I have built a small handfull of motors in my short life, and every time I paint them, the paint never wants to stay on the block or the heads. What is the best process to go through to get some rattle can to stick? I wash the block down and grind it all down, but it always peels. Oh, by the way, I do use engine block paint. Thanks.
The first step is to be a little more clear in the****le of your post. The second is to not use primer... just go with a light "tack" coat of paint... once it gets tackey... shoot another on. Avoid more than one coat after that... I've been painting them for years this way... and NEVER had any problems with peeling. I also don't use VHT paint... I use whatever brand of heat paint my parts store sells. Good luck, Sam.
Thanks for the tip on the****le. That's how I do it, no primer and light coats. Maybe it's how I clean the block? I don't have money or time for sandblasting or what have you, any other tips on that aspect?
Oven cleaner spray on oven cleaner, leave it on as long the instructions say, clean off with a stiff brush dipped into water, clean up with rags. Go over everything with paint thinners until rag comes off clean and paint. Rattle can paint? I used brush on engine paint -POR no under coat looks good the longer it has to dry before being heated the better it will last.
[ QUOTE ] So no one knows how to paint a block? [/ QUOTE ] I wouldn't say that.......but if you want it to LAST, Use an etching primer,then base/clear coat.....
on a fresh motor just I wash it down with laquer thinner and paint with a light coat and several heavy coats no primer on a used motor I wash it down with gasoline and then laquer thinner. of course use a good high temp mineral based enamel. I've heard one shot works good but have yet to try it. Paul
The key to paint adhesion is a thorough cleaning. You want to remove all traces of oil and dirt. I use rattle can engine paint and had been very pleased with some serious cleaning with brake cleaner and some lint-free rags.
On the blocks I have painted this is what I have done. I will spray them down with laquer thinner really good first, then I scuff the engine down with a red scotch brite pad, then wash it down with some more thinner. Then I'll put on one light coat of epoxy primer, followed by no more than 2 coats of color. If it is base/clear, that is followed by no more than 2 coats of clear. I have done a few engines with that method, and haven't had any problems with it.
I cleaned my block*********..with anything and everything i could find...I used every type of steel brush, pipe cleaners, wire brush attachments, and then i used bill hirsch engine paint...still looks good. tok
No expert but I use epoxy primer on a "grease free" block, or was that a free grease blk. Then I top coated it with a singal stage enamel using no reducer. Should stay glued on with any luck. It just a old ford any way.
Is it true that a motor painted black runs cooler than any other color? Or is this an old wives tale?
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