Hot Rods Silver Engine Paint for an Engine That Gets Wet

I have a ‘42 FARGO and the engines came painted silver. However the hood is hinged in the centre which allows some rain to enter occasional. Therefore the head tends to rust a bit.

So what do you guys recommend as an engine paint that when it gets wet it won’t rust?

POR 15, urethane, spray bombs,?

 

C’mon HAMBers, you’re slipping! Someone must have a suggestion…

 

I’ve used this on intake manifolds before. Held up pretty good.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIwuvgj929lgMVq4zCCB33xgtuEAQYAyABEgJ_mfD_BwE

 

With correct paint preparation, and a good quality high temperature engine paint, you shouldn’t get any rust on your paint.
I have always used VHT engine enamel.
Don’t know if it is still available where you are.
Last engine I did was just ordinary rustoleum. No high temperature, no preparation, and it did remarkably well !
Kind of made me wonder about the high temperature thing, as any paint in theory should get baked on as the engine warms up ……………

 

Zinc rich epoxy primer (spray or powder) has excellent salt spray test results. Sometimes called "cold galvanizing".

 

Engine paint is a myth
Use regular paint, base/clear it if you want

exhaust is different

 

It’s prep work that matters

 

Are you sure its not rusty water stains from the long centre hinge pin ?

 

Adding to this advice I would perhaps apply a phosphoric acid based 'rust convertor' onto the bare metal once cleaned off seeing as its likely not a 100% smooth surface, that way you catch any rust spots hiding in the 'pores' of the metal.

 

Prep and good product will go a long way. The issue is that the plug wells gather any water. Even if the head is sealed, the base of the plug is leading to rusty water evaporating.
There used to be those covers to combat this, but I haven't had hands on them or know the cost and quality.
Looked and found this.
https://p15-d24.com/topic/42828-spark-plug-cover/

 

Yeah, good point. And depending how wet it's getting, it ain't gonna matter, it's gonna rust a little. Are the bolts painted?

 

Are there maybe any spark plug wire boots that could be adapted like those seen on early hemis which include a wide rubber flange? I think even the slant sixes used something similar. They prevented water from getting into the spark plug tubes and might also keep water from collecting in the plug wells of the flathead. There are also several later model engines (domestic and imports) that have large plug boot seals. It seems like mostly on inline and V6 four valve heads. But who knows if they are serviced separately and priced reasonably.

 

The issue is to cover the plug pothole, not just have an umbrella over it.
Toyotas and hemis along with the /6 all cover over a raised area, not a depression.

 

The seals/boots on the slant six look like they might work. But I don't remember if they could be bought separately or were molded in to the plug terminal insulator.

 

Here's a picture of the slant six wires. The boot is going to be a patio umbrella a couple inches above the head.

That won't keep water from pooling in the well.

 

You can buy plug covers/seals for mopar flathead sixes. I bought a set for he 230 in my '36 Dodge pickup. How well do they work? Well......they are completely dry......sitting in the glove box! I haven't installed them yet! I can't remember the brand name of the steel/rubber seals.

I used a silver engine rattle can paint on mine, then over coated it with a silver wheel paint that had a lot of gloss. Has held up for years but sits outside 24/7/365 so it eventually got rusty around the plugs. Cleaned it up a little and resprayed the top of the head and then put new spark plugs in.

Silver has so much metallic in most spray cans it is tough to get a good lasting job without using automotive pait from a gun. That's one of the reasons my Hemi in my '33 Plymouth is painted red!

Dave

 

Like @anthony myrick said, sand and prep, DTM primer/sealer, base, (flake coat, optional), hardened clear. I just reshot my oil pan that way. Results may vary.

 

In most cases you're probably right. On engines where he exhaust ports protrude from the rest of the head, I've had trouble keeping engine enamel intact on the head.

 

I've had good luck with Dupli-Color Engine Enamel from Canadian Tire with very good prep. Bad prep and it comes off easily. Good prep, and it's extremely durable and long-lasting.

 

Maybe something like this if the big umbrella seal would fit over the existing plug wire boot.

https://www.standardbrand.com/ecata...0-65de-48e2-aa49-6793708b57e0&page=partdetail

Would be cheap enough to try since these kits seem to be less than $1 apiece from O'Reilly's. But any shipping, if required, might squash the deal. Maybe check the Standard # for a NAPA crossover that might be stocked in a local DC.

