E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

Technical Shop => Engine, Transmission & Rear End => Topic started by: bentpshrods on July 01, 2018, 06:59:00 PM

Title: My blue motor update. / new pics.
Post by: bentpshrods on July 01, 2018, 06:59:00 PM
   Why does the simplest ideas always seem to escalate with these projects.     :looney:    One thing always leads to another.  It started out that I was going to take my grill out and to change things up a bit, paint it back to body color. With the front end opened up I thought maybe just pull the radiator and with everything out of the way it would be easy enough to put in a new cam and lifters. I have the big purple shaft in it now. Sounds great but I have no low end torque.  Was'nt planning on pulling the motor, but the more I look at it and saw a few things MORE I should do ----well out came the motor.  This way I could check out the bottom end and reseal everything. I also realized I should replace the original springs with the bigger cam I wanted so the simple cam and lifters turns into a completer cam kit. Went with a Lunatti Voodoo cam.  After calling Lunatti and asking about springs I am then told I need to have my heads machined to fit the new springs.  WHAT!!!!   So now I have to find a reputable machine shop. After asking around I talk to a couple of shops to get an idea on cost ect, only to find out most all shops around here are booked about 1-2  months out.  CRAP.  Oh Well--no turning back now. The cam kit was on back order for a bit so I got on the list at a machine shop.  And since I am changing everything up I also decided to paint my motor back to it's original corporate blue color.  I am not building a complete oem resto--but I wanted something close to stock looking.  So the research began.  Like everything else there's a lot of different ideas. I had summit throw in a can of Mopar Performance blue with my order.  Was looking at Totally Auto for paint but it was pretty pricey for spray cans.  Settled on a pint of paint from Roger Gibson/Frank Badalson  restorations. It's a nice PPG acrylic enamel paint so it also needed a reducer(not included). So off to the local PPG auto paint store. Turns out they don't carry this line of PPG /shop line series.  Great---so now I am going to try the reducer that I will use for my grill paint and hope it works.  Plus to do it right I bought a quart of some DP50 epoxy primer and catalyst.  Once again the simple idea of maybe a couple of cheap cans of rattle paint make over has blown into a 10X the price result. Got to do it right I guess.  We all know doing a mopar on the cheap is a foreign concept.         :o       Out of all of this ---here's a comparison of the two colors. A big difference.  Tried to show a bit of the original color but it doesn't come out to clearly.   And a final question---Is it a good idea to clear coat it. Not sure if the heat will effect it in a bad way or not.   Will post pics after its painted.   
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: autoxcuda on July 01, 2018, 07:20:38 PM
No clear coat

You could prime the motor. That gives a consistent color over the different color base materials: cast aluminum, cast iron, stamped steel
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: 71-440 on July 01, 2018, 07:21:11 PM
I know how you feel buddy.
Look at it this way, if everything went as planned life would be boring....lol
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: ToxicWolf on July 01, 2018, 07:31:41 PM
Quote from: 71-440 on July 01, 2018, 07:21:11 PM
I know how you feel buddy.
Look at it this way, if everything went as planned life would be boring....lol

Or ... If everything went as planned, it wouldn't be Mopar.  :rofl:
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: RUNCHARGER on July 01, 2018, 07:40:15 PM
I dust some primer on engines as well. yes, your story is typical. You will feel so much better about the car in the end though.
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: Topcat on July 01, 2018, 09:26:09 PM
I used VHT high temp primer on my clean block first.
Then a light 3M scuff pad on it.

Then sprayed Roger Gibson paint with a jamb gun over it.

Sticks like glue now. No peeling ever.
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: Dakota on July 02, 2018, 02:20:05 AM
Quote from: bentpshrods on July 01, 2018, 06:59:00 PM
   Why does the simplest ideas always seem to escalate with these projects.     :looney:    One thing always leads to another. 

Been there.   Doing that.   And I have an E-Bodies.org t-shirt to prove it.    :drinkingbud:
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: Chryco Psycho on July 03, 2018, 05:04:29 AM
 :iagree:
We have all been there but if you took short cuts you would not be happy deep down & would be redoing it later again , you will be happy with the end result this way & when you are happy the cost becomes irrelevant over time anyway .  :twothumbsup:
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: Rich G. on July 03, 2018, 06:23:47 AM
I was always told to figure out what you think it's going to cost in the end and then triple that and you should be close! Oh how true.
Title: Re: My blue motor update.
Post by: 76orangewagon on July 03, 2018, 07:20:03 AM
Thanks for the picture comparison.... I was leaning toward the corporate Blue paint from Frank Badalson. Definitely wasn't going the rattle can route now I can see just how close it really is. 
Title: Re: My blue motor update. / new pics.
Post by: bentpshrods on September 15, 2018, 03:13:03 PM
    Got the motor done finally. I used the paint from Frank Badelson (PPG acrylic enamel). After looking at a lot of different blues this one seems pretty close to original.  Getting closer to getting this thing running.    :banana:
Title: Re: My blue motor update. / new pics.
Post by: Topcat on September 15, 2018, 05:05:55 PM
Looks good.

The timing tape:

Was wondering what one you're using"
I never had good luck with them sticking on for good.

They eventually peel/fly off.
Title: Re: My blue motor update. / new pics.
Post by: Cuda Cody on September 15, 2018, 05:28:35 PM
Looks great!  Nice job man.   :clapping:
Title: Re: My blue motor update. / new pics.
Post by: anlauto on September 15, 2018, 05:40:55 PM
I'm a little confused ...you're building a modified car yet you're pulling your hair out over getting the correct shade of blue ? :huh: Looking at the final product...who would ever suggest the "blue is not exactly correct" Correct for what ?
Title: Re: My blue motor update. / new pics.
Post by: Chryco Psycho on September 15, 2018, 07:17:59 PM
It must have been a few days ago when the engine fell off the stand , Glad it missed your foot & did not do significant damage at least