Engine Bay Aerosol Paint

[andy288]

I'm currently restoring a 1969 2 door saloon...my first attempt and all is going reasonably well.

Just preparing the engine bay for paint which I was hoping to complete myself using aerosol rattle cans...(tight budget)

Now as a total newbie to this, what paint type should I be getting, I see plenty on ebay etc but what do I go for to acheive reasonable results? What undercoat/primer do I need, how good should the prep be without going over the top and so on?

Any advice, tips, knowledge or whatever gratefully received as I'm sure many of you have done this before.

Oh, its Almond Green GN37.

Thank you.

[svenedin]

I am planing to do this as well in the near future so I will be interested in the replies.

The original paint is the same colour and type as the rest of the bodywork so I was planning to use rattle cans of cellulose paint having used an anti-rust primer (Isopon 182 which is a zinc paint). Care must be taken that the primer and top coat are compatible. In my car the problem is that it is Smoke Grey (light blue) and the aerosol cans of Smoke Grey sold by ESM are not a good match at all.

Stephen

[rocco]

I'm no expert on this but I have been reading and watching videos about painting cars. I recently painted the front valance on my car after rubbing down, zinc priming and then spraying black tekaloid paint from a rattle can. I am quite pleased with the result but it did take quite a few days to cure. It's what I intend to use on the engine bay until I either learn that it's a bad idea or find out something better.

[svenedin]

I'm no expert on this but I have been reading and watching videos about painting cars. I recently painted the front valance on my car after rubbing down, zinc priming and then spraying black tekaloid paint from a rattle can. I am quite pleased with the result but it did take quite a few days to cure. It's what I intend to use on the engine bay until I either learn that it's a bad idea or find out something better.

Yes. I have next to no experience of painting larger areas using rattle cans but quite a lot of experience painting smaller parts. Some important points to note are: you should never try to spray paint in cold conditions. The paint will not dry properly, the metal surface may be damp from condensation and the aerosol paint will splutter and clog. The surface, air and the can of paint must be warm enough.

Drying time and curing time are not the same. The paint may be dry to touch after leaving overnight but it will still be soft and very easily damaged.

The reason I am going to do the job on my engine bay is that I am going to take the engine out and it will go off to be professionally overhauled. I also intend to replace the wiring loom. This is the perfect opportunity to paint the engine bay and hopefully the British weather will still be warm enough to paint successfully.

I will strip the entire engine bay including every grommet. Blank the holes off with masking tape from the other side. Gunk cleaner and scrubbing brush, pressure washer etc.

Preparation is the key to a good job of course. Thorough cleaning, removal of loose rust, treating rust, rubbing down, panel wipe degreaser, primer, rub down again, 2 light coats of top coat, 2 heavier coats of top coat.

If it is chilly I will use a greenhouse fan heater in the garage. This of course can blow around dust so the garage must be spotless to start with.....

Stephen

[les]

Well done Stephen, sounds like you have a well worked out plan for a proper job !

[andy288]

Thanks for the replies, interesting stuff but what paint is best do you think...this maybe???

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264849369103 ... R_K-2a-xZA

[stuffedpike20]

I would not use zinc 182 as a primer.

I painted a whole car with zinc 182 primer and cellulose paint over the top. In no time it was a crackle glaze type finish! The cellulose 'moves' and cracks over the zinc because the zinc is soft.
I had to remove it all and start again with etch primer.