Rustoleum paint

[Domenic T.]

Re: Rustoleum paint

Michael,
They do make it (Rustolium) in engine enamel. I found the Chrysler color closer to chevy orange. I also used the regular rustolium on engines before they came out with engine enamel and even though the can had a temp range much lower than engine enamel it works just fine. I think their (non engine) enamel out lasted name brand engine enamels but now they have engine enamel.
I descovered the ability to withstand high heat when I put it in a baking oven to forse cure it.

DOM

[Michael J.]

Re: Rustoleum paint

Thanks DOM, I was looking at painting my new "correct" 427 oil pan, which comes in black enamel (who knows why?) from LIC. If this paint flows well after spraying and can stand a few hundred degrees, I will give it a try. Thanks again.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Rustoleum paint

my new "correct" 427 oil pan, which comes in black enamel (who knows why?) from LIC.

To prevent rust, and if it came in orange then 95% of the customers would complain because it's the wrong shade.

Black is cheap, too.

[Michael J.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Rustoleum paint

I guess you are right, but my Ford oil pans are usually bare metal, no rust, seasoned surface, and easy to paint. The worst thing about the LIC oil pan is the huge, well stuck "Made in Canada" sticker you have to remove carefully (takes about 10 minutes) and use Goo Gone to remove the adhesive left over. Doesn't make me appreciate Canadian "craftsmanship" very much…… You wonder why they think that is a good advertisement for the Canadians, I am not impressed….

Michael------


Many GM engine peripheral components (e.g. oil pans, timing covers, pulleys, brackets, etc.) are made in Canada and have been for many years. The "Made in Canada" sticker is quite common.

Many years ago in about the early 80's, GM went to component painting of engines instead of painting the complete engine assemblies at the engine plants. In the component painting system, each of the external engine components are painted PRIOR to assembly of the engine. This includes blocks and cylinder heads, too. As a result of this change, oil pans were component painted. This included those used on engine assemblies as well as those sold separately in SERVICE, including some (but not all), of those used for applications which pre-dated component painting.

At about the same time as component painting began, the color for all GM engines changed to black. I believe there were two reasons for this. First, at about that time divisional-unique engines became a thing of the past as GM went to a corporate engine strategy. Black had not been used for any of the divisional-unique engines (i.e. Chevrolet= orange, Pontiac= light blue, Buick= green, Oldsmobile= red, Cadillac= dark blue), so it was a "neutral color" for the corporate engines. Second, it was also the best color for component painting since having all the differently-sourced engine components match when finally assembled would be relatively assured.

For SERVICE, the pre-painted oil pans also eliminated the rust which often affected bare steel engine components. Yes, GM used anti-corrosion impregnated paper in the boxes but this was not always effective and it's effectiveness waned over time. Plus, for SERVICE, the vast majority of folks could care less about the color and whether it matched the engine color. All most folks would care about is whether it was painted to avoid rust in use.

You might also note that on your oil pan a GM part number may be stamped onto the bottom of the sump. This will not be the same part number as the SERVICE oil pan (i.e. GM #14091356) since the SERVICE part number is for the KIT which includes the oil pan, windage tray, and instructions. The number stamped on the pan is the part number for the oil pan alone (not available separately in SERVICE).

[Michael J.]

Re: Rustoleum paint

Thanks for all the info Joe! It is interesting how differently the auto makers do things. I just ordered a 428 Cobra Jet block, and it was red oxide primer outside and Glyptal coated inside, with a bare steel, lightly oiled, oil pan. That all gets painted Corporate Blue, of course, before install. Just easier to paint that than the black enamel with the sticker my 427 oil pan came as. There is a GM part number on my 427 pan, as it is a kit with the windage tray included. I just get annoyed when I have to do extra prep work on something that could have been avoided if done another way, but I know I am in the vast minority of customers for their oil pans who want them coming ready to easily paint Chevy Orange. Thanks again, good info and explanation.