Painting An Engine Block?

[dave205 19]

Whats the best paint to use? And obviously a serious clean/ degrease before hand!

[dantheman 0]

Hi Dave,

 

I have just cleaned an engine block with gunk and then a little carb cleaner.

 

I have used VHT paint before that I got from Mill Auto but the colour was totally different to the indication on the can!

 

It was supposed to be red but ended up orange!

 

I painted the block with black high temperature gloss from Halfords, it needed two coats but came up nice.

[dave205 19]

Im going to be after some red for mine and ive got jizer to degrease it. How much of your block did you do?

[Cameron 16]

Pleeeeeeease don't paint it red!

 

It will look awful as soon as it gets any oil / fuel / coolant spillage and / or starts to flake off!

 

 

Edit: I did not paint this engine! It was removed from my car and thrown away!

Edited November 23, 2012 by Cameron

[Mad Scientist 106]

Lol. Nice job!

 

Don't paint alloy blocks. It won't last.

 

Best stuff for iron blocks is engine enamel, funnily enough. They sell it in halfrauds. Only black is acceptable!

[Cameron 16]

The only colour I would paint an alloy block is silver, and to be honest that's only if I couldn't get access to a blaster and / or steam cleaner. I did mine silver and it looked brilliant for a little while, but after few part swaps and dismantling sessions it got filthy and started to flake; if it was any other colour it would have looked terrible.

[dave205 19]

Point taken cameron that looks shi*e in red now its flaked.

 

I really dont wont black, i think silver could look good? Its an iron block anyway not alloy one.

[Mad Scientist 106]

It will be fine if it's an iron block. You can use hammerite too, which lasts well. It's all in the prep. Plenty of wire brushing and a good dose of thinners before painting.

[Cameron 16]

Yeah make sure you get every last bit of oil and sludge off it and it should last a bit better!

 

I still think you shouldn't paint it red though.

[dave205 19]

Nah im going to go with silver i think!

[Chris H 10]

Hycote do a really good engine enamel spray paint in "aluminium" colour. Used this quite a few times and had very good results so far