Spray can high-temperature engine primer

[62Ranchero200]

Greetings Ford Six Fans,

In the near future I will be getting my rebuilt 250 back from the machine shop, painting it and putting it back together.

If the paint will be more durable with primer, I'd like to use primer, but I don't have an air compressor or spray gun - does anyone know of a high temperature engine primer in a spray can?

Thank you,
Bob the Builder

 

[stu in wichita]

I've always had good results using rattle can engine paint on many projects. It goes on easy, looks good, and lasts a long, long time. I've had a couple of engines that the paint still looked perfect after 100k miles.

Duplicolor and other major brands make paint specifically for engines that resists heat, fuel and oil. Some require primer, some don't. Just follow their instructions exactly. Remember - everything has to be super clean, even if it just came from the machine shop. Wash it with detergent and water, rinse it, dry it and when wipe it down with Prep-Sol or laquer thinner.

The only time I've had engine paint peel was when I used an acrylic enamel. Under the advice of some "expert" buddies, I used a witches brew of mis-matched primer and hardener. Surprise! About a year later It started coming off in sheets!

-Stu

 

[chad]

"...make paint specifically for engines that..."
U usually get what U pay for - like in other industries, so get "the $6 a can rather than the $4 a can" (I don't know if that's really the prices).

 

[stu in wichita]

I agree, get the good stuff. They're all under ten bucks, so don't buy some off brand just to save money. I've used both of these brands on Ford, Chrysler and Chevy engines.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d..._1723&keyword=engine+paint&pt=N0487&ppt=C0171

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d..._1723&keyword=engine+paint&pt=N0487&ppt=C0171

Both are rated at about 500 degrees F, way hotter than your block and heads will ever get. For exhaust manifolds, VHT makes paint for real high heat, but the colors are pretty limited. They have a "cast iron" color that's pretty convincing.

For my AMX, I couldn't just go out and buy the correct color. I had to get a custom mix by a private label brand. So far, it's holding up well after 4 years, except for some discoloration in the intake manifold exhaust crossover area. I've never experienced that with Dupli-Color or VHT on other V-8's, so maybe it's the paint. Whatever, it shouldn't be a problem on your inline.

-Stu