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Thread: Engine paint ??

  1. #1
    FEP Power Member
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    Default Engine paint ??

    Looking for some input....

    Picked a new crate motor from Mike a few weeks ago and would like to paint it before installing. The block & heads are bare metal with some light surface rust from sitting. New water pump, timing cover are bare aluminum and look good. Lower intake is installed (bolted on).

    Was thinking about brush painting the block & heads but not sure on what type of paint to use. I think it may easier to brush it on rather than taping everything off and spray bombing it? What is available as a brush on engine paint? Would probably use a grey or black color.

    What prep work is needed for the light surface rust? Can a rust neutralizer be applied over it?

    Thanks,
    Zen
    '86 GT - weekend driver
    '86 Capri 5.0
    '86 Turbo Coupe
    '17 Mustang GT
    '23 BRONCO

  2. #2

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    I used a rust neutralizer on my GT40 heads prior to painting them with out any issues.

  3. #3
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    What type/brand did you use? What kind of paint?
    '86 GT - weekend driver
    '86 Capri 5.0
    '86 Turbo Coupe
    '17 Mustang GT
    '23 BRONCO

  4. #4

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    I used VHT engine paint in a rattle can and I got the rust neutralizer at Home Depot, can not remember the brand.

  5. #5
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
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    Default

    You can brush these paints on if you like.

    http://www.eastwood.com/paints/hi-te...ne-paints.html
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

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  6. #6
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    Stumbled upon the Eastwood stuff yesterday, thanks for the link. Seems a bit pricey for a quart?

    I also came across some Rustoleum type brush on BBQ paint (quart size) which is rated for 1200 degrees at Home Depot while looking for the rust neutralizer (couldn't find it). Wonder how that might work?
    '86 GT - weekend driver
    '86 Capri 5.0
    '86 Turbo Coupe
    '17 Mustang GT
    '23 BRONCO

  7. #7
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    Default

    Personally I would not go through the effort then go cheap on the materials. BBQ paint is not engine paint. Rattle can paint is not good paint. Get some good actual engine enamel and load it on to a brush or into a gun after treating the bare metal surfaces with a rust neutralizing agent and a high temp primer.

    Otherwise, leave it bare.

    Few things are as ugly as flaking off paint.

  8. #8
    FEP Senior Member
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    Nothing wrong with "rattle can" engine enamel. When I rebuilt the 390 in my 74 F350, in 1990, I painted it with Duplicolor dark "old Ford blue". Over 25 years later, including many trips of 5 hour plus freeway runs, it still looks fine, no flaking, other than where all Ford FE exhaust port "tunnels" burn the paint off. Just like painting body panels, preparation is key. I always clean everything to be painted with brake clean, blow it off with compressed air, make sure everything is dry, and than start spraying. Also for a good job, you don`t want to be painting when its too cold.
    1978 Fairmont 2 door sedan, 428CJ 4speed. 9.972ET@132.54mph. 1.29 60 foot
    Replaced the FE big block with my 331/4 speed in my Fairmont, best 10.24ET @128 MPH.
    1985 Mustang LX hatchback NHRA Stock Eliminator 302 4 speed best in legal trim 12.31@107 mph, but has gone 11.42@115 with aftermarket intake, carb, and iron Windsor Jr. heads.New for 2012! 331 cube SB Ford, AFR 185 heads, solid flat tappet cam, pump gas; 10.296ET@128.71 mph, 1.37 60 foot.
    1979 Zephyr Z7, all original 302 auto, 2nd owner.

  9. #9
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    Good points, will probably end up with using the Eastwood paint. Still too cold to paint even with heat in the garage.
    '86 GT - weekend driver
    '86 Capri 5.0
    '86 Turbo Coupe
    '17 Mustang GT
    '23 BRONCO

  10. #10

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    VHT or EHT Paint is all you need. If it can handle the exhaust on my Harley, it can handle the temp from a small block. Very High Temp and Extremely High Temp - They are so named for a reason.
    1981 Mustang Hatch 3.3 "Orange Juice"
    1983 Mustang GT Convertible "Triple Black"
    1994 Ford ThunderBird SC
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    1984 Firebird Forumla
    1988 Mazda RX-7 Infinity
    1987 Mazda RX-7 Turbo II
    1994 Eagle Talon TSI
    1991 Eagle Talon TSI
    2003 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP

  11. #11

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    I have used rattle can VHT engine paint for many years with out a single flake issue, its all in the prep.

  12. #12
    FEP Power Member dagenham's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hcmclean View Post
    i have used rattle can vht engine paint for many years with out a single flake issue, its all in the prep.
    x2...

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