Engine painting

[GeorgeHurst]

Hello,

I have been reading up a lot on engine paint this week and have ended up in a massive confusion...

The standard approach would appear to be engine enamel (Halfrauds), VHT paint or for the pro / show car: epoxy primer, followed by 2pack colour and then a laquer.

I want to paint the block in black and the head in white, but am finding it difficult to find a white engine enamel. There are white VHT paints, but these require curing at high temperature. 2 pack is out of budget and currently not feasible.

I wonder how others have painted their engines and with what paints.

It would appear that if the engine is cleaned / degreased properly, then painted with epoxy primer, any top coat will hold on it. So I was thinking of using epoxy primer followed by white Hammerite for the head, and epoxy followed by black Hammerite for the block. The exhaust manifold will be painted in VHT paint, and cured by running the engine for a while, as this seems to be the only way.

Any thoughts on that proposed strategy?

Cheers
George

[jonathon]

These folk should have what you want US stuff but shipping would be cheapish

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/engine.html

http://www.frost.co.uk/result_search.as ... 4wodpQxw1g

[GeorgeHurst]

Thanks Jonathon, I read up on Dupli-Color a couple of days ago - looks really good - their UK distributor is Ronseal, but obviously they only sell wood preservers. I'm having a look on ebay (usa) though and there's a few that will ship to the UK. Trying to avoid shelling out on 2x £19 of POR-15 engine enamel, even though it is apparently the dogs

Would you reccomend an epoxy primer first, or just crack straight on with engine enamel? (will hopefully be using Dupli-Color if ebay.com comes up trumps)

[jonathon]

I'd go straight on with enamel, if the motor has been thoroughly cleaned and de greased. We normally spray with 2K, when we would use a primer layer underneath. If you use a 'solid colour' there is no need for laquer. You can brush paint 2K paint so don't discount this route too soon

[GeorgeHurst]

Cheers Jonathon, might check out the prices of 2k to see about going down that route. Might make sense to buy some epoxy primer for painting suspension parts etc, so might work out cheaper in the long run.

[GeorgeHurst]

Just got an estimate from a powder coater my Dad uses, to blast, etch and powder coat the LCB manifold... any thoughts on the longevity of powder coating versus an aerosol vht paint?

[GeorgeHurst]

oh, and for reference, he reckoned £20 which seemed pretty reasonable...

[jonathon]

Not too sure if powder coating is a good idea on an LCB. I'd stick to VHT paint or ceramic coating if you have deep pockets. (Might be wasted on a Minor though)

[GeorgeHurst]

haha The LCB will be brand new, would that make any difference to the longevity (i.e. no pockets of rust)?

[jonathon]

I'd be suprised if the powder coating will cope with the temperatures generated in the LCB, Mind, you can stainless LCB's which should be fine anyway. Just get your Solvol Autosol out and get polishing !, should turn a nice blue to straw colour.

[GeorgeHurst]

OK cool, thanks Jonathon. I think the one I will be buying will be stainless so could well just polish it... but if not will go VHT instead of powder coating.

FYI Got a response back from some American sellers of Dupli-Color and none will ship aerosols to the UK, they may do brushable stuff, but shipping charges for most things seem to be upwards of $50 making any saving redundant anyway

[minor_hickup]

Why not just use hemerite? If there's one thing its good for is painting engines. It usually adheres really well as long as you get the block really clean. Just don't use a primer coat before hand.

[GeorgeHurst]

Really? I was under the impression that it might not withstand the high temperatures... have you had success using it on an engine?

[GeorgeHurst]

For those that might be interested:
I have contacted Dupli-Color paint in the US and their paint is supplied in the UK by Holts. Having looked at the Holts website the engine enamel that they sell is Simoniz Engine Enamel, so one must assume that this paint it the UK equivalent of the US Dupli-Color

[RobThomas]

Engine never gets about about 120 degrees centigrade (otherwise your rad water would've bolied away by now) so Hammerite works quite well with the exception of the flat area where the exhaust manifold bolts down. Usually starts to lift on that edge so I'd leave that bit either bare or black VHT. You can bake VHT on an exhaust manifold by cooking the manifold (after dishwashing it) in the oven to a low heat, spraying it when it is warm enough to cook but not enough to vapourise the paint thinners on touching (goes all bobbly rather than smooth finish, otherwise) and playing a blowtorch down the bores after a while.[frame][/frame]

[GeorgeHurst]

Cheers Rob, thats good to know... have some black hammerite so will do the block in that and then do the head in VHT white.