Think I screwed up painting my engine block

[adk-roadrunner]

well as the title says I'm pretty sure I screwed up. I built a new 440 for my 73 roadrunner probably 4 years ago and of course I have never seemed to find the right time to get it installed mostly due to the fact that I have no garage and weather is always a factor in upstate NY. This year I decided it's getting done so I've been getting the last parts I need and hopefully this summer I'll have a new drivetrain and suspension installed. well I started getting the engine out of moth balls and realized the paint was coming off the block badly and you could literally scrap it off easily with your fingernail. The paint I used is mopar paint and I thought part of the problem was my shop I kept it in isn't heated and whenever I would use it in the winter time I would heat it up with a salamander heater which in turn would cause condensation to form on the outside of the engine block. I decided I needed to repaint so I wire wheeled the block clean and wiped it down a couple times with wax and tar remover. The first time I painted it I sprayed paint on bare metal as the paint said nothing about primer. I decided this time I would prime paint and clear. I bought VHT high temp primer and clear but could not find it in the blue I wanted so I decided to use the same mopar blue paint and hoped it would work ok mixing them. well it's been just about 24 hours and the paint still seems soft. It's not tacky but if I push my finger on it it leaves a print and also your can definitely make a mark with a fingernail as well. I'm not looking forward to having to figure out how to clean all this paint back off to repaint. I didn't pay attention to the weather as it's been so hot and It did drop into the 40's last night and has only been in the 60's today so I ran a salamander in the shop for like 3 hours when I got home and the block actually got up to mid 80's to 90's. I guess I'll give it a few days and see what happens.

 

[slimt]

With all the texture in the block. I bet it will be fine. Looks good.

 

[gkent]

If its soft, my guess is its on too thick and hasn't been able to offgas completely yet. That's why they recommend a few light coats as opposed to a heavy coat - particularly with enamels. Leave it, it will harden over time. Light coats would also help with adhesion.

 

[Builderguy]

If you just used the Mopar engine paint (no clear top coat), I would just let it cure/dry for a few more days. Some those paints take up to 48 hours to harden up. I would not be too worried about it at this time. It does look good.

 

[Photon440]

It'll dry out when you have it running and it gets hot.

 

[Sahara]

I’m a pro industrial painter, and I’ve had the occasional mishap. One thing that has helped, and you can take my advice or not, is sunshine and fresh air. There’s something about the ultra violet light in good old sunshine that can cure difficult paint. If you have good weather just wheel it out into the sun and let it sit all day.
Saved my butt on many occasions.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

If you just used the Mopar engine paint (no clear top coat), I would just let it cure/dry for a few more days. Some those paints take up to 48 hours to harden up. I would not be too worried about it at this time. It does look good.

I used all 3 in the pictures this time thats why I was saying I screwed up possibly.

 

[eldubb440]

give it a few days, it will dry..... the biggest issue in painting engines is adhesion....... for future reference, a light coat of epoxy primer will bond to almost anything, and pretty much any top coat will bond to it

 

[Ironbuilt]

If you have good weather just wheel it out into the sun and let it sit all day.

Before you do that, PM me your address.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Before you do that, PM me your address.

LMAO

 

[tnfastback]

If you have to remove, put it out in sun to heat and use oven cleaner (original kind). It will all be gone in about 30 minutes after a good rinse.

 

[JackR]

What they said. Give it warmth and time. It’ll dry. Been there.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

If you have to remove, put it out in sun to heat and use oven cleaner (original kind). It will all be gone in about 30 minutes after a good rinse.

Unfortunately it won't be that easy the bottom end is assembled so I cant hose it down and I'm not painting my aluminum heads or intake which is why I painted it before installing. Not gonna be fun if it doesn't harden. Oven cleaner does work wonders though I have a 97 eagle talon tsi as well and when I got it someone had painted interior. Easy off and a pressure washer make it look new again lol.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Fingers crossed. The paint seems to me starting to dry and its nice and warm out today.

 

[gkent]

I don't know why you bothered clearcoating a single stage paint !!!

 

[alsant]

Hope it all is ok

 

[kiwigtx]

I don't know why you bothered clearcoating a single stage paint !!!

It helps with cleaning if the guy wants to keep the engine looking nice for shows.

 

[khryslerkid]

Any dryer today?

 

[gkent]

It helps with cleaning if the guy wants to keep the engine looking nice for shows.

??? How do you figure clear coating over gloss paint makes it any easier to keep clean ?!?

 

[kiwigtx]

??? How do you figure clear coating over gloss paint makes it any easier to keep clean ?!?

It worked for me....matt clear coat over the underneath of my GTX made it a breeze to wipe down ready for showtime. Clear doesn't show the scratches nearly as much as the paint on its own.