Thread: engine painting

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If you want an engine paint that will hold up, be easy to clean, and look great, forget the typical "rattle can" engine enamels. If you prep the engine by using a good quality dewaxer (as used in body painting) then grinding down any rough edges with a small grinding disc, and smoothing it as much as you want with a finer grit disc, you can spray the engine with epoxy primer (just like you use on bodies) and top coat it with your favorite enamel.

Some people think that anything but engine hi-temp paint will burn off, but this isn't true. The secret is to use epoxy primer first, and then simply top coat it in 2 or 3 coats with either a touch up gun or regular paint spray gun. Your local automotive paint store can fix you up with the correct stuff.

My '27 Ford engine was painted 12 years ago this way, was driven for 7 years in the sun and rain, and when I just tore it down for a rebuild it still looked very good.

Here is a picture of the 455 Olds we just painted for my Son's '29, using this method. It costs a little more than the spray can method, but there is no comparison and you can use any color you can buy for a car.