i'm looking at painting an engine, not sure if i want turquoise or street hemi orange. anyhow, has the mopar performance direct connection paints gotten any better? last i bought was beyond horrible. what about plasti kote 226 street hemi orange? is it still available and if so where to buy? thanks.

What year/engine are you painting? What level of accuracy are you after? If you want a really good match to either color I like Frank Badelsons paint (sixpackfrank@aol.com). You'll need a gun or a Preval sprayer to apply it. Preval Sprayer .

this isn't any restoration thing. just putting together a spare and want something the coats fairly well, holds up, and a little gloss.

In that case your better off with the Plasti-cote Hemi-Orange

I second the Plasti-Kote hemi orange. Color is not exactly stock, but durability and coverage are great. It's a little glossier than stock, too.

Make sure your prep work is good--have to get it white-glove oil free.

VHT. I'm told the color is not correct, and the gloss is wrong. I like it. It applied nicely and is holding up well.

russ, i like the gloss; easier to keep clean. is that turquoise or blue?

i used to use plasti kote hemi orange but can't find it any more. guess mopar is the only one who has turquoise,.....?

a couple of years ago i had a guy mix me up some dupont centari in hemi orange, worked great, but i think you can't buy the dupont centari anymore.

There's also Eastwood and bill Hirsch

Turquoise. It is easier to keep clear.

Too bad about the Centari. I always had good luck with it, and I'm a hack.

Gettin' good life out of MP 'engine paint'...


Over primer...

I can tell you I am not happy with the Dupli-Color paint I used on my eng this time. Course I had the same problem with the MP paint as everyone and I liked the color of this Dupli-Color as they call it Hemi Orange. I put this eng in the car in 2011 and the paint held up ok for a few years but the last year or so its started to peel in spots on the intake , heads , oil pan and block a little. I touch it up where I can get to it and even use a brush in some spots but I am not happy with the Dupli-Color and wont use it again. I prepped my block and parts like I always have and I have had good luck with eng paint until I used this Dupli-Color this time. Heck I might pull the eng just to repaint the whole eng this winter. Ron

when i got into the centari mixing and fumbling with my little chinese gun i was just one step above finger painting but preferred it over spray bomb.

I got in a jam and ended up using a couple different brands last time for orange. Duplicolor wouldn't cover and ran in heavy coats, but had good gloss and correct-ish gold flake. VHT covered well but dried darn near flat with no metal flake. Next time around I'm going to try VHT as a primer/base coat with a light coat of dupli color over it for the finish.

This is what I use and it is great, goes a long way, could paint 4 or 5 engines with a 1ltr tin.

http://www.por15.com/ENGINE-ENAMEL_p_47.html

Regardless of color or gloss single stage urethane will give the best durability. Unaffected by brake clean, carb clean, etc. You can get any color or gloss. Clean with DX 440, epoxy prime and spray. I have stuff that looks like this that is 20 years old.
Doug

that little slant 6 is cool!

a lot of good ideas here.

Agreed. You wouldn't use spray cans on any other part of your car and expect it to hold up, yet when it comes to engines we're still stuck on spray cans.

i use the eastwood urethane,pretty good so far ,about five years now.had to touch up a few spots from wrenchin but just used a little brush.

Doug where do you get that paint you used on your 64's eng as I really like that ? Ron