18 replies to this topic

[Gunnsie]

Hi All,

Does the paint I use for painting the rocker cover have to be High Temperature Paint?? Does the rocker cover actually get that hot?? Also, I've never painted metal before, what preperation do I need to do before applying the paint.....i.e. undercoat, rust preventor etc???

Has anyone painted their's yellow before... if so, can you post pics please.

Cheers!!

[samsfern]

Ive never had any issues with heat when ive painted them, always used normal paint.

Its best to smooth them down, a quick wipe with some thinners/brake cleaner/pre paint, a coat of primer, then a few coats of colour.

[bcjames]

I stripped mine, etched, and used a normal bodywork paint from a rattle can, clearcoat over the top. Came up nice and shiny after a flat and polish, and seems to have lasted well. Heat has had no effect on it so far.

[Gunnsie]

Sweet..... cause the hammerite I was looking at the other day looked like puke rather than yellow and all the other high temp paints seem to be a lot more money than normal paint. I think I've still got half a can of clear primer somewhere in the garage, so might give it a blast with that first, then give it a few coats of yellow and a few laquar coats.

As for the main block (like the red bit on the pic of the engine in Sam's post), I'm guessing that does get hot and so a high temp paint would be more advisable??????

Cheers!

Chris

[bcjames]

I used VHT paint for the block and head. I bought a little tin from Halfords, brush on. It goes a long way.

[samsfern]

I used halfords high temerature engine enamel red for that, applied by brush.

[Gunnsie]

Did you take the engine out to paint the block??

Chris

[samsfern]

Yes, as i rebuilt it. Its not too difficult to get everything out the way and paint it in the car though.

[bcjames]

As above, easy enough to do it with just removing a few parts. I did my MPi with the engine in the car.

[Mini 360]

Mine, before



and after clean, kick rub down and paint



Looks like rust now but looked good at the time!

[Gunnsie]

That it a brilliant transformation. My rocker is worse than yours in the first pic... anything will be an improvement. I bought a spare rocker cover off ebay to put on my engine whilst I take the one thats on there now off and paint it, then once it's all painted I'll swap them back over again.

Is 'Instant Gasket' a good thing to put on with a cork gasket for added sealant??

I'm gonna have to paint the block whilst it is still in the car, so I think the 'Paint-on' stuff will be the best option.

Chris

[samsfern]

Ive always used contact adhesive to hold the rocker cover gasket in place. Provided that both the surfaces are clean, you shouldnt have any problems with it sealing. But you could use instant gasket.

[Gunnsie]

Cheers Sam..... gonna get the old one off tomorrow and strip it down.

[tiger99]

Consider that the coolant, mostly water, boils at a little bit over 100C due to the pressure cap, and you can estimate that the external temperature of the engine block and head will not be any higher, except close to the exhaust ports. There are no heat sources internal to the rocker cover, so it will not get any hotter than the head. In fact it will be a bit cooler, because both main heat paths, via the edge, or via the fixing bolts, have gaskets in the way which are poor conductors of heat. These is some heat transfer via hot gases internally, especially on a worn engine, and a small amount of oil at maybe 80C is spraying about inside, neither of which is likely to make it hotter.

So any paint good for about 100C will do. Engine paint, even for the block, does not need to be particularly special, unlike exhaust paint. But a good oil and dirt repellent finish would nake it easier to keep the engine clean, and spot leaks, so a gloss paint would seem to be preferable.

As far as I can see, the only unique feature of engine paints is that they do not need a primer.

[Surfbluegarage]

always used halfords rattle cans for my blocks.. lasts really well. rocker covers i shot blast them first then etch primer then add a splash of colour haha
if you speak to Guessworks he has some nice powder coated ones for sale in any colour.