best source/ type of engine paint?
 

Any suggestions for sourcing the correct color engine paint for my 68?

My motor was done up in the earlier/later than 68 "pontiac blue" aka Baby Blue paint.

My new 428 motor is totally cleaned bare and in process of being rebuilt, and I'd like to get the correct Metallic Blue Pontiac engine paint on there.

I touched up the original 350 with a rattle can and was surprised how good it stuck and looked (except for the exhaust cross-overs which burnt off in minutes) . Not sure if I can be lucky again. Oh yeah, I'm having the engine builder fill the crossovers in my heads when he does them to help w/ the burn-off issue and keep my carb a bit cooler.

what have you guys had for luck? rattle can or spray gun?
did you use a primer first?

I primed my intake after bead blasting and it stuck nicely-
Howard

I've used both rattle can and sprayed it with a gun. I think spraying with a gun lasts longer. As you stated, a primer coat always helps. I recently repainted the engine in my Firebird. The previous owner used the earlier, incorrect baby blue. I found a few rattle cans at the local Carquest and repainted what I could get to without pulling the engine. I am pleased with the end results. (And no, the exhaust ports don't last long). I recently saw in HPP where a guy painted the center exhaust ports with an exhaust manifold coating from Eastwood. They didn't get rusty or discolored, but turned a bare metal gray color. He said he would then touch them up every few weeks to keep them looking good. I believe Eastwood sells both rattle can and spray gun-type engine paints.

The rattle can style from Carquest is made by Plasti-Kote and is part #227 Pontiac Blue Metallic

Paint the exhaust crossover and the heads with a high temp (1200 degree) aluminum paint as the primer and then use Pontiac Metallic blue over that. The blue will burn off and I don't think you can stop that. The aluminum will stay put and will keep those areas from rusting. Rattle can works fine.

I bought engine paint online from Bill Hirsch automotive, read good things about it on this board.

I used Bill Hirsch engine paint and attached a close up picture so you can see that it is the correct color. My harmonic balancer's paint was in pristine condition and match perfect. The paint is rated to 600'F.

http://www.hirschauto.com/

For the crossover I used phosphoric acid after cleaning very well to prevent early burnoff. Done similar to exhaust manifolds and the paint lasts for years as the surface holds/bonds the paint best.

I'll report the longevity as time passes since the engine was only painted last October. Although, I when I was ready for my first fire-up I was short anti-freeze (had mistakenly used the majority on another car) and had to start with a low anti-freeze level (1.5 gal). After firing up and running for about 1/2 hour the car overheated but the crossover and heads paint did not show any signs of color change.

Also, tried other paints but the color and sheen was not satisfactory nor correct (IMO).

Thank you
 

Thanks guys for the replies, not looking for a concours restoation, but close color match would be nice. Why not a concours,,, well its a Lemans, and it'll have a 428 in it!LOL
Not necessarily a sleeper, but maybe close to one,,,LOL

Trying to make full use of the 1968 order sheet at the dealership! Ha Ha

You know, something that a customer SHOULD have been able to order if they so desired. Silly GM Corporate rules.

I appreciate the info and feedback. Thanks for the carquest #, they were where I sourced the "baby blue" pontiac color for my 350's touch ups. Tried hirsch's site, little harder to find the listing, going to go back and search some more. Not sure how hot the cross-overs got but man tha carquest stuff blistered up fast. I'll prep the head exhaust ports as mentioned and see if that helps. better silver than rust- Yuck!

Howard

I just scuffed the exhaust ports and crossover with emory cloth, wiped with brake cleaner and sprayed 'em with a couple of coats of VHT cast iron Hi-Temp paint, then top coated with the standard Dupli-Color Pontiac Metallic Blue paint. I probably spent 10 minutes max on prep and paint.

The blue turned silver but I've had no peeling or rust through since I painted the engine and that was like four or five years and 6000 or so miles ago.

http://orbitorange.net/images/exhaustports.JPG

I think the secret is the high temp paint undercoat.

Eastwood sells a pontiac engine metallic blue that looks close to the 68 color Howard.

Summit Racing can mail order you the Duplicolor brand. The Pontiac Engine Blue Metallic is Duplicolor number DE1616. They didn't list it on their website when I bought it, but they can get it if you tell them it's DE1616.

thanks for the "sources" I'm probably still a month away form needing it, just want to have my ducks in a row so to speak.
I like the silver high temp "undercoat"/ primer. Since the Metallic has a lot of silver in it, it almost ( in the attached pics) looks like the blue "faded" verses "burned off".
Cool.

Howard

there's a VERY DETAILED thread on this site if you search for it. But the gist of it was that you use that extremely high temp aluminum paint (bruch on) on the entire intake first, then as it's drying, you mist the blue spray over it just enough for color. After a few thousand miles, my heat crossovers are very good looking. Yes, the blue on that part of the intake is not the exact same color as the rest, likely because the blue is burning off a bit, but it looks MUCH better than those burnt intakes everyone else has!

If you're blocking your crossovers, you won't have this issue at all.