Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers

Posted By: KD800X

Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/02/09 03:30 AM

I am getting ready to paint dads engine compartment. I have never painted before so I'm looking for an easy paint and primer to spray that holds up to race fuel and doesn�t chip real easy.
I've been checking out POR 15 because they say it is chemical resistant and doesn't chip. Has anyone had any experience with it?

Thanks

Posted By: topside

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/02/09 04:11 AM

A catalyzed urethane paint - common stuff - is even resistant to lacquer thinner. If it's a metallic color, I'd go with a 2-stage (basecoat/clearcoat), easier to "save" in case of application problems. I like Standox as it's high-solids & covers in fewer coats than other systems I've used. They also have different primers, including one called Non-Stop, that will cover anything and lock it down.
If you've gone down to bare metal, a coating of etch primer goes down first.
The smaller guns, aka "touch-up guns", are more maneuverable in an engine compartment, but I've done well with an old suction gun. But it's days are numbered, gravity feed's just so much better.
Engine compartments require a lot of gun-trigger modulation and planning the shoot a little: shock-tower backsides 1st,
then firewall (some spraying upwards there), then aprons & backside of rad support, then exit through the bottom.
Take your time and practice on something first.

Posted By: Flo

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/02/09 09:40 PM

stay away from the POR 15. Regular catalyzed urethane paint is the way to go as said before. I personally like the Nason stuff. Best value for the money.

Posted By: Duster_Dude

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/02/09 09:43 PM

Quote:

I am getting ready to paint dads engine compartment. I have never painted before so I'm looking for an easy paint and primer to spray that holds up to race fuel and doesn�t chip real easy.
I've been checking out POR 15 because they say it is chemical resistant and doesn't chip. Has anyone had any experience with it?

Thanks

POR-15 is great for chassis parts and underneath of the car, not on top or the engine bay.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/02/09 10:17 PM

I been using a single stage urethane, first one coat of it, then second coat I mix it 50/50 with clear, last coat just clear. I talked to someone who had been doing undersides of cars this way and was happy with the results, so did the engine bay this way. I'd start with a good epoxy or etch primer, then depending on how nice you want it, either some high build or just scuff and shoot it.

Posted By: KD800X

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/03/09 01:26 AM

thanks for you help!

Will the urethane hold up to things like brake fluid and race fuel? If I can, I would like to have a paint that will hold up to chemicals like this lifting the clear

Posted By: elitecustombody

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/03/09 03:28 AM

are you planning on hosing the car down with race fuel or brake fluid?

if the original paint is decent in the engine bay, all you need is prep and paint, there is no need for unnecessary primers or sealers,all they will do is build up the thickness which is more prone to chipping,put two coats of good grade urethane single stage paint and it'll be more durable than base/clear paint, well I can't speak for all paint brands, but I know for fact Matrix single stage paint is some of the most durable paint I've seen,I painted my car in August and been driving it since everyday,8k miles later not a chip anywhere ,might I add, the city took the asphalt off a year ago on my street and there is nothing but rocks and dirt and I've spilled gas on the quarter more than few times

Posted By: KD800X

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/03/09 01:39 PM

I hope we don't spray it down with it

The paint that is in there now is pretty rough, between fuel spills, brake fluid drips, scratches, and some bare metal where I was doing some fabrication.
I was going to just scuff it with paper then hit it with scotch bright. Then spray it with a good self etching primer or epoxy primer re sand then paint. I like the idea of the single stage urethane, I don't want to get into spraying clear if I don't have to. I'm just a garage hack trying something new.

I THINK the original paint was lacquer, and then dad hit it with a spray can after some scratches and spill from taking the motor in and out.

Does this sound right?

Thanks again guys for all of your advice and help.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/03/09 03:16 PM

What color is it? If you don't know what your doing and its a metallic color, it could turn out bad! A single stage urethane is fine and I'd probally use an epoxy first if your stripping it. If its already painted and ok, just scuff and paint it.

Posted By: elitecustombody

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/03/09 05:57 PM

sounds like you have the right idea,just don't get carried away with laying on too much primer, clean all rattle can paint off ,sand and feather any knicks,and scratches,scuff and clean the bay,shoot one medium coat of etching primer,scuff the primer,nib out any dirt specs and knock down any overspray or orangepeel with 320-400 paper,clean and shoot the paint

Posted By: KD800X

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/04/09 03:49 AM

Quote:

What color is it? If you don't know what your doing and its a metallic color, it could turn out bad! A single stage urethane is fine and I'd probally use an epoxy first if your stripping it. If its already painted and ok, just scuff and paint it.

Chally,
It's just plane white, the same color as the car, no metallic. It's not stripped other than one part on the fire wall where I'm doing some fab work.

Thanks for the help

Thanks

Posted By: KD800X

Re: Need advice from Paint & Auto Body Memebers - 03/04/09 03:53 AM

Quote:

sounds like you have the right idea,just don't get carried away with laying on too much primer, clean all rattle can paint off ,sand and feather any knicks,and scratches,scuff and clean the bay,shoot one medium coat of etching primer,scuff the primer,nib out any dirt specs and knock down any overspray or orangepeel with 320-400 paper,clean and shoot the paint

That's what I'll do.

You All have been a big help

Thanks again!

Kevin