Engine Paint

[Gary AAR]

I was reading some older posts about engine paint.  Looking for the best hemi orange in a rattle can.  I saw some folks on this site were working a few years ago to develop a paint plus hardener in a rattle can.  Did that project come to fruition?  If so, who do I talk to about ordering some?
Thanks.

[headejm]

You might contact @Cuda Cody about the development of the rattle can paint. It's been awhile since that was discussed.

[Cuda Cody]

I made a few cans and it worked great, but haven't had time to run a large batch.  The cost made it so most people would not want to buy them.  If I recall it was going to be around $50 a can and you would need at least 2 cans to do an engine.

[MoparLeo]

Dupli-color DE1652 Ceramic

[anlauto]

  I really like the Dupli-color stuff posted above, I've used it lots of times..

[headejm]

@Gary AAR  Is this going on an AAR? How original do you want it?

If it's a valuable car, I'd use a spray gun. 

[Gary AAR]

The paint will be for the engine going into my AAR Cuda.  My engine builder has already painted the engine with VHT enamel hemi orange paint.  I was just going to touch up a couple of small areas before putting the engine in the car.  Should I stay with the VHT brand paint, or go with Cuda Cody's paint plus hardener?  Can you spray Cody's paint over the VHT enamel paint?
Thanks for the help.

[HP2]

I'd stick with the VHT.  Sure, you could spray over it if you really want to, but putting a better paint over an inferior paint still means you are subject to the adhesion capability of the original coating.

Not very AAR cognizant, but there are two Hemi oranges, race orange and street orange. Not sure which was used on street AARs and how that compares to VHT.

[headejm]

FWIW...the correct "orange" engine paint for 1970 is:

Ditzler EQE-60626 w/ 25% Ditzler DX-265 flattening agent

[7E-Bodies]

@headejm do you have any photos of that color on a freshly painted engine? I'm nearing that phase soon.

[7E-Bodies]

@Cuda Cody that's not a lot of money for doing it right the first time (as I'm sure you'll agree). I factor in my time for pulling an engine and doing everything over. $100 begins to not look like much money at that point. I like your method of PPG DP. That's the plan for my NM 440 if the engine shop ever gets it built (but hey, it's only been about 2 years). They've been strictly told and repeatedly reminded not to do their generic rattle can upon completion as I will be painting it.

[7E-Bodies]

@Gary AAR not sure about your local automotive paint supplier, but my PPG supplier (Peoria Heights, IL) will mix paint and put it in a rattle can according to whatever color formula is supplied to them, or they'll help find that formula. Mine was a tricky color where they had to match some original trim, but I'm sure they'd do whatever color you choose. Also, even the cheap HF paint guns are sufficient for spraying an engine, which might offset them making rattle cans. Just a thought.

[headejm]

@headejm do you have any photos of that color on a freshly painted engine? I'm nearing that phase soon.

PM me your email address and I'll send you some photos. 

[Jocigar]

Came across this article a few days ago might be useful to add to the thread

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/how-to-paint-mopar-engine-which-color-correct/

[7E-Bodies]

@Jocigar that is a phenomenal article! Thank you for posting. It closely mimics what I was planning to do anyway, yet fills in some gaps that I was wondering about. Much appreciated.