 

Like everyone else has said prep is the most important. I’ve used POR 15 brush on paint and have not had any rust or peeling. After a good cleaning and wire brushing I sprayed the block with the POR 15 metal prep which I think is probably the same as Ospho and brushed on paint. Goes on rather thick but flows out smooth.

 

No normal paint will hold up there.
That counts as exhaust.
I’ve had some exhaust black do ok there.
But engine/automotive paint, not so good

 

@ClayMart, I'd want one that has a bit more flex pressure to hold down the edge to seal, but it's still against rough cast iron.
That first forum thread I posted has someone on the second page creating a drip tray under the hood to divert the water coming thru the hinge. Probably goes a lot further to keep things under control.

https://p15-d24.com/topic/57402-mopar-evr-dry-weatherproofing-service-kit/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186214746990?_skw=ever+dry+flathead+dodge+spark+plug+covers
I'd guess water is still going to get down between that metal section and the head, but can't be seen.

 

Cerakote Glacier series is extremely durable. No gloss though, only satin.

 

Silver Rust Bullet
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3135157573...etgPIcYlYwW0+Dl3csKqu4IuM=|tkp:Bk9SR5aDkueHaA
what ever you get it on, it won't come off and I have used it in applications that are submerged and it doesn't reflecting pool with proper surface prep....no oil or grease....
it cures differently than any other paint I have used and it takes awhile
once you open the can, it will cure in the can, so I suggest that you find some other things you want to coat and use the contents that way.
the link I sent may or may not be the exact product you want to purchase.

 

Yeah I’m sure about the hinge concern. Thanks though!

 

Thanks for all the replies/suggestions guys! I knew the HAMB would come through for me!!!

 

Hello,

We always kept our engines red/orange stock color from the factory. But, as teenagers, any small custom item makes the hot rod sedan stand out. Most SBC motors are red/orange from the factory. Our teenage group had everything from a 54 Chevy hardtop to a series of 55 post 2 door, a 56 post 2 door and a fast 57 Bel Air Hardtop. All motors were red/orange except for the 57 Bel Air Hardtop.

Since he had finned aluminum valve covers, black hedman headers and his compartment was painted white like his overall sedan, he painted his block silver with a simple spray paint can from the local paint store. No vht elements at the time. Just good prep and two coats of silver paint. His shiny finned valve covers looked great with black packard 440 spark plug lines. The dual quads we put on the motor looked great when we got finished. It was a one of a kind motor compartment. Not, flashy, but something that stood out when the hood was up.

Jnaki

The 57 Bel Air Hardtop was used in the rain, snow, beach sand and salt water with no rust spots anywhere on the motor or in the motor compartment. It was a pristine teenage hot rod sedan. When we put in a 4 speed, now it was a real custom as no other Chevy sedan had a 4 speed transmission.

My friend always had something up his sleeve. For two years during Christmas time, he always asked me if I wanted to work in a Christmas tree lot in December. Right in the middle of popular Bixby Knolls, living in a trailer on the lot and making custom trees, plus delivery was our mode. I was the spray booth worker and he was a good salesman that roamed the lot.

The most fun thing was that 66 years ago, one of our late night deliveries with his 57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop was to the now, famous Alamitos Bay home right on the sand. It was one of three homes left from the long ago hurricane that was off of San Diego and came up the coast as it fizzled out. But, the damage was done to the row of “on the sand” beach homes. This one was and still is standing. The nice older lady asked if we could spray her selected tree and deliver it to her house. We said sure, without knowing where her house was located.

When she told us, we said we could still deliver it, but it would be after we closed the lot. That area of Belmont Shore was part of our cruising area and it was a familiar place. So, around 11:30 PM, we loaded the tree on top of the 57 Bel Air Hardtop and made the trip down to Alamitos Bay.

We were rewarded nicely after we delivered the tree to her cool, old house.

Note:
The popular TV streaming series called, “Lucky” had this home, still standing and fully remodeled on the sand, located in Long Beach just as the peninsula road and homes start. As one drives by the Alamitos Bay Drive to get to the ocean, as the road ends at Ocean Blvd, this large home still sits in its dark wood theme. It was used in the "Lucky" series for several episodes this past year on Apple TV.

 

Yep.