Painting aluminum heads

[Moms68]

I would like to paint my Steath heads engine color. What products are recommended? I've read to clean then use self- etching primer, followed by engine primer, and then the top coat. Is the self- etching primer heat resistant?

Thank you

 

[dvw]

I would like to paint my Steath heads engine color. What products are recommended? I've read to clean then use self- etching primer, followed by engine primer, and then the top coat. Is the self- etching primer heat resistant?

Thank you

I've used both self etching primer and epoxy primer. Both work. The last 20 years or so we've used epoxy. All of these motors were primed with epoxy and painted in urethene single stage. They have been painted between 13-25 years. They look like the day they were painted. The race motor even has bondo fill in it.
Doug

 

[AR67GTX]

Good question. I usually use SEM self etching when I have a nee$ for it. I’ve seen temp restrictions of 200F and 350F for it so not sure if good for engine parts or not. I think you would be OK to give a very light coat and then maybe a heat resistant primer over that for a little bit of build up. But not sure.

 

[Runcharger]

Wipe with wax and grease remover, light coat of epoxy primer, acrylic enamel (with hardener) is what has worked for me. Really easy to keep nice for years after spraying too.

 

[BSB67]

What level of perfection do you want and at what level of effort?

Cast aluminum will hold paint very well with just a good cleaning.

These were done 18 years ago. Rattle can paint, no primer. Intake, water pump and heads are all aluminum.

 

[Moms68]

What level of perfection do you want and at what level of effort?

Cast aluminum will hold paint very well with just a good cleaning.

These were done 18 years ago. Rattle can paint, no primer. Intake, water pump and heads are all aluminum.
View attachment 1828902

Not a show car by any means. Just looking for a decent look that won’t peel off. I’m using Seymour Chrysler blue rattle cans.