTE=85 500 horse]
Originally Posted by Caboboy
I just had mine painted with regular automotive paint. The guy told me he's been doing street rods for years. I was kind of surprised, but I guess it works. Now that it's in the car, I realize I can hardly see it
Yes, but you know how much time you put into it and how well it came out. You should take pride in your work knowing that you did the job to the best of your ability and even though people won't be able to see your work, you know it's there. Some of it will be seen and even though it's hard to take credit for something that cannot be seen, just knowing that it's there and you took the time to do it properly should make you feel good about yourself. And if this engine isn't for you and/or it's for a customer, he/she should be happy that you took the time to do this. I think it is a job well done.
Yes, but you know how much time you put into it and how well it came out. You should take pride in your work knowing that you did the job to the best of your ability and even though people won't be able to see your work, you know it's there. Some of it will be seen and even though it's hard to take credit for something that cannot be seen, just knowing that it's there and you took the time to do it properly should make you feel good about yourself. And if this engine isn't for you and/or it's for a customer, he/she should be happy that you took the time to do this. I think it is a job well done.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 286
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk VA
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
I used POR-15 paint on mine. I believe the color is called Titanium. This stuff is at least as tough as powdercoat if not more so. Excellent product!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by KyRP2NITe Corvette
Where did you get such cool paint??
www.por-15.com
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
regular automotive paint
I've done this before, painted a cherry red pontiac, painted our 283 V8 we installed with same cheap-o NASON paint. Just added twice the hardener to make it a littlemore resilliant. When the engine got dirty, you could just hose it off, and the glossy finish would let the grease, and grime come off. Cleaned up real nice. The paint was still in good shape 5 years later when I pulled the engine. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
I took my T-top into a commercial Sherwin-Williams place and had them paint match the color. They put it in aresol cans, metal flake, and pearl as well! It worked really well. I have had the motor painted for over a year now and it has held up perfectly to oil, heat and road grime.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
the key is to get the paint to last and look just as good years down the road, and to do that it takes prep. I've painted all my engines out of the car, took the motor down to bare metal, spray a nice self etching primer, then spray high temp enamel..looks great. I've also helped a friend spray his engine with primer sealer over enamel engine paint that was just scuffed really good, and then acrylic urethane color, and by a year it was chipping off bad.