block and head painting

[JohnG]

hi everyone

I hope to rebuild my motor this winter. In the process I want to repaint the block, heads and intake manifold. mine is a 58 so these would all be blue I believe.

Regardless of color I am not sure of how to prepare them so that the paint STAYS on them for a long time. The enemy here would potentially be heat.

Let's say for sake of discussion they have been cleaned and sand blasted. Does one use a primer? (if so what) Next can any paint be used or does it need to be a high temperature (resistant) paint? I am not sure of how hot the surface of the block or heads get so I dont know if ordinary paints would be up to the task or not, and this
is definitely a "do it once do it right" kind of job. In the past I have used a blue from Rustoleum for various covers and the oil pan, but there is not much heat there.

thanks!

John
'58 Hardtop

[Guest]

RE: block and head painting

Por 15 makes a whole line of engine type paints specificly made for what you are looking for. This includes manifold paints as well as block, and heads. Check out the Concours specs at the site "Thunderbird Ranch" for what gets what color . I think they also sell engine decals. Hope this helps

[Alexander]

RE: block and head painting

The problem with the FE block is that the area above the exhaust is in essense an extension of the exhaust manifold and gets just as hot. In my experience, engine block paint burns off here in a few days of driving. I brushed on exhaust manifold paint in this area, and it stands up fairly well. I am lucky that the 1959 and 1960 blocks are black, so there is no problem with matching paint. With a blue block, you will have dificulty finding matching blue paint.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[JohnG]

RE: block and head painting

thanks! Thats exactly the kind of information I needed.

John