Engine paint using DP90 primer

[Steve L.]

I'm getting my engine back from the rebuilders this wknd. It has been cleaned and no paint.

I though I read some time ago, that someone has used DP90 as epoxy primer/etcher then Quanta orange engine paint.

I was wondering if the epoxy primer is OK with the high engine heat?

This is a '73 SB,

[Chuck S.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

I love DP90, but this is one application where I didn't use it, and I wouldn't recommend it.

In fact, I used no primer in painting my engine...Chevy engine orange directly on raw cast iron cleaned thoroughly with lacquer thinner. At Flint, I would bet there was not even solvent cleaning. Primer, as well as too many coats of orange, will give you additional film build atypical of factory finish.

[Michael D.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

I...I used no primer...Chevy engine orange directly on raw cast iron...

Ditto for me. Clean block; no primer.

[Steve L.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

Thanks,
No primer it is.

[Steven S.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

Just FYI some time ago I was speaking with the owner of a body shop who was also building a street rod at the time, he asked his PPG rep about what products he could use to paint the engine for this car and the rep told him to paint it with the same stuff he would use on the cars exterior. If this is true then the DP90 should be alright with the heat, although if you wanted to use it I would seek a second opinion from another rep first.

Steve

[Timothy B.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

I can tell you for sure DP40 is good with the heat, I coated my block before orange paint but that was years ago. I think the engine orange paint is alkyd enamel and it's good without any primer.

Seymour spray bomb is the best paint I have used for these types of coatings and the orange color looks good to me.

[Gene M.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

VHT had a white engine primer that works great. Fast coverage with the orange. But when I went to get more it was discontinued. They have a substitute but not as good results as with the old white.

GM did not use a lot of paint to cover the engine. Most of the cars on the show field have way way way too much paint. Accepted standards have given way to over restored engines. The casting texture should be very pronounced with intermitted bare areas, not smooth/shine as the body.

It's just the way it is, over restored is accepted as the norm.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

I have used rustolium primer for years with good results.

DOM

[Michael H.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

GM did not use a lot of paint to cover the engine. Most of the cars on the show field have way way way too much paint. Accepted standards have given way to over restored engines. The casting texture should be very pronounced with intermitted bare areas, not smooth/shine as the body.
.

I agree. A primer coat under the engine orange seems to smooth out the cast iron. That makes it look like an old engine that has been repainted several times.
I don't think primer is at all necessary, or desirable for a factory look.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

I agree with putting to much paint on and loosing the cast iron look, but that is exactly why I use rustolium primer under my engine paint.
The primer seals the peaks and lets the orange cover with less paint.
All in all I use less primer and paint (combined) with better results than trying to get the same coverage with paint only.

DOM

[Gene M.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

Domenic has it right, that is exactly the reason for light coat of primer first. It makes the orange cover with less paint applied thus a clean rough casting look.

Most of the spray can oranges do not cover well. They tend to fill in the texture of the casting and bleed down not covering the peaks of the casting at all. Primer rectifies this issue of bad coverage.

[Ken A.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

If you want the nicest paint job and the most durable, then use acrylic enamel with a catalyst and mix "hugger orange". Use no primer & shoot twice.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

...Primer rectifies this issue of bad coverage.

Unless the primer is tinted to engine orange color (primer tinting possible at paint stores), primer will not help inferior engine orange paint to cover...the "hiding" ability of the orange paint is unchanged by primer. It will take at least as many coats to cover a gray primer as it does to cover the cast iron, plus you'll still have the additional film build of the primer.

[Michael H.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

Unless the primer is tinted to engine orange color (primer tinting possible at paint stores), primer will not help inferior engine orange paint to cover...the "hiding" ability of the orange paint is unchanged by primer. It will take at least as many coats to cover a gray primer as it does to cover the cast iron, plus you'll still have the additional film build of the primer.

I agree. If a "shake-em-up spray can is used instead of the proper spray gun with real paint in it, the paint will be somewhat transparent and will require more material/coats to cover. Spray can paint is mostly clear/binder with the color added. The problem is, not enough color/ pigment is added.

Look at the engine in the 12 mile 67 L88 car. I used real paint and the same pressure feed spray system that Tonawanda used and it looks just like a new factory painted engine. One coat without primer.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Engine paint using DP90 primer

They stopped selling REAL paint in some States a while back. We are forced to use water base paint which I have a problem using on bare metal.
All the REAL paints tell you that primer must be used.

The price of a pint of paint, reducer , and aditive is minimum $150.00.

I have all the spray equipment to spray REAL paint but found that 1/2 can of rustolium primer (rattle can) and 1 can recomended color engine enamel (rattle can) lasts for years and years.

I have a good friend that paints engines with REAL paint (custom colors) and loves it. He uses primer.

For the less fortunate that are satisfied with a paint that lasts as long and doesn't have $150.00 to paint his engine + the spray equipment, It does work as Gene and I pointed out.

DOM