painting motor parts?

BarryK · 10-03-05, 08:49 AM

ok all, a lot of my winter project plans have changed. Now that Linda is pregnant I need to seriously cut down on the winter project budget as the $$$ needs to go to other more important things but there are areas of the engine compartment that I'm not at all happy with and really want to make look better.
One of the "big" items on the list I need to now change is spending the money on the reskinning of the intake, valve covers, and exhaust manifolds. This will have to be put off for another years winter project. BUT, I'm still not at all happy or satisfied with the way these items look currently plus they still need to come off so I can touch up some of the paint on the block itself also.
I know it's not the best solution but until I can rebudget to send the items out to have them reskiined I'm considering trying the Alumiblast paint (is that what it's called?) on the intake and valve covers. I know a lot of people have done it including my neighbor on his cars. My neightbor seems very pleased with the results but I'd like opinions from you guys on using a paint on these items rather than reskinning.
Does it come out looking good? I don't want a look that is obviously "painted" but i need to do something to freshen up the look of them and get rid of years of stains.
I realize that the results won't last as long as reskinning, but hopefully I'd only have to live with it for another couple of years before I can get the items reskinned so if it lasts a couple of years only that would be fine but if anyone has used the aluminum paint on their intake and valve covers I'd really appreciate hearing your results.
I know there are a number of "dressings" and other products for the exhaust manifolds so any suggestions on what seems to work best on those I'd appreciate hearing about also.

Luckily, I think the A/C install over the winter is still on though as she is looking forward to a "cool" Corvette next summer as much as I am.

As always, thanks in advance for any help you can offer

Marlar · 10-03-05, 09:52 AM

I am not sure what "reskinning" is, but I pulled the valve covers off my '65 327 this past weekend. They are the cast aluminum finned covers with "Corvette" in the center. They had been painted with some sort of aluminum paint and the years were showing. I used paint stripper to get rid of the paint (3M, it doesn't stink). I half heartedly attempted to polish them, but soon decided that the effort did not match the result. I just used a Rustoleum" Chrome spray can paint and the result is very presentable and nicely "clean".

allcoupedup · 10-03-05, 10:08 AM

I did the alumiblast thing on my intake. It looked wonderful but gas removes the paint and oil stains it. If you're going to get it reskinned eventually anyway, I'd LIGHTLY bead blast it. Same with the valve covers. It won't be "correct" but will look nice and hold up much better than aluminum paint. Bead blast the manifolds and cover them wih Eastwoods hig temp factory exhaust manifold paint. If you do it right, the paint will last a very long time and will look liek freshly cast iron.

Brian

paul67 · 10-03-05, 10:15 AM

Hello Barry,
I am not a purist but do like things to look clean. I have used high-temp engine paint (usually VHT Cast Aluminum) for a number of years and with good, if not original looking, results. I do not use it on exhaust manifolds (you know my graphite trick!).

The pic shows two 1967 intake manifolds from my basement parts inventory. One is the original 327/300 and the other a spare 327/350 (...490).

How does the paint stand up to underhood conditions? This manifold has been on my car for three driving seasons.

Before from Ebay.

After.

BarryK · 10-03-05, 10:59 AM

Marlar, I tried the polishing thing myself with metal polish a while back and the results were....... absolutely nothing. No improvement ( I guess you found the same results) at all which is why i'm now looking at the paint solution

Brian, I considered bead blasting but wasn't sure if it would affect the surface at all to mess me up when later on I send them out for reskinning. Also, for what the local prices were around me to get them bead blasted I might as well spend the little bit more and just forget that and send them out for reskinning. i'm really trying to cut costs down significantly and still get decent results if possible. I do realize the paint won't last years and years but hopefully I only have to live with it for a couple more years before I can revisit my original plans of reskinning them. If it looks at all presentable I figure $5.00 or so for a can of paint is a real cheap alternative to a couple hundred bucks for reskinning as long as it doesn't look TOO much like they were painted rather than natural. It might be worth looking into the beadblast and the coating on the exhaust mani's though

Paul, that aluminum manifold looks really good! Do you know where I can find that VHT aluminum paint?
You know i've always admired how nice your car looks, especially under the hood and your engine compartment is actually one of my "standards" of how nice and clean I'd eventually like mine to look. Seeing how nice your intake looks convinces me that painting it with the right type of paint should definately makes a significant difference and if it looks that good after 3 years than it should hold me fine until I can eventually get them reskinned. Would you suggest the same type of paint on the valve covers also?
Yes, I know your exhaust manifold graphite trick and I've used it myself last year but it doesn't seem to last very long. The good part about it though is that it's a very inexpensive method so I guess it may be worth it to just redo them over again even if I have to do it once or twice a year.
If I can get away with only having to spend a few bucks on a can of aluminum paint and a couple bucks on more graphite stuff plus new gaskets than that's a HUGE savings over the reskinning right now and it comes out looking as good as yours than I'd be very happy.
I need to touch up a few areas of the block also where gas, oil, etc has eaten the paint off, especially in the area between the sides of the intake and the valve cover so when I take the parts off than I can also get in there and touch up those areas with the chevy orange paint and small brush (I won't risk spraying and getting overspray on the new paint on the body).

Paul, one last question for you....... are there actual gaskets for the intake i'll need to buy or do you just use something like permetex?

