Duplicolor Engine Enamel needs curing??

[rbm]

I finished painting my BMW K75 engine block with Duplicolor DE1615 Engine Enamel over the weekend. I don't have the facilities to cure the paint in an oven at 200 degrees as recommended. Neither is the engine in any state to have it started so that the operating temperature can cure the paint. Is this going to be a problem, not being able to heat cure the enamel soon after applying it?

The engine will eventually be started and run, but not for some months because I can't reasonaably finish the job until next riding season. Will the paint reach a full cure over time at room temperatures without the need for accelerated baking?

 

[fresh_c]

It will harden over time, but once it gets baked it becomes hard as nails. Just be careful with it and you'll be ok.

 

[jsharpphoto]

lay the pieces on cardboard and set them inside a parked car all day in the sun. That'll get you a lot closer to cured and might protect them until you can fire the motor up.

 

[rbm]

Cheers guys!! Thanks for the confirmation. I'll be very careful with it because it will be stored in a conditioned workshop as I complete the build.

Jsharp, it is the whole block so I don't think I can find room in the car. Looks like this at the moment:

Kind of difficult without a helping hand and a large-ish car, neither of which I have at the moment. But I'll see if I can do this while the summer weather is here. Even baking all day in the back yard on a warm summer day might help. Metal gets awfully hot sitting in the sun.

 

[jsharpphoto]

when you said it was far from running, i took that to mean it was still in pieces.

 

[Scruffy]

Big cardboard box, painted black. Cover the whole stand in one shot. Direct sunlight for a week or so. It will be about 3/4 final strength. I wrapped my entire bike in thick black plastic while the engine paint was starting to cure. Paint lasted 10 years before it started chipping, not bad for an air cooled engine. Finished curing when it was operated.

Your results may vary, I painted the engine in the middle of a hot/dry TN summer back in 2000 or 2001. Very rare low humidity summer that year. This year, it is humid enough to almost need scuba gear on the riding mower. Repainted the engine anyway, in the gravel driveway.