Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

Terry------


No way that I know of. I've tried priming parts and was totally dissatisfied with the final appearance after the finish coat. Yes, it looked "nice" but not in any way original.

There really is no need for primer anyway. Self-priming engine paints eliminate the need for it. If the surface is clean and free from oil the paint will adhere well enough to last longer than any of us are going to care about it.

According to NCRS judging paint rules about body jams wouldn't too shiny or primered engines also should receive a full deduct also for originality & condition. I'm just saying what is the difference.
Most paint on castings were only there to last till the cars were sold or till after castings werer machined. A lot of the castings were painted at the foundry before they were shipped to the machining house. This is why most castings were not painted on the machine surfaces.Blocks were one of the exceptions. It was like the black out under the car to cover up nicks & scrapes at assembley so when delevered to the dealer it didn't look rusty.
KEN

[Terry M.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

According to NCRS judging paint rules about body jams wouldn't too shiny or primered engines also should receive a full deduct also for originality & condition. I'm just saying what is the difference.
Most paint on castings were only there to last till the cars were sold or till after castings werer machined. A lot of the castings were painted at the foundry before they were shipped to the machining house. This is why most castings were not painted on the machine surfaces.Blocks were one of the exceptions. It was like the black out under the car to cover up nicks & scrapes at assembley so when delevered to the dealer it didn't look rusty.
KEN

Sure Ken a full deduct for engine paint would be appropriate. Look up the deduction for that. I think it is around 10 points -- but I am sure that is not what you are getting at.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

Sure Ken a full deduct for engine paint would be appropriate. Look up the deduction for that. I think it is around 10 points -- but I am sure that is not what you are getting at.

TERRY
You are right! It was a poor attempt at sarcasm. I will get over it sooner or later.
KEN

[John H.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

A lot of the castings were painted at the foundry before they were shipped to the machining house. This is why most castings were not painted on the machine surfaces. KEN

Ken -

As I recall, the "paint prior to machining" thing for engine castings didn't start until much later, when the engine color changed to black.

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

Ken -

As I recall, the "paint prior to machining" thing for engine castings didn't start until much later, when the engine color changed to black.

John-----


That's correct. In fact, I think that at the beginning of the black engines (about 1982) they were still painted at the engine plants. Sometime thereafter the process changed. The engine plants ceased painting of the engine assemblies. The foundries didn't paint them, either. What happened was that due to environmental reasons, GM wanted to get out of the painting business at component plants. So, the castings were shipped to an outside vendor who painted them. Then, the castings were shipped to the engine plants for machining and assembly. I learned of this years ago when I visited and toured the GM foundry in Defiance, OH.

[Terry M.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

I got to tour Tonawanda someplace in the later 1980s or early 1990s and John Amgwert printed a story about it in The Restorer. They were still painting engines black there at that time. I think I still have the white NCRS shirt with a black paint spot on the back where one of the hooks on the chain hit me. Now all we need is someone with a good index of The Restorer to pinpoint when.

[Paul J.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

What happened was that due to environmental reasons, GM wanted to get out of the painting business at component plants. So, the castings were shipped to an outside vendor who painted them. Then, the castings were shipped to the engine plants for machining and assembly.

This is not uncommon in todays world. I helped a John Deere facility with this several years ago. The painted all of the black components on thier equipment. They contracted with an outside company to paint the green and yellow. The contractor's facility was attached to the Deere plant. Deere made all of the parts and they were moved in and out of the paint facility by conveyor. Since these were separate companies, they were allowed to have separate minor source air permits. This subjected them to much less regulation and cost.

[Ron G.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

Joe is 100% correct. I have been painting engines for years, and if you want the paint to adhere as well as look original, then this is the way to go. If the vehicle is not going to ever be driven on a dailey basis, then an the lack of primer would work.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Engine Paint Primer or no Primer?

I agree with all said. I do not like to use to much paint and round off the casting bumps, BUT, when I use a RUST primer it allows the color to cover with LES coats leaving the color even and the casting sharp.

Unfortunatly not all self etching primer is rust resistant and the paint ends up looking like factory paint in a few years.



I find that a light coat of primer reduces the amount of color needed, but the underline is that you don't get a second chance to paint the engine over when it is installed and I enjoy looking at a good paint job, MINIMUM COATS.

NOT all self etching primer is rust proof and the cast iron starts to rust imediatly after it is cleaned.

I find that the cast looks sharper with 2 coats of paint over 1 coat of primer,

DOM

DOM