I'm detailing my 69's engine compartment and need to refinish several parts. What do I use for the following items?

-Black brackets such as pulleys, alternator bracket, fan, horns, etc... There aren't alot of parts here so I'm hoping there is a spray can I can buy rather than having to custom mix something.

-Firewall, inner fenderwells, radiator support, fender support bars, battery tray.

-Bare metal parts such as master cylinder and proportioning valve. Want some kind of gray coating to eliminate that rusty look.

-Exhaust manifolds. I know there are several brands of high heat manifold paint. What is the best? Also, the heat shields are very discolored. These are cheap to buy but how do I remove the rivets to get the old ones off? If too much trouble is there a way to refinish these without removing them?

-Is there one particular brand of Chevrolet orange paint that seems to hold up better than others?

[ 04-03-2004, 06:38 AM: Message edited by: Indy Z11 ]

almost all of your underhood black stuff should be semi gloos black. The mastercylinder can be done with "cast iron" finish from a spray can.
I still haven't found a good exhaust coating that stays on. I don't know who's orange you should by for the block. I used Dupli Color and I'm satified with the results.
Roger

Here is some chat from Engine section on block paint.
graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Block Paint idea (http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=011861)

I use seymour brand spray bombs (sherwin-williams) and have been very satisfied.

Below engine has been ALL spray bombed.

Cast blast on master cyl, high heat cast blast on manifolds. I have one season of running hot and they look the same as the day painted. I sandblasted and degreased and painted them. No primer and 2 or 3 coats.
"stainless steel" paint on all siver (natural) and "stainless steel" first coat and a light coat of cast blast on the grey phosphate parts.

satin black on all the black parts smile.gif

gold paint on the booster and cap.

http://www.fototime.com/CDBFA2046658CFE/standard.jpg

What is a spray bomb? Never heard of it.

slang for regular spray paint.

I really like the "metal mask" from Restomotive Laboratories (makers of POR-15) for that bare cast metal look. Stuff is great! When applying, be sure to blot it on with a foam brush to get the best result.

I used a bake on paint from Eastwood for my manifolds. Baked in the oven at 500 degrees for several hours. After 1 hour running time, and 18 months in the paint shop, they were all rusty. I sent them off to Jet Hot. They're a little too light for cast iron grey, but hopefully, they'll darken with run time. Manifolds are shuch a pain to remove/replace, that I never want to have to redo them!!!

BTW Rustolium Satin Black (#7777) is pretty darn close to factory semigloss for firewall, and most brackets and pulleys.

John Deere (yup, the tractor company) Blitz Black is an excellent semi gloss black for the engine compartment. It's acrylic enamel made by Valspar. Best thing about it is cheap.

TY6416 - Blitz Black $28 gallon
TY25650 - Reducer/Thinner $17 gallon
TY6457 - Primer $28 gallon

Blitz black is an air-dry formulation. If you want you can use REN3001 hardener.

You can also buy it in spray bombs.

I use Krylon spray paints,
works great,price is good,
True Value,or Walmarts,not sure if Kmarts carries the Krylon brand.

Krylon sells semi-flat black if I recall. graemlins/beers.gif