10-03-05, 01:33 PM

Barry - if it makes you feel any better many SHP manifolds were dressed up with silver paint by the factory itself - how do you think the t-stat housing, which is cast iron, turned out looking silver?

JL66REDCPE · 10-03-05, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctjackster

Barry - if it makes you feel any better many SHP manifolds were dressed up with silver paint by the factory itself - how do you think the t-stat housing, which is cast iron, turned out looking silver?

Not to mention the manifold bolts. Part of the judgin process for 66 L79 cars is in fact to look for silver paint on the bolts and some silver overspray on the manifolds.

paul67 · 10-03-05, 02:15 PM

Barry,
VHT paint should be available from a local speedshop. That is where I purchase it. The graphite trick has a half-life but when you drive about a 1,000 miles a year, the $5.00 cost and five-minute application time starts to make sense.

Not sure about the question on intake gaskets. Yes, there are and I use Fel-Pro made for aluminum. I am not sure what the difference is between those and cast iron applications but Joe Lucia over in the NCRS Tech Forum steered me in that direction several years ago. But my memory is fuzzy on details. Something about an "embossed surface" is all I recall.

Finally, I use stainless steel intake bolts (again incorrect, local source) with Paragon washers. And of course Permatex 2 for sealing. They do not rust and the washers prevent the bolt head from biting into the relatively soft intake material on installation at the proper torque specs. Those intakes snap pretty easily if torque sequence is not followed. The fields of Carlisle are strewn with welded aluminum intake manifolds.

Marlar · 10-03-05, 02:30 PM

Paul67:

What is the finish on the valve covers in the photo you posted. Is it chrome over aluminum? Looks very nice. I have not seen a thermostat housing like that in the photo of the aluminum colored intake manifold.

IH2LOSE · 10-03-05, 02:50 PM

Barry

Been doing this along time Not just with corvettes.

The reskinning is the way to go youll never have to touch it again, (we all knew that right) so that being said.

Years ago I used the eastwood paint on my exchaust manifolds on a musting I restored.Pulled them off,sand blasted them,repainted them,cook them in an oven as directed. This was a car I restored in 1995 and it a garage queen all winter but goes out about 1500 miles per year for shows and cruises,I seen the car 2 years ago and it looked the same as when I sold the guy the car.

I used the east wood exchaust paint on my 66 in 2001 or 2002 when I redid that car and the pint discolered with in a season. I am not sure what I did different but i had my bell housing,intake and exchaust manifolds reskinned and they still look perfect.

Look thru the east wood catolog they have some good paint products. Before Johnz enlightened me on reskinning I thought the east wood paint was the only way to go

Good Luck

BarryK · 10-03-05, 03:19 PM

Jack, John, Paul and Larry

Thanks a lot for the info!

yes, I know the reskinning is a much more permanent and longer lasting solution but as mentioned my budget is now down the drain with the baby coming so I have to find a less expensive solution to last me a couple of years until I can get them reskinned. I hadn't known that some of the SHP intakes (and bolts) were actually painted from the factory so now I don't feel so bad going the "cheap" route on this temporarily.

I'll look for the VHT paint locally and I'll look at Ecklers for the exhaust manifold paint or dressing. Funny...... I've had Eckler's catalogs ever since I have had my car but never look at them because I kind of looked at them as the gimicky clothing and jewery type of suppplier and always purchased what parts I've needed from LICS and Paragon. Good to hear Ecklers actually might be useful afterall

Thanks again everyone! This forum is great.

Bwmurph · 10-03-05, 04:21 PM

Barry,

I've got a can of "Alumi-Blast" that you can have to try out if you'd like; I also have a bottle of exhasut manifold dressing (it's acutally cast iron stove dressing that works well; if I knew how to post pictures I post a picture of my motor) that you can use if you want to try it. I live in Newark, so we can't be that far away from each other.

Also, congrats on the trophy; what show was that you were in ?

I would also like to talk to you about these blankets you make that I seem to remember seeing a thread about; I could be interested in one or two.

Let me know if you're interested in any of this,

Bernie O.

JL66REDCPE · 10-03-05, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryK

I hadn't known that some of the SHP intakes (and bolts) were actually painted from the factory

Barry -- I did not say the L 79 manifolds were painted from the factory. All I said was that they painted the bolts and there is supposed to be some overspray on the manifold -- they were raw aluminum. Now, the thermostat housings on the L 79 was painted. I did not you to misunderstand.

BarryK · 10-03-05, 04:29 PM

Bernie

that's great and extremely generous of you! thanks!

I'd be glad to go over the blankets with you and can show you a few real ones in person that way if you are interested.
I'll PM you so we can get in contact with each other.

The show was our Vette Clubs annual show at Kahunaville yesterday.

BarryK · 10-03-05, 04:37 PM

John

I understand but thanks for pointing out the difference. My car is an L76 but I assume it's the same thing on the intake and bolts.
Being NCRS "correct" isn't as important right now as just trying to make the motor more presentable and clean looking. Besides, there are SOOOOOOO many things on my car that are NCRS "wrong" that a bit of paint on the intake and valve covers would be the least of my concerns until I can get them reskinned.
My single biggest concern was that I didn't want them to have too much of a heavily painted look since I knew they really weren't painted from the factory but after seeing Paul's intake if mine can look like that for a few years I'b be very satisfied. I just have to be sure to spray them with even and light coats I think so I am sure not to get too much paint build up.