engine detailing

[bluemaumau]

alryt so the 4agze is in pieces and as something to do over the break i decided i might detail my engine, to give it a cosmetic freshn up.

ill only use blue, silver and black

is there anything that cant be sprayed? like for heat purposes etc?

can anyone recommend a good paint?

thanks will

[Ae92typeX]

obvously exhause manifold would need high temp paint - available in the colours you are using. Ask around about brands for high temp stuff, some burns off easy, others work well. Ill have a look over the weekend for what I used 2 years ago, which is still fine.
Personally, I perfer to brush paint on engine blocks (cast iron ones anyway) I find it lasts much better (assuming you have spent the time to prep properly -99% of the job)
May wish to use a good primer on alloy parts to ensure long term adhesion.
For many blocks in the past I have used hammerite paint. For other parts, several brands, more recently some dulux automotive paint, which I have ben pleased with.

[Perky]

Hi Ae92typeX,

this is interesting to me. Could you confirm that you have successfully used "Hammerite" brand paint on hot engine parts? I emailed the company some time ago to ask what temperature it could stand but never got a reply.

cheers,
Russell

[Ae92typeX]

Hi,
as above, Ive used hammerite on many blocks in the past with no problems. Ive also used it with success on rear sections of exhausts (mufflers and pipes), but would not suggest one use it on extractors/exhaust manifolds for example.
The key on the block was getting it spottless, as any oil traces stuff it up. I usually then apply a thinner 'tack' coat, followed by a normal, not heavy,coat about about 15-20min's later.
Ive used both hammered finish and smooth finish. On my clubman I used smooth green. Two years later, a very small amount came away where I had a small coolant leak, but if it was dry, it would have been fine.
Ive used hammered black on several blocks, which wereok when I sold them. Also have used iton the aw11, but I only put that fresh engine in a year ago. Its still good, but hardly a time tester.
hope thats a help

[Perky]

Cheers,

thanks for that info. My muffler was one of the things I was considering using it on. I might try it on my brake discs too, if I ever get around to painting them.

[~SlideWays~]

I hope you don't really mean your brake discs?!

[postfach]

I hope you don't really mean your brake discs?!

hehe there was a post on one of the honda sites once where some tard had painted his rotors red, i dont think he ever lived it down

[Perky]

I do, but not the braking surfaces obviously; just the rusty parts that can be seen through the wheels.

[postfach]

just paint the hat (center bit)

[Perky]

Exactly. I just thought this was obvious but I guess your tale about the Honda owner shows that we have to be careful with impressionable young minds.

[Perky]

Perhaps I should add that I also wasn't thinking of painting over that hole in the end of the exhaust pipe and wouldn't recommend that others do either.