Engine painting, what do you do?

The major parts of my engine will be back from the machine shop soon so the assembly will begin shortly after. So what is the best way to paint the engine? I’m not a novice at this but just want to know if there are any better ways to do this. I’ve always assembled the engine, cleaned it off with lacquer thinner and/or brake cleaner, then rattle canned on the engine paint (Duplicolor Chrysler Orange). It seems to have worked out well and holds up decently.
I’m not going for any Concourse level “correct” look; I’m just painting the assembly. I’ve heard of people spraying the whole engine complete with DP Epoxy, and then painting it with color over that.
Just curious what do you do, and how does it hold up?
Thanks
Scott

I'm not a paint guy so I have no opinion on a good paint but I've seen engines painted that have a gloss to them that looks good & obviously there was some care put into it though not everyone wants a glossy finish but I'm just saying. I do my final cleaning w cans of buck fifty starting fluid & drown the surface I am prepping. It gets into nooks and crannies & flushes em out & flashes off in minutes (warm weather) & as you know prep (including cleanliness) is 90% of the game.

I've heard of guys doing it either way. Hitting it with a primer then car paint seems to work just fine and hold up well. I'm not a fan of the duplicolor hemi orange paint, it's way too thin and takes 1000 coats to cover. Next time I may use some real car paint instead, or maybe try the plastikote engine paints.

Well, one of the important things is to gewt the engine oil and greese and as rust free as you can get it. I have used PPG omni epoxy primer...but it doesn't like aluminum unless you use etch primer and let it dry good. You can use Rustoliums 2000 deg. primer let it dry and then you can use automotive acrilic enamial. It seams to hold up well. Don't use any automotive paint that uses strong solvents because it will wrinkle up on you. Hope this helps a little..

Daytona Turbo, I may have been mistaken The Plasticoat paint is what I may have used, it seemed like 3 coats and it looked great!
Has anyone tried the Rustoleum engine paint?


Here is what my engine looked like after 7 years and 10,000 miles.

I used regular car paint with a little hardener mixed in and brushed it on.

Do each part separately then assemble and if needed touch up.

It turned out great with only 2 coats but as to how long it lasts I can;t say as we just built the motor this winter.

I used regular car basecoat clearcoat paint and it works good.I also paint it in pieces.And i paint all the bolt silver.

The motor in my Challenger we base coat /clear coated about 16 years ago and it still looks good. The motor in my Dart and plow truck I used I think VHT Hemi orange and they both look good also. I like the VHT as it goes on heavier than the Mopar paint, hence less coats. The 440 is the Challenger one.

We did my 340 in car base/clear about 7 years ago and the friggin' stuff won't come off even now when I want it to. Good prep work is the key.

One of the keys to good adhesion is to wait for a dry day and chase any moisture out of the cast iron with a propane torch.

The sun works good too....when that finally comes back.

I just finished my bee engine with the Rustoleum hemi orange it looks good.also used it on my 340 a year ago and it has been driven alot and still looks good. I always prime them before paint, it seems to work for me. ozz

if you plan on driving it and really want it to hold up...

first thing is to get it super clean..

then epoxy primer

then a high solids polyurethane paint.

this is the paint i used. also used u-tech epoxy primer

I just use the Plast-kote in a can with several coats & then clear coat. Looks good after several years.