Tips on painting engine bay
Tips on painting engine bay I have a 96 Trans Am with the kmember dropped. There is not much rust, the engine bay is just dirty and scratched up.
I'm looking to prep it and spray paint it white. I've read posts of some using primer, and some just using scotch brite and painting. Can someone give me some in depth tips to prepping and painting the engine bay?
I'm mainly confused with what grit sand paper to use before and after priming it, ect.
Any advice is much appreciated.
I'm looking to prep it and spray paint it white. I've read posts of some using primer, and some just using scotch brite and painting. Can someone give me some in depth tips to prepping and painting the engine bay?
I'm mainly confused with what grit sand paper to use before and after priming it, ect.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Last edited by ssbowtie1; Dec 9, 2009 at 03:04 PM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: delaware
Are they light scratchs or down to the metal? If the scratches are real bad you will have to feather them out with 180 or 320 and prime the bare metal areas.
Spray the engine bay down with degreaser and scrub the hell out of it. You can scuff it with a red pad. You can base right over top of the factory paint if your using a solid color, but if your spraying a metalic you might want to shoot a coat of sealer on before you base.
Spray the engine bay down with degreaser and scrub the hell out of it. You can scuff it with a red pad. You can base right over top of the factory paint if your using a solid color, but if your spraying a metalic you might want to shoot a coat of sealer on before you base.
Thanks smooth01.
Once I prime the bare metal areas do I have to sand or scuff the primer or spray right over it?
Also, could I technically primer the whole bay or just the bare metal areas?
Once I prime the bare metal areas do I have to sand or scuff the primer or spray right over it?
Also, could I technically primer the whole bay or just the bare metal areas?
So once you spray the primer do you scuff the primer before you spray the base coat?
Also after the base coat dries do you lightly sand the base coat or just clear right on top?
Also after the base coat dries do you lightly sand the base coat or just clear right on top?
Last edited by ssbowtie1; Dec 13, 2009 at 03:12 AM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: delaware
Sand the primer down with 320 and then maybe some 600. If you prime the whole engine bay then your going to have to sand the whole engine bay down again. You must sand out an area futher then your are going to prime and do not hard line the primer. You can clear over the base once it has flashed. Bag off the car so you dont get no over spay, wipe the engine bay down with wax and grease remover (for oils) then wipe with soap (for finger prints), blow off then engine bay real good, wet the floor and may run it over with a tack rag.
Thanks again for your help smooth01 as well as camarox302.
Here's my plan:
Degrease and scrub engine bay simultaneously using simple green and a grey pad.
Any rough areas will be scuffed with a red pad and possibly more if smoothing is needed.
Spray some sort of prep solvent.
Primer any parts that are down to bare metal and sand down with gray pad once dry.
Tack rag the whole bay.
Apply base coat allowing 10-15 minutes between coats.
After 30mins or so apply clear allowing 10-15 minutes between coats.
Will update this thread with pics once I'm done!
Here's my plan:
Degrease and scrub engine bay simultaneously using simple green and a grey pad.
Any rough areas will be scuffed with a red pad and possibly more if smoothing is needed.
Spray some sort of prep solvent.
Primer any parts that are down to bare metal and sand down with gray pad once dry.
Tack rag the whole bay.
Apply base coat allowing 10-15 minutes between coats.
After 30mins or so apply clear allowing 10-15 minutes between coats.
Will update this thread with pics once I'm done!
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Teching In
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
I would skip the primer and use non sanding white sealer ,will save dry time and resanding and also adheres better,its allready white so it will cover better and you can go wet on wet. All the other steps sound good ,clean it real good multiple times start with degreaser then soap then pre paint cleaner good luck.
You need to look at what paint your going to use. I just painted my engine bay.
Some paints are not compatible with some primers so before you do anything you need to lay it all out. The paint will dictate the sealer and primer.
Usually if your going to bare metal you wan to prime it then seal then paint.
So the primer will have instructions on how it wants to be prepped first. Then the sealer the same and the paint. You use specific grits of sandpaper for each as well.
Best thing to do is figure out what paint your going to use.
Then follow the tech sheet on it. It's the easiest way to a good finish.
1 Wax and grease remover
2 sand for primer
3 tack it
4 prime it
5 wait for it to cure don't try and do it all in one day.. All materials come with instructions and tech sheets... follow them
6 sand for sealer, if you go through the primer to metal re-prime. Layers are better than one thick spray. repeat until its good. You lightly press down when you sand your trying to scratch the primer not sand it off.
7 tack it
8 seal it and let it cure
9 sand it for paint
10 tack it
11 paint it
either your color sanding or your not thats your call then you clear it unless the paint your using does not need to be cleared.
Figure out what paint your using and follow its instructions. Most reputable paints will have a "system" that you follow. I used HOK paint. Skipping steps or not following paints instructions can result in bad things. Might look good now but how till it bubbles and flakes off.
What paint are you using?
prep work is the key
Some paints are not compatible with some primers so before you do anything you need to lay it all out. The paint will dictate the sealer and primer.
Usually if your going to bare metal you wan to prime it then seal then paint.
So the primer will have instructions on how it wants to be prepped first. Then the sealer the same and the paint. You use specific grits of sandpaper for each as well.
Best thing to do is figure out what paint your going to use.
Then follow the tech sheet on it. It's the easiest way to a good finish.
1 Wax and grease remover
2 sand for primer
3 tack it
4 prime it
5 wait for it to cure don't try and do it all in one day.. All materials come with instructions and tech sheets... follow them
6 sand for sealer, if you go through the primer to metal re-prime. Layers are better than one thick spray. repeat until its good. You lightly press down when you sand your trying to scratch the primer not sand it off.
7 tack it
8 seal it and let it cure
9 sand it for paint
10 tack it
11 paint it
either your color sanding or your not thats your call then you clear it unless the paint your using does not need to be cleared.
Figure out what paint your using and follow its instructions. Most reputable paints will have a "system" that you follow. I used HOK paint. Skipping steps or not following paints instructions can result in bad things. Might look good now but how till it bubbles and flakes off.
What paint are you using?
prep work is the key
Thanks 99blancoSS
I'm actually going to rattle can the engine bay. I'm assuming HOK paint doesn't come in rattle can variations
If I had the means, I would use a gun, but unfortunately its not possible right now.
I'm actually going to rattle can the engine bay. I'm assuming HOK paint doesn't come in rattle can variations
If I had the means, I would use a gun, but unfortunately its not possible right now.
