ET: Engine (Twin) Engine Painting

Rixon

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
I'm sure this must have been asked many times, so if someone could just point me towards the relevant thread I'd be grateful.

What is the recommended method/product for repainting a black engine ?
 

b'knighted

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Search latest on engine paint?
This is from 2013 but I searched "engine enamel" with a member's name and found the post I remembered.
 

Oldhaven

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
For more on engine painting from a few years ago:

http://www.thevincent.com/VinPaint.html

I have never painted black cases, but I found Sid's advice on rattle can Plastikote engine enamel useful for smaller parts and touch up where daily utility is the object, though it gives a very presentable nice durable finish for me.
 

roy the mechanic

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
I used P J 1 fast black. It's been on for a couple of years. Definately petrol proof (over flooded carbs) best of all it polishes up lovely with brasso. Used it on some Bently carbs a while ago, Sill looks like a factory job. Roy.
 

davidd

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Dupont Imron has been a very popular product in the States for engine painting.

David Tompkins Lightning 2.jpg


David Tompkins Lightning 3.jpg


David Tompkins Lightning Replica a few years ago.

David
 

ClassicBiker

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Well I can vouch for Imron holding up well. When my father was restoring the Shadow in the late '70's that's what he painted the cases with, and it's still there. But be careful with it. Not long after painting the cases and gas tank with the stuff, he used Imron to paint my '72 VW Beetle. He was only using a dust mask and not a proper charcoal filter mask. He then took the dust mask off because it interfered with his glasses, causing them to fog. Nearly poisoned his self. Spent the night vomiting his guts out. Had my mother so worried she called the poison control center whose only answer was give him lots of milk to drink and take him to the emergency room if it gets worse. He wouldn't go. I suspect it was the primary cause for his pulmonary fibrosis 17 years later.
Imron is a good finish, it is a tough finish that holds up very well and goes on easy. But heed the cautions that come with it.
Steven
 

Oldhaven

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
My B Rapide's tank is painted in Imron and it has held up for many (30) years with only an occasional polish. It even held up to a bad dent being pushed out by paintless repair. The cautions are very valid though. I guess I was lucky in that I only ended up with a persistent cough for a few months, even after using a charcoal mask. Imagine that kind of durability for whatever gets inhaled into and coating your lungs. Basically like inhaling super glue vapors and worse. I used it with a brush and roller on a boat hull recently, but outdoors and with good personal protective equipment. (it is hard to get Imron non professionally now), but I would never spray it again without using a filtered air supply mask and other protective gear. A charcoal filtered mask will not protect you from the vapors.
 

Rixon

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Thanks for the info so far, very helpful. Imron seems to be a popular choice, surprisingly it's only rated for a maximum of 92 degrees C as far as I can gather.

PJ 1 appears to have changed it's formulation recently, with some adverse comments on it's durability as compared to the earlier version.
 
Top