I can appreciate the quality and durability of what some of you have done but I used plastikote engine enamel for the following reasons;
- most of these high quality spray booth type jobs look much different (better, but different) than factory. Generally way smoother and shinier.
- The plastikote seems like a very good color match. Some of the spraybooth jobs look way off.
- I like to putter around restoring little pces here and there. With the spray bombs, I can paint an oil pan or the valve covers and paint the rest or any other pces later.
- While the plasticote could scratch or get damaged by gasoline or solvents, it's also very easy to simply touch up again.
- far more convenient; no loading up the engine and taking it to the body shop and back.
- If I make changes (water pump, T-stat housing, valve covers or whatever) it's very easy to spray bomb and install. Much less hassle.
- I've used Plasticote engine enamel on every engine I've done in the last 20years and have been pleased with the product. In fact, I don't ever recall having any of it peel off or get damaged from gasoline.
I'm not trying to convince anyone that this is the way to go, but rather explain why I (and perhaps some others) chose to go this route.
Dave