Whats involved, can I just use high heat spray paint (cans) or should I look into a spray gun???

 

I spray painted mine with Tremclad rust paint with rattle cans. 2-3 coats provides good coverage. I also had a new clean bare block to start with.

Of course there's very little you can see of my engine. The heads and intake are aluminum so they're not painted. The large tube headers prevent you from seeing the sides and the front motor plate only allows you to see the part of the block above the timing cover.

 

yeah i used high temp engine paint on mine and it looks good. Havent got a chance to run it but you cant see much of it once its in the car like Stephen says alot of stuff blocks it

I have used that paint on my intke and valve covers and it worked well

 

Yeah the rattle can stuff from Dupli Color works awesome. I used it on my motor and haven't had any problems after about 8000kms so far. You have to make sure the block is completely clean from dirt and grease though, and they reccomend using their high heat primer as well (though I didn't lol).

 

yeah the duplicolor engine enamel with ceramic works really well. thats what i painted my motor with. just make sure you dont paint over dirt and grease. paint tends not to stick very well.

 

+1 for Duplicolor

 

So what's an effective way to clean the grease and grime off, short of bringing it to a shop and paying someone?

 

auto stores have degreasers, but they work best with a pressure washer. just avoid the alt, fuel system, distributor when spraying.

steam cleaning is another way.

gasoline is a good solvent.

after you use an oil-based degreaser listed above, use simple freen to remove that residue. then scuff the surface, and clean again with simple green and water. then you can paint.

this is the mothod I use to paint my frame anyway. my engine was already bare when I primed and painted it because I just had the block machined.

 

you can also use brake parts cleaner from any parts store. from my experiance it wont matter if you use genaric or the goog brakleen brand...they all do the same. just make sure you paint right after the brakleen evaporates.

 

A lot of people overlook the fact that a lot of those rattle can high heat paints need to be baked to achieve the total benefits.

Make sure you read the label.

Mathius

 

I dont think to many people are gonna bake their engines though. lol

 

Wouldn't they bake themselfs?

 

That is what I was thinking too.

Kevin

 

you dont have to bake the 500 degree paint. only the 1500 degree stuff. it sprays on like a powder form. then it needs baked @ 600 for 60 mins. or let ur car idle for 60 mins. with gas prices the way they are and when you have to run 94 then thats when an oven comes in handy. IMO

 

duplicolor high heat paint, always prime, eventually itll crack without it


prep work: spray with degreaser than wipe down with laquer thinner.

 

My engine has been black, blue, and orange lol... all Duplicolor 500* paint, and all looked good!

 

You need to bake all of them to cure properly. If you bake it right after it dries, the paint will be in good shape, otherwise it could crack.

+1 for brake cleaner, and duplicolor

 

Ok, so if the manufacturers instructions say bake to 500 degrees for 20 minutes, can you guarantee you engine is going to get to exactly that temperature, not cooler or hotter, and hold that for 20 minutes?

Mathius

 

Do you think that the paint really knows when it's been exactly that temp for exactly 20 min?

 

I use brake paint then use metalic top coat and I get a wet look to the paint and it can handle about any heat I throw at it.