Engine painting

[Jeff Wilk]

Any advice out there on using Bill Hersh engine paint on the valve covers, pulleys, brackets?  Prime or not to prime?  I primed some with etching primer but paint seems to scratch off too easily.  Advice

[Steve Passmore]

I believe Hersh's paint has to go straight on to bare metal, but it must be super clean, sand blast clean in fact. Iv done it for years and never had it come off.

[Jeff Wilk]

I did bead blast the covers and intake manifold.  Only primed the valve covers and painted them. Applied paint direct to manifold.  Covers scratching like crazy.  Manifold is as tough as nails.  I will retry without primer i guess

[Jeff Maltby 4194]

Spray the center intake runners with high temp black primer first, as it sure looks better black then rust after the blue burns off.

[Jason Edge]

I've had good luck with the Rustoleum Hi Temp Engine Primers and Paints. I used the Hi Temp Engine primer before applying the Bill Hirsch Paint on the "blue" parts, and used their black engine paints to top coat parts. You can see how it turned out at my engine project photo album blog at http://6364cadillac.multiply.com/photos/album/411/Jasons-Engine-Project#

[Ed]

Jason, I noticed that your picture has a High Heat Primer and a Engine Primer. Where do you use one primer from another? In other words, where did you use the High Heat Primer compared to the Engine Primer?

Thanks.

Ed Nieves

[Ed]

I've had good luck with the Rustoleum Hi Temp Engine Primers and Paints. I used the Hi Temp Engine primer before applying the Bill Hirsch Paint on the "blue" parts, and used their black engine paints to top coat parts. You can see how it turned out at my engine project photo album blog at http://6364cadillac.multiply.com/photos/album/411/Jasons-Engine-Project#

Jason which parts did you use the clear on?

[Jason Edge]

Ed,
I used the Rustoleum 'Engine Primer' on all engine parts other than the exhaust manifold.

On the exhaust manifolds I used the High Temp Rustoleum primer before applying the Bill Hirsch Grey Hi Temp Exhaust and Manifold Paint.
I baked both the primer and then the hi temp paint on the manifolds at 250 degrees, 400 degrees, then 550 degrees, baking each time for 30 minutes and letting them cool down for 30 minutes.

[Jason Edge]

I had planned to use the clear coat on the air filter housing and maybe valve covers but did not end up using it. It does add a bit of extra luster to the finish and helps protect but the rustoleum and Bill Hirsch paints have good sheen.  I am trying to keep the "factory" look and clear coat would not have been correct but do like the protective and shine quality and may go back and do valve covers and air filter housing.

[Jason Edge]

I also cleaned up my engine bay and used the rustoleum products exclusively and thought it turned out pretty well. Here is a photo album of showing different stages of the cleanup: http://6364cadillac.multiply.com/photos/album/424/Jasons-Engine-Bay-Project

Here is a picture of the end result:

[Ed]

Jason, thanks for the reply. I like the way you work. I've used the Bill Hirsh paint before and it's great. I'll pick your brain some more when I'm ready to redo the engine on my 84 Eldo.

Thanks.

Ed Nieves

[Jeff Wilk]

Jason, is that a self etching primer?  I used the rustoleum self etcing under the Hirsch paint on the valve covers and AC brackets and the oaint is scratching off. Just ordered 4 more cans of Hirsch paint to do a second coat on the covers, pulleys, etc. am going to brush it on the engine block though. I did not prime the pulleys or valley cover this time as i thought the primer was the problem.  Talked to Hirsch today and they do recommend priming steel parts first.  Mow wondering if i should strip them for a third time???

Jeff

[Jason Edge]

No, its not an etching primer. It's the Engine Primer as you see above. Our Local AutoZone carries it. I tried other brands and the Rustoleum paints just go on nice and smooth with a good even texture. As most of you know too close and it orange peels and runs and too far back and you get that rough textured look. The sweet spot for Rustoleum is pretty wide and you can lay into it with two nice coats. I generally painted all items outside in the sun on a calm day adding 2nd coats of primer and paint within 20 to 40 minutes.  If you wait too long the paints will "attack" the undercoat and wrinkle. I painted a few sets of items and felt like after it was done I got the technique down right.
I do have a compressor sprayer and have a qt of the Bill Hirsch paint but could never get the even coating as I could with the aerosol cans. I guess I just need more experience. The spray cans worked for me so that's what I went with.

[62droptop]

i used the por 15 engine paint on my 62 390
easy to work with and good coverage ,brushed it on and cant see a single brush stroke
i didnt disassemble engine ,just cleaned up in place and went at it
nice not to have to worry about overspray everywhere


i did follow instructions to the t and the intake turned black on the center port and the exhaust passage on the head also flaked off in the first 3 weeks

mind you that the car covered 5000 hard fast miles
in those 3 weeks

would like to find paint that doesnt burn off