The Ford Barn

FrankWest · 09-18-2014, 05:11 PM

Just recieved enamel green ford engine paint from MAC's for my model B engine. Supposedly good to 300 degrees F
No instructions on can!
Has anyone used this kind of paint?
I know about cleaning and degreasing the surface before painting but is there a primer?
Anyone familiar with engine paint?

J Franklin · 09-18-2014, 06:23 PM

Use a primer or wash with OSPHO and let it dry 24 hrs and paint. I like the later.

harleytoprock · 09-18-2014, 07:14 PM

Cast iron is so porous that it doesn't need a primer. After the paint has dried, start the engine and let the temp come up to cure the paint and then cool. You can do these heat cycles a few times. If its an engine coming together on the stand, the heat cycleing can wait till you ready.

Mitch//pa · 09-18-2014, 08:12 PM

primer is not needed with engine enamel

J Franklin · 09-18-2014, 10:17 PM

A watercooled engine should not get hot enough to burn off any paint, but I agree high heat paint doesn.t want primer. Did not think of porosity, or is it the rough surface that holds the paint?

tbirdtbird · 09-18-2014, 10:41 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

use no primer on an engine

BILL WILLIAMSON · 09-19-2014, 11:09 AM

A washdown with TSP will etch the old paint surface & allow the new enanemel to bond to it.
Bill W.

700rpm · 09-19-2014, 11:51 AM

I was always told that primer just adds an unnecessary layer of paint to a block, and thereby inhibits cooling.

FrankWest · 09-19-2014, 12:23 PM

Thanks for your help! It is greatly appreciated!

H. L. Chauvin · 09-19-2014, 12:53 PM

FWIW: POR 15 makes no recommendation for or against applying POR 15 undercoat prior to applying their POR15 engine enamel on cast iron.

Through experimentation, I removed all layers of old engine & transmission grease & paint, cleaned engine, head, & transmission case with POR 15 Marine Clean, treated with POR 15 Metal Prep, applied (2) undercoats of POR 15, then (2) coats of POR 15 Engine Enamel.

One can witness with many Model A engine photos that the standard engine enamels begins to break down immediately above & below the head gasket; however, when coated with POR 15 as described above, I've witnessed that this area immediately above & below the head gaskets will always appear like it was painted a few hours ago.

Maybe a few minutes more of the 3% painting time; but, absolutely no more of the 97% metal cleaning time; and just an example of having to do a Model A cleaning & painting task once in a lifetime.

Y-Blockhead · 09-19-2014, 01:01 PM

Does POR 15 have the proper Model A green??

H. L. Chauvin · 09-19-2014, 03:16 PM

Hi Y,

I've compared "Ford Green" sold by different Model A vendors, (some in quart cans, some in rattle cans), & even though their Ford Greens are close to matching in color, I never found (2) that were identical.

POR 15 Ford Green is compatible with all other Ford Greens, but paint from different manufacturers will never be identical.

Furthermore, here is what I've learned with over 50 years experience with all types of paint.

If one orders 100 gallons cans of computer formulated paint from any one major U. S. paint supplier, no (2) gallons will be identical.

If one is re-painting the interior of a house with 10 gallons of the same color paint for example, it is best to mix all 10 gallons together to obtain one uniform color because later touch ups of blemishes with paint from a different paint can will appear like touchups & will be very noticeable to keen observers.

Hope this helps.

Y-Blockhead · 09-19-2014, 03:42 PM

Thanks H. L., It does help!! A lot. I alway like a detailed engine.

Here's a picture of my 'other car's' engine, a '57 Y-Block (hence the moniker)

700rpm · 09-19-2014, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Thanks H. L., It does help!! A lot. I alway like a detailed engine.

Here's a picture of my 'other car's' engine, a '57 Y-Block (hence the moniker)

That's a nice-looking engine!

Y-Blockhead · 09-19-2014, 11:38 PM

Thank 700rpm.

Wallace · 09-20-2014, 06:23 AM

Yes, that is great detail in the engine area...especially nice exhaust manifolds...thanks for showing

Flathead · 09-20-2014, 01:37 PM

Thanks for the info H.L. I've used Por 15 before, but not on an engine. I'm building an A engine now and may try this.
Mr Y-Blockhead, I have good memories of several 292's that I tortured unmercifully when I was a teenager, never got one to blow up. The Y-block doesn't get enough respect.

