BGrendell wrote:

Hi, I've ;ooked at alot of topics and pics and I'm truly amazed at some of the craftmanship of our members. I have a 66 coupe i'm restoring and hope it comes out half as nice as some of yours. My question is on the engine area is there a certain kind of paint that you would recommened on using to paint there and under the car?

 

A lot of members on here have used rattlecan paint in the engine compartment.  Myself I used Rustoelum satin black.  The biggest reason I recommend this is, later if you chip the paint working on something it's easy to fix.  Just scuff the spot and spray!

MustangSteve wrote:

I have used Rustoleum Satin Black #7777 for engine compartments.  It lasts very well and touch up always matches perfectly.  The only thing I do not like about Rustoleum is it tends to fish-eye readily if there is the slightest oily residue anywhere.  Granted, you don't want to be painting over oily residue, but in an engine compartment with an ENGINE in it,that is hard to do!    I found the VHT engine paints much easier to apply, dry much quicker and are just as easily touched up.  They do not fish-eye at all, as far as I can tell.

A good wash-down with Comet cleanser and a scrub brush are a pretty good prep before painting.  Just remember that ANY scratches or sand marks or chips WILL SHOW UP after you paint it, so be sure to use some sandpaper to blend any areas with issues.  If it has been painted with multiple layers of old paint, AIRCRAFT STRIPPER will take it to bare metal.  I do not use a primer, just paint.

I second MS's recommendation for VHT paint.  In particular, I like the VHT epoxy satin black.  It seems to me to closely resemble the original engine compartment paint.  Also, it dries very quicklly, is chemical resistant, and says it doesn't need a primer.  However, I've used it on bare metal for a few things with mixed results - sometimes it will not adhere well, so I now always start w/ a primer when I'm down to bare metal.  As for the undersides, pls see my other posts - I recommend Master Series products, particularly the silver and the AG111 satin black. 
 

Last edited by jkordzi (5/28/2014 2:59 PM)