Painting engine bay - best ISO free options?
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 336
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Painting engine bay - best ISO free options?
Hey all,
It's been years, but the ball is finally rolling on saving my 'bird! Just getting it back to reliable, good mechanical condition (a stock 350 for now), and doing paint/body work to get it looking presentable.
Here's the current situation - it is in my friend's garage at the moment. I will be pulling the 305 out to drop a 350 in, and doing basic body work (some dent repair/a few small spots that need filler). Thankfully, quite a bit of the body is straight.
While the motor is out, I want to paint the engine bay, but there's one caveat - Urethane based paints with isocyante containing hardeners are probably a no-go. These are an option for the exterior of the car (I plan to rent a pro booth out w/the proper ventilation systems and safety equipment for this), but I'd like to use something safer for a home garage job, using just a cartridge respirator/fans. Taking the empty shell to the pro booth and bringing it back to the friend's garage is not an option, unfortunately.
I was thinking of going w/a single stage enamel type paint, or possibly a laquer based system (like duplicolor) that doesn't contain ISOs. I'm told the Duplicolor stuff isn't all that durable though? What's the most durable, best looking option without ISOs? I'd prefer to avoid the Rustoleum route, if possible.
Thoughts? I'm not going for a super flashy engine bay, just a solid, presentable refinish job - maybe comparable to a higher end Maaco job/psuedo-factory finish.
Thanks in advance!
It's been years, but the ball is finally rolling on saving my 'bird! Just getting it back to reliable, good mechanical condition (a stock 350 for now), and doing paint/body work to get it looking presentable.
Here's the current situation - it is in my friend's garage at the moment. I will be pulling the 305 out to drop a 350 in, and doing basic body work (some dent repair/a few small spots that need filler). Thankfully, quite a bit of the body is straight.
While the motor is out, I want to paint the engine bay, but there's one caveat - Urethane based paints with isocyante containing hardeners are probably a no-go. These are an option for the exterior of the car (I plan to rent a pro booth out w/the proper ventilation systems and safety equipment for this), but I'd like to use something safer for a home garage job, using just a cartridge respirator/fans. Taking the empty shell to the pro booth and bringing it back to the friend's garage is not an option, unfortunately.
I was thinking of going w/a single stage enamel type paint, or possibly a laquer based system (like duplicolor) that doesn't contain ISOs. I'm told the Duplicolor stuff isn't all that durable though? What's the most durable, best looking option without ISOs? I'd prefer to avoid the Rustoleum route, if possible.
Thoughts? I'm not going for a super flashy engine bay, just a solid, presentable refinish job - maybe comparable to a higher end Maaco job/psuedo-factory finish.
Thanks in advance!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: Painting engine bay - best ISO free options?
Use a waterborne paint. That's what Californians are forced to use now. Still a base coat clear coat just more environmentally and user's health friendly.
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: so cal
Car: 89 tta
Engine: turbo v6
Transmission: 200r4
Re: Painting engine bay - best ISO free options?
i would use single stage automotive paint, its will work fine for engine compartment and you can clear coat over it if you want. you can still spray solvent based pain in so cal, i just picked up some last month to shoot my new bumper cover.