Head paint

[Ken from Mich.]

When I did the head gasket, I had the head magnafluxed just to be sure. After installation, and a few days of weather it looked like this. I have some red engine spray can paint from TSC. How much prep work should I do? and do I need primer? Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[souNdguy]

chemically derust it.. IE.. naval jelly.. or other phosphoric acid compounds.. then clean real well, and dry ( engine heat helps! )

after cool to touch, prime it and then paint it.

spray bomb is ok if it is all you got.. I think I might brush paint it if I had the paint, vs spray bomb.. but you do what you gotta do and don't feel bad about it...anything's better'n rust..

soundguy

 

[Dell (WA)]

Ken.......DON'T PAINT yer SPARKIE WIRES. Rapp'em-up in paper, plastic etc. OK to paint yer sparkies 'cuz you don't want paint down yer sparkie holes. and take yer bracket OFF so you gitt ALL the head. And paint brush is just fine on castiron, never shows strokes.

Start with some "de-rusto" converting paint like "Ospho", will convert yer rust to black-oxide. Wash and dry. Then paint yer cylinder head enny color that pleases you. I'd kinda lean to hi-temp SILVER to emphasize yer engine work. Or maybe hi-temp bar-b-que BLACK. By deliberately choosing a "contrasting color", you don't haffta worry about matching colors. Simple, eh?

And BTW, fix that twisted copper red wire with a a "blue-sleeve" crimp or yer gonna behaving ignition problems. Same with that sloppy taped-up 12v conversion wiring. Be professional, eh? .......Dell, yer 20/20 painter (looks good at 20-ft or 20-mph)

 

[Ken from Mich.]

Yep. That red wire is my e-z on e-z off to the coil wire. And the others are untouched from previous owner from 3 years ago. Want to clean them up some day and get rid of the "exciter button" on the dash which I forget to push once in a while.

 

[Ken from Mich.]

I guess if I should use primer was my main question. Hi temp engine paint can didn't say anything about primer. Have some naval jelly and some Duro Extend. Rebuilt the carb too so gonna paint that also.

 

[souNdguy]

IMHO.. you don't need hi-temp paint.. my head on my N's is painted with the same paint as onthe tin... only place it burns off is the hot portion of the exhaust manifold.

soundguy

 

[Dell (WA)]

Ken........well that "exciter button" is taking place of the "idiot lite" that excites the alternator when starting up. The twist'em ignition OFF/ON technique shouldn't bee needed 'cuz your "exciter button" takes the place of the GM-Delco "idiot lite" that STOPS yer sparkies from sparking, so the engine stop. I know 8-ways that work to convert to 12v and a gadzillion+1 ways to bugger'em-upp. Clean it up with blue squeeze'ums sleeves and make it look "professional" Take PRIDE in yer ride ......Dell