09-18-2014, 05:11 PM	#1
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,005	engine enamel paint Just recieved enamel green ford engine paint from MAC's for my model B engine. Supposedly good to 300 degrees F No instructions on can! Has anyone used this kind of paint? I know about cleaning and degreasing the surface before painting but is there a primer? Anyone familiar with engine paint?

09-18-2014, 06:23 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: engine enamel paint Use a primer or wash with OSPHO and let it dry 24 hrs and paint. I like the later.

09-18-2014, 07:14 PM	#3
harleytoprock Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 438	Re: engine enamel paint Cast iron is so porous that it doesn't need a primer. After the paint has dried, start the engine and let the temp come up to cure the paint and then cool. You can do these heat cycles a few times. If its an engine coming together on the stand, the heat cycleing can wait till you ready.

09-18-2014, 08:12 PM	#4
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: engine enamel paint primer is not needed with engine enamel

09-18-2014, 10:17 PM	#5
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: engine enamel paint A watercooled engine should not get hot enough to burn off any paint, but I agree high heat paint doesn.t want primer. Did not think of porosity, or is it the rough surface that holds the paint?

09-18-2014, 10:41 PM	#6
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: engine enamel paint Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) use no primer on an engine __________________ '31 180A

09-19-2014, 11:09 AM	#7
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: engine enamel paint A washdown with TSP will etch the old paint surface & allow the new enanemel to bond to it. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

09-19-2014, 11:51 AM	#8
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: engine enamel paint I was always told that primer just adds an unnecessary layer of paint to a block, and thereby inhibits cooling. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

09-19-2014, 12:23 PM	#9
FrankWest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 3,005	Re: engine enamel paint Thanks for your help! It is greatly appreciated!

09-19-2014, 12:53 PM	#10
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: engine enamel paint FWIW: POR 15 makes no recommendation for or against applying POR 15 undercoat prior to applying their POR15 engine enamel on cast iron. Through experimentation, I removed all layers of old engine & transmission grease & paint, cleaned engine, head, & transmission case with POR 15 Marine Clean, treated with POR 15 Metal Prep, applied (2) undercoats of POR 15, then (2) coats of POR 15 Engine Enamel. One can witness with many Model A engine photos that the standard engine enamels begins to break down immediately above & below the head gasket; however, when coated with POR 15 as described above, I've witnessed that this area immediately above & below the head gaskets will always appear like it was painted a few hours ago. Maybe a few minutes more of the 3% painting time; but, absolutely no more of the 97% metal cleaning time; and just an example of having to do a Model A cleaning & painting task once in a lifetime.

09-19-2014, 01:01 PM	#11
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: engine enamel paint Does POR 15 have the proper Model A green??

09-19-2014, 03:16 PM	#12
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: engine enamel paint Hi Y, I've compared "Ford Green" sold by different Model A vendors, (some in quart cans, some in rattle cans), & even though their Ford Greens are close to matching in color, I never found (2) that were identical. POR 15 Ford Green is compatible with all other Ford Greens, but paint from different manufacturers will never be identical. Furthermore, here is what I've learned with over 50 years experience with all types of paint. If one orders 100 gallons cans of computer formulated paint from any one major U. S. paint supplier, no (2) gallons will be identical. If one is re-painting the interior of a house with 10 gallons of the same color paint for example, it is best to mix all 10 gallons together to obtain one uniform color because later touch ups of blemishes with paint from a different paint can will appear like touchups & will be very noticeable to keen observers. Hope this helps. Last edited by H. L. Chauvin; 09-19-2014 at 03:17 PM. Reason: typo

09-19-2014, 03:42 PM	#13
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: engine enamel paint Thanks H. L., It does help!! A lot. I alway like a detailed engine. Here's a picture of my 'other car's' engine, a '57 Y-Block (hence the moniker)

09-19-2014, 11:38 PM	#15
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: engine enamel paint Thank 700rpm.

09-20-2014, 06:23 AM	#16
Wallace Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East Texas Posts: 77	Re: engine enamel paint Yes, that is great detail in the engine area...especially nice exhaust manifolds...thanks for showing

09-20-2014, 01:37 PM	#17
Flathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 1,499	Re: engine enamel paint Thanks for the info H.L. I've used Por 15 before, but not on an engine. I'm building an A engine now and may try this. Mr Y-Blockhead, I have good memories of several 292's that I tortured unmercifully when I was a teenager, never got one to blow up. The Y-block doesn't get enough respect.