Prime new oil pan before painting?

[Michael H.]

Re: Prime new oil pan before painting?

Mkichael,

quick question on an orgie oil pan - as DR ChuckG has posted - when we bead blasted the pan from my July 1963 built Z06, there was a 'blue/turqouise" primer-like coating underneath the Chebbie Orange - this is an oringal 6-quart 327/360 hp oil pan that has obvious brazing where #3 rod blew through the pan - what do the annointed think???????

Rick, I have to guess that it was painted that color some time in it's life, other than at the Flint engine plant. I've never seen another painted or primed that color.
People did strange things to these cars and engines way back when.

[David D.]

Re: Prime new oil pan before painting?

Louie,

I'd prime and make sure to use Self Etching Primer

(

http://carpaint.blogspot.com/2006/07/self-etching-primer.html

David

[Joe L.]

Re: Prime new oil pan before painting?

Mkichael,

quick question on an orgie oil pan - as DR ChuckG has posted - when we bead blasted the pan from my July 1963 built Z06, there was a 'blue/turqouise" primer-like coating underneath the Chebbie Orange - this is an oringal 6-quart 327/360 hp oil pan that has obvious brazing where #3 rod blew through the pan - what do the annointed think???????

Rick----


I agree with Michael; I really don't think it ever came that way from GM. Some GM SERVICE oil pans sold once-upon-a-time did come painted out of the box. However, the paint was Chevy Orange and I have absolutely no indication that they were ever primed prior to paint.

In this case, you KNOW the pan has been off the car and repaired. So, you KNOW the pan has been previously painted. I strongly suspect that someone, at the time, decided that it would be a good idea to prime the pan before painting it. It might even be that some "filling" was done on the pan to "smooth it out" after the repair. That might be an additional reason that the primer was thought necessary. By the way, by "filling" I mean the application of plastic body filler (e.g. "Bondo") just as is used on body panels to restore original contour after body repairs. Assuming it has been so-treated, I doubt it's very thick---just enough to "smooth things out". You may find this if you remove the primer.

[Louie M.]

Re: Prime new oil pan before painting?

At the Bill Hirsch web site they recommend primer for steel, but not for cast iron, as has been mentioned: http://hirschauto.com/engine.htm

Just to be sure, I called the company and was told that their CO paint will adhere either way on sheet metal, and that it will "last for years" without primer and "last for more years" with primer. So, it comes down to how long you plan to live.

I'll probably go with a light coat of primer.