Engine painting...where to start

[sweet_baby_james]

I have all my motor cases and covers back from being soda blasted (didnt want to take the risk with glass or sand blasting) and am now ready to start painting.

Since the soda blasting doesnt leave a keyed surface I assume that I will have to etch the surface? I've done research on the forums and I think I'll probably be using VHT paints. They have a prep spray (which I assume is an etcher?), primer, color and clear coat.

I am hoping that you guys could advise as to whether I am on the right track here, or perhaps suggest a better course of action, different paints, methods etc.

I haven't purchased anything yet so I am open to suggestions.

Thanks

 

[Rpino7]

This is always a good bookmark to have!
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=10993.0
follow these steps and your solid!

 

[kicker]

That's a good read, have been thinking of painting my engine too.

 

[Scruffy]

Doesn't matter which brand of engine paint you use, PJ1 was the best for bike use but haven't seen it on the shelf for quite awhile. I did an engine 18 years ago that still looked brand new when I saw it last year.

I cheat, I have an old electric oven and bake the parts before the first hint of paint goes on them. Metal pan, kitty litter completely surrounding the part(s) bake at 300 degrees for a couple hours to draw any oil out of the metal. Keep doing that until the parts stop putting oil in the kitty litter, then a solvent wash, then heat the metal to 150 degrees and lay on the primer. Bake the primer dry, follow the can directions for color and if needed clear, then bake the parts as directed on the can label. I follow PJ1 and VHT directions regardless of what brand I'm using.

Just touching up parts on the installed engine? Solvent wash, warm up the engine, solvent wash again, spray warm motor parts, run engine until the paint stops smoking and recoat. Run until the finish is dry to the touch and then go for a ride.

 

[sweet_baby_james]

Scruffy, what solvent are you using?

 

[Scruffy]

Usually cheap lacquer thinner. The kind sold at the PPG store for cleaning your spray gun. Sometime straight acetone or denatured alcohol. Whatever is closest to where I'm tinkering.

If the metal is super smooth I etch it with oven cleaner.

I'm fairly old fashioned doing this stuff... grew up riding Knuckles, Pans, Indians and pre-unit Brit bikes, so I learned from the guys that were already pretty much ancient when I started playing with bikes in 87.

 

[Tim]

What color are you painting them? I've left my last 3 engines bare aluminum after soda blasting. Free and never chips

 

[sweet_baby_james]

I'm painting silver, as close to stock colour as possible. Except the block, that will be black. The aluminium is oxidized in places so leaving it bare wouldn't be a great look.

Anyone have paint codes for colours that are close to stock?

 

[kicker]

Cheers Scruffy, I have heard that PJ1 is good stuff I wonder if it is still available?

edit: looks like you can still get it