Best engine compartment paint

[John M.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

I now just use PPG Tuxedo Black Lacquer, (DDL 9300 if I remember correctly), and have the supplier flatten it to an eggshell sheen. Dries quick and matches perfectly. The only downside is you have to spray it with a gun. I suppose you could have it put in spray cans, but I have never tried that. The General used lacquer originally, so you know that there will be no compatibility issues down the road like there might be with some of the enamel based spray cans. I keep a quart of already thinned and ready to shoot paint in the shop at all times, and it only takes a minute or two to put some in the detail gun and spray an area. the nice thing is, that you just pour any unused material back in the can for future use. The waste is almost non-existent.

Regards, John McGraw

[John M.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

I now just use PPG Tuxedo Black Lacquer, (DDL 9300 if I remember correctly), and have the supplier flatten it to an eggshell sheen. Dries quick and matches perfectly. The only downside is you have to spray it with a gun. I suppose you could have it put in spray cans, but I have never tried that. The General used lacquer originally, so you know that there will be no compatibility issues down the road like there might be with some of the enamel based spray cans. I keep a quart of already thinned and ready to shoot paint in the shop at all times, and it only takes a minute or two to put some in the detail gun and spray an area. the nice thing is, that you just pour any unused material back in the can for future use. The waste is almost non-existent.

Regards, John McGraw

[Bob R.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

While reading this post it made me wonder what the condition of the fiberglass should be in the engine compartment? While at a car show last weekend I saw a very nice 64 coupe. The car was in batter shape then when it left the factory. I noticed the engine compartment fiberglass was as smooth as the exterior surface. My 63 engine compartment is quite a bit rougher. How was the car delivered?

[Bob R.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

While reading this post it made me wonder what the condition of the fiberglass should be in the engine compartment? While at a car show last weekend I saw a very nice 64 coupe. The car was in batter shape then when it left the factory. I noticed the engine compartment fiberglass was as smooth as the exterior surface. My 63 engine compartment is quite a bit rougher. How was the car delivered?

[John M.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

Bob,
They did not waste much time on preparing the inside of the engine compartment.
While I can not speak to later years, the C1 judges expect to see the texture of the glass underneath the paint. I sanded a little too much on my 60, and would occasionally take a point or two for the underside of the hood being just a little too smooth. It is kind of nice doing my C1/C4 hybrid right now, because I can make the inside of the engine compartment as slick as the outside of the car with any consequences.LOL

Regards, John McGraw

[John M.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

Bob,
They did not waste much time on preparing the inside of the engine compartment.
While I can not speak to later years, the C1 judges expect to see the texture of the glass underneath the paint. I sanded a little too much on my 60, and would occasionally take a point or two for the underside of the hood being just a little too smooth. It is kind of nice doing my C1/C4 hybrid right now, because I can make the inside of the engine compartment as slick as the outside of the car with any consequences.LOL

Regards, John McGraw

[Timothy B.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

I did some experimentation with off-the-shelf spray paints recently and in my experience and opinion, using paints designed for exposure to higher heats and engine fuels is a better way to go for underhood conditions. I tried several, and found Plastikote flat black engine enamel (which is actually a semi flat sheen appropriate for underhood work) to be the most durable. Definitely more durable than Krylon 1613 and similar in sheen. My two cents.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

I did some experimentation with off-the-shelf spray paints recently and in my experience and opinion, using paints designed for exposure to higher heats and engine fuels is a better way to go for underhood conditions. I tried several, and found Plastikote flat black engine enamel (which is actually a semi flat sheen appropriate for underhood work) to be the most durable. Definitely more durable than Krylon 1613 and similar in sheen. My two cents.

[Grant M.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

I used Krylon 1613 on my engine compartment in 1987 and it has stood up nearly perfectly (on a driver; however, I believe the product has changed over the years in terms of the type of paint, not the colour/gloss level. I previously never had any runs/coverage problems with the Krylon, but the last time I painted some smaller parts for my wife's 78 I had to re-do a couple of items because of application problems. My earlier experience with Krylon leads me to believe it used to be closer to a lacquer base, owing to its fineness of spray and very quick drying quality; lately it seems to act more like an enamel, perhaps even a water-based enamel, and is more prone to application problems. For just slightly more gloss than the Krylon, I used Mar-Hyde semi-gloss black "guide coat" (presumably designed for sanding applications). Although intended to be removed through sanding, this product has stood up well over the 17 years it's been on the chassis and running gear.

My $.02 (Cdn).

grant

[Grant M.]

Re: Best engine compartment paint

I used Krylon 1613 on my engine compartment in 1987 and it has stood up nearly perfectly (on a driver; however, I believe the product has changed over the years in terms of the type of paint, not the colour/gloss level. I previously never had any runs/coverage problems with the Krylon, but the last time I painted some smaller parts for my wife's 78 I had to re-do a couple of items because of application problems. My earlier experience with Krylon leads me to believe it used to be closer to a lacquer base, owing to its fineness of spray and very quick drying quality; lately it seems to act more like an enamel, perhaps even a water-based enamel, and is more prone to application problems. For just slightly more gloss than the Krylon, I used Mar-Hyde semi-gloss black "guide coat" (presumably designed for sanding applications). Although intended to be removed through sanding, this product has stood up well over the 17 years it's been on the chassis and running gear.

My $.02 (Cdn).

grant

[Terry F.]

How about durability compared to original.

What about durability. It seems that the original black out was more durable to engine chemicals, etc. I assume the original stuff was a laqure type paint? Was a hardener added to it? Maybe the original stuff seemed more durable because it was sitting there for 30-40 years. Terry

[Terry F.]

How about durability compared to original.

What about durability. It seems that the original black out was more durable to engine chemicals, etc. I assume the original stuff was a laqure type paint? Was a hardener added to it? Maybe the original stuff seemed more durable because it was sitting there for 30-40 years. Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: How about durability compared to original.

Terry----

I would expect that the 1050104 would be equally durable as the original since it's what was originally used. It's possible, of course, that the formulation changed a bit over the years, but I don't really think so. I think that when the formulation had to change for government reasons, the "discontinued" sign went up instead.

[Joe L.]

Re: How about durability compared to original.

Terry----

I would expect that the 1050104 would be equally durable as the original since it's what was originally used. It's possible, of course, that the formulation changed a bit over the years, but I don't really think so. I think that when the formulation had to change for government reasons, the "discontinued" sign went up instead.

[Terry F.]

Re: How about durability compared to original.

Thanks, I believe I have a gallon of that still. Terry