Painting an engine using Preval Sprayer

[jenkins71]

Hello! I know this topic has been beat to death, but I will in the next few months be painting my 440. I always thought I would be going the rattle-can route, but as I am right now preparing to paint my engine bay F7 green using real single-stage paint and Preval sprayers, I figured it might be better to paint my motor with a higher quality paint than that you can buy in a rattle-can.

Will non-high-temp paint hold up ok?

My plan was to primer the engine with a high-temp primer, like a VHT or something, then spray it with hemi orange in a preval jar. Anyone know the paint code? And how much paint I should use? I assume a quart would be plenty.

Thanks!

 

[Gpuller]

I'm going to suggest going and getting a cheap HVLP gravity feed gun. Should be alble to get one online for $40. Even a cheapy gun will produce better results than the Preval sprayers. Going to go threw a bunch of cans is my guess.

 

[jenkins71]

I only have an 8 gallon compressor. Don't feel like upgrading now, as I will soon be moving out of state! My dad just painted the engine bay on his Dart with Preval cans, looks amazing!!!

 

[69Bee]

Buy the paint from Mopar Performance, and shoot it with the rattle can. It will be the best out there, and the correct color. Unless it is a trailered show car, and every square inch wiped down all of the time, the rattle can will be the best for the money.

 

[jenkins71]

Well I already have extra hardener and reducer..... I want this engine to look good for years! Won't a mixed paint hold up better than something sprayed out of a rattle can?

 

[Propwash]

Won't a mixed paint hold up better than something sprayed out of a rattle can?

Yes, it does. You can order two part paint in a can. There's a push/punch button at the bottom of it that releases the hardener into the paint. They're only good for a short while after you punch the hardener. I know locally our local automotive paint supply store has them. You can get any color mixed up in them, including high temp paints. The also have an adjustable nozzle pattern.

 

[jenkins71]

Cool! That sounds interesting. But I already have the hardener and reducer. So all I'll I need now is the paint. I guess I'll just ask the guys at the body shop supply store.

 

[NJRR]

Just an FYI. I sell paint for a living. I have about a 50% return rate on Preval sprayers. They clog easily, or spurt, or lack enough pressure. I would use them as a last resort. You can probably buy a a cheap spray gun for the compressor you have that would be better than the Preval units. Just make sure the CFM and required psi of the gun works with your compressor.

 

[jenkins71]

Thanks for the input man. I've used the preval cans before though, and even though they can be a pain in the ***, i was pleased with my results. I don't think a gun can run for long on an 8 gal compressor though... am I wrong? Wouldn't you have to stop as soon as the tank ran out?
I'm telling you, my dad's Dart engine bay came out so nice with him using Preval, I'm really leaning that way... And cartridges are only $4 a pop at Home Depot...

 

[NJRR]

This unit might work with your compressor. How much air does it deliver? Should be a plate/label on the compressor with the specs.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Campbell-Hausfeld-Gravity-Feed-Spray-Gun-DH580000AV/202477565

 

[jenkins71]

This is my little air compressor:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-gal-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-TA-2530B/202564847
It flows 5 SCFM @ 40psi 4 SCFM @ 90 psi

I don't really know what that means. I don't know **** about air compressors.

 

[NJRR]

Your compressor should run that gun, which from the instructions requires 4.5SCFM @ 40psi avg.

What that means is it needs the compressor to pump out 4.5 cubic feet per minute at 40 pounds per square inch of pressure.

 

[jenkins71]

So, even when the tank runs empty, the gun will run off of the compressor trying to fill the tank back up?

 

[NJRR]

Well, it will definitely run longer than a small preval sprayer. And it only holds 20OZ of paint, so how much can you actually spray continuously?