Clear coat engine paint

[togntime1]

to ride the patina wave and to add character I'm considering clear coating my engine block rather than painting it the typical black. I've got the valve cover clear coated already. Has anyone done this? I see there are high temp engine clear coats available. I'm assuming those products would suppress rust as well as other engine paints??

 

[tweek99]

I would think it would be fine, if it needs touching up later you don't have to worry about overspray looking bad

 

[rusty musket]

i think bulldog77 did it in project pork roll check it out
Mission Impossible......My 74 & 76 Build up by a Top Gun Land Cruiser builder :)

 

[wimberosa]

That would be super-man.

 

[Downey]

The clear coats I use don't hold up very well in the sun, but then your drivetrain will always be in the shade.

 

[Splangy]

Nothing sticks very long to rust, grease, dirt, or smooth surfaces. Keep that in mind. Based on your photos, I wouldn’t expect a clear coat to last very long.

 

[togntime1]

Yea. My sons posters are hanging in the garage. I still have some cleaning to do. I'm curious if it's as durable as a colored paint.

 

[swelltimes]

Yea. My sons posters are hanging in the garage. I still have some cleaning to do. I'm curious if it's as durable as a colored paint.

Looks like you have a fun project on your hands!

My experience has been that rattle-can clear coats are hit or miss, and generally more trouble than they are worth.

We don't have any pics of your exterior / body, which is where most folks on the "patina wave" are looking. You, just like all of us on this forum, are going to have fluid leaks and high temps in the engine bay, so I'd recommend focusing first on ensuring 100% mechanical functioning / reliability, and *then* worrying about the aesthetics. Patina isn't something that I'd want to have as a "feature" in my engine bay, respectfully.

 

[Pighead]

Patina isn't something that I'd want to have as a "feature" in my engine bay, respectfully.

Concur.

 

[1MOA]

Paint it a sliver grey that will adhere better then clear coat will.

 

[togntime1]

I got it running, but can't attest to its "reliability". It started after sitting 8+ years and would consistently start in the garage. The cosmetic stuff is the fun stuff! If I didn't look forward to that I'd never get through the mechanical hurdles - and God know I have plenty of them - I'm doing frame and axel swap + 3/4 tun replacement. Hopefully she running 10 years.

 

[swelltimes]

I got it running, but can't attest to its "reliability". It started after sitting 8+ years and would consistently start in the garage. The cosmetic stuff is the fun stuff! If I didn't look forward to that I'd never get through the mechanical hurdles - and God know I have plenty of them - I'm doing frame and axel swap + 3/4 tun replacement. Hopefully she running 10 years.

Great that you have it running! Sounds like you have big plans for it.

Take this as my 2 cents: if I were in your shoes, I'd get your truck running and on the road, make some of the bigger modifications that you have planned, and then drive it a bit more. Once you're settled on the mechanical side of things, *then* think about addressing the cosmetic stuff.

 

[coonassjohn]

If you don't do something about the "patina" aka RUST, it'll be a nice pile of dust on the garage floor.

 

[togntime1]

Thanks. There's plenty of that on the floor already. Transferring engine and drivetrain here when complete