While I cannot answer your question, I just ordered a pint of POR-15 Engine enamel from Amazon. I read good things about it online. I am going to brush paint it, but it should be thin-able to spray. But I think you will get better coverage when you brush it. Note: I have found the 69 Hugger Orange paint to be VERY close to Chevy Orange ( I use it as rattle can engine paint as touch up paint )

POR-15 42268 Chevy Orange Engine Enamel - 1 pint

 

The original Chevy Orange paint was manufactured and supplied to Chevrolet's Tonawanda Engine Plant by Pratt & Lambert, Inc. Don't think they are around any longer.

Chevrolet Orange that is widely available in spray bombs or in bulk are all good replications as the originals had some variance between batches, and after a while it all looks the same. There was a change from a more orange to a orange-red in the late 50's according to the Corvette and the tri guys and the names are interchangeable but you will find post 50's orange-red is what most everyone sells and calls Chevrolet engine orange these days.

I regularly use these days with great results DUPLI-COLOR Engine Enamel Chevrolet Orange #DE1620, Rust-Oleum Engine Enamel Chevy Orange 248941 or the high temp version 248905. However my all time favorite is Bright-Beauty Engine Enamel which was absorbed by dupli-color and is still available but rare. I handles like silk and dries quicker, but gets you super high so use in well ventilated areas.

Some will say that all the spray products are too glossy, but for me it looks just right and after a few hundred miles not so glossy any longer.

Plastikote Chevrolet Orange #200 is often called a dead ringer reproduction, but I have not used it myself.

Here is a discussion over at Yenko:
Chevy orange engine paint ? | Technical & Restoration | The Supercar Registry Bulletin Board


A quick search of the forum for bulk paint brings you these options:
PPG Delstar Chevy Engine Orange, DAR #60524H - H Mixing Formula (1 qt, cumulative): DMR 400 4.0 units DMR 405 160.0 units DMR 464 660 units DXR 495 680 units DMR 499 1250 units Mix the paint 8:6:1 Delstar/DTR601 Reducer/DXR80 Catalyst and shoot it with a paint gun. If you have a new engine back from the machine shop and it’s bare metal, prime the entire engine, block, heads, etc. with PPG DP40LF Epoxy Primer mixed 2:1 with DP402LF Catalyst. - Corvette forum

Seymour EN-48 is according to Jerry M the closest to original. Engine Paint!

Another PPG formula discussion at Team Chevelle: engine block prep - Chevelle Tech

Brian

 

Seymour EN-48. I will not use anything else. No need for a PPG single stage paint.

 

I also believe in, and use, the Seymour Chevy Orange engine paint; it seems to have the correct 'red/orange' shade... and sprays on well...

 

Here are the before and after on my intake using POR orange with a foam brush. Turned out great but do it OUTSIDE the fumes are VERY dangerous.

http://www.carsbyjim.com/storage/UnderHood/IntakeB4Paint.jpg
http://www.carsbyjim.com/storage/UnderHood/IntakeAfterPaint.jpg

 

If you're buying Seymour EN-48, check out Auto Tool World. Less than $7 per can including shipping. I picked up 6 cans. Seems like everyone wants $12+. Even Amazon wants $17.03 per can.

Seymour Of Sycamore EN-48 12 Oz Chevy Orange Engine Paint

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will look into the various paint codes and Seymour/POR 15 paint as well. I do have a question for you guys. I just finished painting a Ford 289 engine with Duplicoat Engine paint in my 66 Mustang (Sorry but like Mustangs also) and the first time I ran the engine the Carb had a small leak and dripped gas on the intake. All the paint in that area wrinkled up and the intake needs to be repainted. Is the POR 15 or the Seymour resistant to gas and chemicals. I know the single stage urethane would not have been damaged as bad by the gas so that is why Im thinking about a cataylized paint this time

 

If you are set on spraying with a gun like I was, here is what I came up with for my 66 big block Chevelle.... 1969 hugger orange, code 72 was a perfect match to my early take off survivor smog bracket. We used BASF paint. Not sure but I assume the Tonawanda big blocks were the same color as the Flint small blocks. Most all of the rattle can colors I've seen are either to red or to shiny for me. We had a very lengthy discussion over at the CRG a couple of years ago.
There are pictures there of how my engine turned out as well as the original bracket sitting on top of the intake before I stripped it. You can be the judge. Hope this helps.


Correct engine paint suggestions please!

 

Got my POR-15 Engine enamel. Its close, but a touch too orange when compared to the Seymour engine orange

 

Sorry to hear that Kevin. Can you go over it with the Seymour? This is how it comes out. I did mine this past Sunday night.

 

I am doing touch-ups with engine in the car, I can see a diff, but I am making it work. When the engine is pulled the next time, will recoat with Seymour.

 

Update on painting the engine. I ended up using PPG DP red epoxy primer and Omni Single Stage Urethane Paint. Since I was painting in my garage I mixed the paints and sprayed them with a Preval Bottle Sprayer instead of my Paint gun. I was very pleased with the result. The color I used was Hugger Orange and it is a very close match to the Seymore Orange Paint so It can probably be used for touch up later on. Hopefully this process will be worth the effort. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Aerosol engine paint has no hardener/catalyst and is solvent sensitive; therefore subsequent coats adhere to the previous ones. Catalyzed paints require mechanical adhesion, so a paint applied directly over it may fail.


15- 20 years on engines painted with Seymour and others with no primer and the paint is not falling off on a well maintained car. Just bought BB 67 Chevelle that had an aerosol painted motor in 1984 and most the paint adhered well to the engine. If stored indoors for many of those years it would have been better. I knew the owner when to engine was done.

 

What are you guys that are using the Seymour EN-48 using for a primer? Thanks.

 

Nothing. It's not necessary for painting the block. Just clean it thoroughly.

 

I've never used primer

 

If using a rattle can, Plasti-Kote offers a high heat primer for engines, etc. If using a spray gun, I think most any automotive primer will withstand engine heat, except for manifolds of course.