Looking to paint the engine bay and underneath of the car soon so I can get started on dropping in my LS1. The car overall is pretty solid with a few rust spots, no holes. I've already got pretty much everything stripped and degreased, pretty much ready to paint. I want something that will last a long time and will be cost effective, but willing to pay for a better product.

I was leaning towards using POR-15 self etching primer on everything to help inhibit the rust and be a base for other paint. I would then use a glossy black finish for the engine bay and use some sort of coating underneath for heat/noise resistance.

It's my first time doing this sort of thing so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Love seeing bottom repaints, and Eng bay make overs.

I assume you will repaint entire car Black ?? If so gloss black would be my choice. Good primer is also a great idea. You are down that far man, do it right and keep the pics coming.

These are not my cars .. I wish but black and red look nice.

 

Your engine bay looks mint! I'm undecided about the exterior of the car right now, it's not bad for 26 year old paint. I just want to get my car driving for the summer, and I figure a black engine bay goes with a lot of exterior colours.

Should I just hit the rust areas with some por-15 and do a two stage paint on everything?

It was a lot of degreaser (marine clean), wire wheeling, gas and a rag, scraping to get it down to the metal. I want to do it right the first time and not have to worry about it. Thanks for the help.

 

Its always best to repaint back to original color. That red is a nice color, I'd do eng bay in red, same red as exterior.

I advise to prime everywhere, you dont want rust spots coming thru, plus it will give finish coats more even look, especially if red. Under car ... your call.

Your call tho with color, all personal pref.

 

For the under carriage, I used DupliColor Truck-Bed Liner, for ease and
durability. In the wheel wells, use one of the high strength epoxy like
finishes like Por-15. (There's nothing tougher than Por-15, but be
careful to get UV resistant products. The basic Por-15 is a PRIMER,
that will degrade over time, unless used in conjunction w/ other
of their products, which becomes more expensive, and labor involved.)
Painting the engine compartment w/ exterior quality auto paint, is OK
for show ponies & week-end cruisers. But again, time & money...
DupliColor offers a variety of products, that are durable enough for
engine bay application, in an ample array of colors. Pick a color scheme
that will be compatible with the exterior color, but that's a very
individual preference. (I did gray on the unibody frame, then red on
the sheet metal panels. Car is the std. 90 model red.)

If your as far as indicated in the pic's, go for the whole 9 yards, and
drop the front K-member w/ suspension, and get those spruced up also.

Checkout Eastwood Auto Restoration Supplies.

Good luck, and keep posting progress pics.