Hot Rods PAINTING YOUR ENGINE

If it's a car to keep the hood shut, it gets gray or gunmetal. Black might be okay but you'll never find where that leak is coming from.

If I plan to pop the hood sometimes, it gets gold or red. Those colors pop against chrome and make the engine compartment easy to look at.

Bright orange, yellow, white, or blue can work in the right scenario but I generally don't like them. They are usually a little too bright for my taste. That's my opinion and it's worth what you paid.

 

Was planning on painting the 351w in my 56 f-100 gold but I'm liking that grey cast color HRP used.

 

Interesting thread. I painted my block and heads high gloss silver so it would sort of blend with the polished aluminum.




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That contrast looks good with the red engine compartment.

 

Everyone of your engines you've posted bring up a desire to lick them

 

Great thread HRP ! We get to look at everyones pretty engines.

 

I spend hours polishing the block prior to assembly and I always use a contrasting gloss.

 

Last one I did I shot with heavy metal flake. Sure, only snakes and ants can see it, but I know its in there. Im not allowed to post a pic, as I have electronic carburetors on it. Damned kids these days.

 

When I see "stock/factory correct" engine paint, I guess the owner is trying to tell me the engine is still a factory tune.
I just assume the owner is kidding about that (unless it's a museum display piece), and I judge not. Personally I like doing stuff with the engine beyond what the factory proscribed. If you're a rodder and you're trying to keep it between the lines, you're doing it wrong.

My project truck will be custom color paint. I'm thinking 2-tone. The engine will be custom color paint......
most likely one of the body colors because a third color might be pushing it in my case. But I'm not adverse to the cast iron, silver/aluminum, mechanical black school of thought since I'll already have "contrast" with the body and interior.
I think you're going to like it.

 

When my Carryall was still government property in use at the Arizona State Prison, the inmates painted the flathead blue. They also painted the brake drums red, so it had a red white and blue thing going on. This was in the 1970's.



I didn't put much thought into this It's most likely a mistake. I thought that if I painted this fresh motor silver like a Chrysler eight should be, it would look out of place in this unpainted military chassis. I don't like military OD unless it has about 70 years of age on it. I ended up with a cross between faded OD and an apple green Model A wheel. I will never paint an engine black again. It is much easier to see when working on an engine painted a light color.

 

you too.......i thought it was just me.

 

I posted this one on another thread recently, Shelby American, but not FIA! I LOVE this!

FWIW, every underhood photo I have seen of the Dragonsnake shows your typical black Shelby American small block. 99% positive this was some fancy display engine, and never actually in the Dragon snake but it sure looks cool. for anyone that is really interested in building a real period looking sbf, Tony Branda has re-pops of the Shelby deep groove alternator pulley in the photo, in the original gold irridite finish.
http://www.cobranda.com/19shgthialpu.html
If you like period Shelby stuff, the Tony Branda website is more fun than getting the Sears Christmas catalog back in the sixties! $$$

 

Lick it hell, I'd marry it! Man, that's hot!

 

George, that engine stand resembles an original Cobra frame.

 

Very well could be. Maybe from a wrecked race car?

 

I usually go with Red but this is the second time I got a wild hair up my ass and went with Gold'

 

Black

 

Gee, nobody brought up the theory that the paint color could affect the engine's ability to shed heat. To some, flat black was believed to allow engine heat to radiate outward from it. At the other extreme, a gloss white or aluminum color would act as a heat reflector keeping the engine heat inside. Perhaps the Ford GT engines mentioned were painted flat black based on this theory. I do not know if the theory was ever proven or disproven.

 

Heres one that I really liked. Terd Fergusons pink cad...

 

a few more from the archives.

 

Yellow again. Sure works for me...

 

Hubba Bubba

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I painted my 409 for my '59 Impala tropical turquoise. Its contrasting to the crown sapphire on the car and similar to the interior color also.

 

Yup, yellow again...A real survivor.

RIP Steve, you did some NICE work!

 

I had red tractor enamel...;-)