Technical Heater box paint question

I've planned painting(or maybe a powdercoating?) my shoebox projects heater box.The factory paint has chipped off from here and there and there is some surface rust on the box too.So it really needs something.
I've heard that some paints will cause fumes on the spots like heater boxes etc,so it could be pretty lame to get a horrible headache everytime i use the car.
Any suggestions what to use?

 

Might smell for the first while but i had no problem. Can't smell anything in my shoe.

 

I've not noticed it to be a problem. The heater box gets warm, which helps the paint finish curing, so it won't give off fumes. I've only used spray cans to paint heaters, and not had a problem.

 

Rustoleum hammertone or similar brand works great. Once it dries, all is good.

 

I'll second the rustoleum hammertone, durable, doesn't need primer and looks good.

 

I've painted several heater boxes in the past,I especially like the wrinkle finish and you only smell the curing of the paint the first couple of uses,not strong. HRP

 

Heater box (on the inside of the car) is only going to get about as hot as the water flowing through the heater core. You're over-thinking it. Paint it.

 

Thank you all for the answers!
That hammertone might be the one i've been looking for.I am not much of a restorer,but it looks like that the box is coated originally with that kind of stuff.I also have a small cashbox,which is going to be a fusebox.I guess i'll paint that too with the same stuff:

 

That cash box is giving me ideas on firewall/trunk mounted component boxes- might have to raid the wife's garage sale supplies....-rick

 

You can add to the fun ... stick wet but flashed off parts in your oven with a 130-140 degree temp. for 20 minutes. Most guy's wives will understand ...

 

***uming Fahrenheit, you can go even hotter than that.
I've used 400F, no problems.

 

If you can find an old junk stove you can make your own drying oven. You could put it in the garage and plug it into 110Volt. It won't get as hot as 220 but hot enough to cure paint. Of course if you have 220 in the garage you could use it for powder coating too.

 

What the hell, the paint smell mimics 'new car' smell.... LOL!

 

That was pretty cheap way to hide modern looking fusepanel,that didnt cost a dime to me.I welded a bung on the latch side,made a stainless steel handle and added some mounting tabs to the back side.
Here is an another pic of the box closed:



Well,thanks for the oven suggestions too.That oven might be handy in some other projects too..