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engine paint useing body paint good or bad

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Old May 27, 2009 | 06:16 AM
  #1  
morf33's Avatar
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engine paint useing body paint good or bad

ok i found an engine that was painted 2007 sunburst orange now wont the paint peel after time or will it withstand the temperature i was told the aluminum was clear coated and so was the block buti am sceptical about it
because i would like to do it myself if it possible ? any ideas on what would happen ?
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Old May 28, 2009 | 01:24 PM
  #2  
Atilla the Fun's Avatar
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From: Northern Utah
Car: seeking '90.5-'92 'bird hardtop
Engine: several
Transmission: none
Axle/Gears: none
Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

This topic comes up every 4 or 5 years in CarCraft or HotRod or one of those mags, about once per decade per mag, but I never paid attention because I'm not big on the idea of my engine matching the car.
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Old May 28, 2009 | 02:39 PM
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AlkyIROC's Avatar
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

Just how hot do you think the block and heads will get to hurt the paint? If you overheat the engine too much, paint is the least of your worries. Coolant doesn't run hotter than 205* under normal operation and no painted parts should ever exceed that temperature except directly around the exhaust ports but they'll be covered by a gasket and manifold.

Keeping paint on the engine is more prep work than the type of paint. The metal needs to be spotlessly clean with no oils or dirt in the metal. It should then use a good primer and an etching primer is even better. After that, any enamel paint can be used.

I painted my engine with normal semi-gloss spray paint. Although you can see very little of the painted block, it's still holding up. Paint claiming to withstand 400+* doesn't mean much when the engine doesn't reach half that temperature.
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Old May 28, 2009 | 02:47 PM
  #4  
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From: Kokomo IN
Car: 85 Corvette, 91 Trans Am
Engine: V8
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: round ones!
Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

Every engine I build for any of my cars I use base clear automotive paint to paint the block any color. It makes it look decent and VERY easy to clean off with just a hose.
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Old May 28, 2009 | 07:17 PM
  #5  
osirus's Avatar
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From: Corning, CA
Car: 89' RS
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: 700r4
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Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

If that did do the trick, be prepared to do a few quick oil changes as to get out any lingering fuel. That stuff just kills oil..
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Old May 28, 2009 | 07:29 PM
  #6  
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Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

I use engine pant as a primer then automotive bace clear to finish it up. I work in a body shop.. did 2 blocks 4/5 years ago and had both hot tanked and the paint is still there just like new. the engine shop owner ask me whut i used for paint cuz it did not come off it just looked like new LOL.
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Old May 28, 2009 | 08:31 PM
  #7  
osirus's Avatar
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From: Corning, CA
Car: 89' RS
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

Originally Posted by osirus
If that did do the trick, be prepared to do a few quick oil changes as to get out any lingering fuel. That stuff just kills oil..
How did that happen? I think my firefox is playing tricks on me!
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Old May 28, 2009 | 11:05 PM
  #8  
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
The only place that gets too hot for the paint is around the exhaust ports.
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Old May 29, 2009 | 09:55 AM
  #9  
sccavette's Avatar
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From: Kokomo IN
Car: 85 Corvette, 91 Trans Am
Engine: V8
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: round ones!
Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

Here is the engine in my vette that was painted with the same paint that was used on the car.


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Old May 29, 2009 | 12:12 PM
  #10  
morf33's Avatar
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Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

ohh where you get the valve covers at ?nice job.. thanks for the info guys
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Old May 29, 2009 | 12:23 PM
  #11  
sccavette's Avatar
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From: Kokomo IN
Car: 85 Corvette, 91 Trans Am
Engine: V8
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: round ones!
Re: engine paint useing body paint good or bad

Originally Posted by morf33
ohh where you get the valve covers at ?nice job.. thanks for the info guys
They are just Morosso cast allum black valve covers that i made a decal and put on them. I own a sign shop so it makes it easy to do.

I did the same thing on a cheap set ($20) chrome set on the original motor.

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