Help me with painting my Engine and Engine Bay...

bcollie67

Member
Mar 18, 2008
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Getting ready to pull my motor to install my headers correctly (390=pita) and fix a couple other things. My block is in dire need of repainting so I am going to spray it while I have it out. My engine bay is'nt too bad off but there are nicks in the paint in numerous spots so I figured while I have the motor out and I am repainting the engine I should clean up the apron and firewall and paint them as well.

What process do I need to paint the block to ensure that the paint sticks and doesn't come chipping off in a couple months like it is doing now. (Cleaning, priming, painting) Also what primer and paint is the best to use.

The same goes for the Engine Bay. I don't have a spray gun and will be doing this with a rattle can.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
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when i did mine i made sure i got all the grease off. That make the paint stick better. I used some foaming engine degreaser on it then i washed it with a pressure washer. Let it dry then sprayed the paint on. I used a rattle can and it looks fine. id by a nosel for your hose so you can at least get some high pressure. i hand scraped a lot of grease off cause it there was so much
 
Thanks shogun! Come on guys anyone else have any tips? What's the best rattle can paint to use. Want to do a semi-flat black on the engine bay.
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You may want to check out the Eastwood underhood black. It comes in a rattle can in gloss and semi-gloss black. I am using many of their products on my car and they produce a good finish.
 
I used the Eastwood semi-gloss and it's kind of a satin, no real shine to it.
Underhood Black Semi Gloss Aerosol 12 oz
Only PITA is if you misjudge and need more paint you have to order, pay more shipping and wait...

I've also had good luck at Lowe's (bigger selection than HD) with Rustoleum High Perf. Enamel RustOleum.com
they come in tall silver cans - gloss, semi, etc. I think you're looking for a Satin? Flat would be really dull, almost like a primer I think.

Be sure to wipe the surface well with a cleaner like laquer thinner, mineral spirits, etc. to clean off the wax, dust, etc. and let it dry before you start spraying or you'll get fisheyes, ask me how I know...
Jon
 
I took a long time getting the underhood close to where i wanted. I actually bought a sandblaster, blasted the hole thing. Welded up the holes not in use, then ground them down. I then went to lowes, found a automotive primer in a rattle can, some flat black, (thats what i wanted) and a tach clothe. I just didnt have the patients to sand the primer down as i had already spent about 2 months sanding that crap out of the engine back to began with. ( REALLY long story) But it actually turned out REALLY awesome. And now, if i want to do a touchup, i just grab the can of flat black. looks like nothing ever happend.
 
Harbor Freight carries a very good degreaser by the gallon, maybe $10.00 a gallon, very good degreaser.

SEM carries a very good satin black paint in rattle cans. I would prime it first.

sparx
 
I stripped mine with a pump spray bottle of cleap lacquer thinner and steel wool. The factory paint is very easily wiped off with a minimum of effort. Once the paint is off, I sanded with 80 grit to give the steel some "tooth", then hit some of the low spots with filler, sanded it, primed and shot it body color, but you could just as easily paint it with semi gloss for a more stock look. I do recommend removing every single part and wire you can. Wiring and brake lines are a PITA to mask around and easy to remove.
SV400047.jpg
 
You may want to check out the Eastwood underhood black. It comes in a rattle can in gloss and semi-gloss black. I am using many of their products on my car and they produce a good finish.

Have any pics of how the parts turned out? Would like to see how glossy the semi is.

I used the Eastwood semi-gloss and it's kind of a satin, no real shine to it.
Underhood Black Semi Gloss Aerosol 12 oz
Only PITA is if you misjudge and need more paint you have to order, pay more shipping and wait...

I've also had good luck at Lowe's (bigger selection than HD) with Rustoleum High Perf. Enamel RustOleum.com
they come in tall silver cans - gloss, semi, etc. I think you're looking for a Satin? Flat would be really dull, almost like a primer I think.

Be sure to wipe the surface well with a cleaner like laquer thinner, mineral spirits, etc. to clean off the wax, dust, etc. and let it dry before you start spraying or you'll get fisheyes, ask me how I know...
Jon

Have any pics of under your hood so that I can see how the color looks?

I took a long time getting the underhood close to where i wanted. I actually bought a sandblaster, blasted the hole thing. Welded up the holes not in use, then ground them down. I then went to lowes, found a automotive primer in a rattle can, some flat black, (thats what i wanted) and a tach clothe. I just didnt have the patients to sand the primer down as i had already spent about 2 months sanding that crap out of the engine back to began with. ( REALLY long story) But it actually turned out REALLY awesome. And now, if i want to do a touchup, i just grab the can of flat black. looks like nothing ever happend.

Paint that is under the hood now isn't that bad. I'm just gonna degrease, sand it a little in the needed places, spray a primer and then the top coat it.

Harbor Freight carries a very good degreaser by the gallon, maybe $10.00 a gallon, very good degreaser.

SEM carries a very good satin black paint in rattle cans. I would prime it first.

Thanks!

sparx

I stripped mine with a pump spray bottle of cleap lacquer thinner and steel wool. The factory paint is very easily wiped off with a minimum of effort. Once the paint is off, I sanded with 80 grit to give the steel some "tooth", then hit some of the low spots with filler, sanded it, primed and shot it body color, but you could just as easily paint it with semi gloss for a more stock look. I do recommend removing every single part and wire you can. Wiring and brake lines are a PITA to mask around and easy to remove.
SV400047.jpg

Wow that turned out nice. Wish I had the time, money or know how to paint mine body color and have it looking that good. Car is black so as long as I go with a good looking semi-gloss of semi-flat I think it will look alright.