Has anyone painted a modular engine? I am considering painting one ford blue before I drop it in, and I am curious how they look. Can the valve covers be painted?

Pictures would be nice....

 

What would I do to paint a modular?

The iron block is a piece of cake.

The aluminum heads, use that green marine primer, gawd, I forget what it's called and I use it all the time

I've used that green marine primer on iron too and it works great.

The valve covers, find a plastic primer and see what it says about applying it. Find a high-temp one, if one exists (although the valve covers don't usually get that hot). I would rough up the plastic with sand paper first to make sure the paint sticks.

Good luck with it! The valve covers might be the only problem. Does anyone make cast aluminum or sheet metal ones?

 

That's about what I figured regarding the valve covers. Those would be the hard ones.

I was considering using a high temp epoxy and epoxy primer. I've got experience with these....

A semi gloss or satin blue would look sharp on these engines.

 

BBK makes billet aluminum valve covers for the modulars. Those are the only aftermarket mass produced covers I know of.

-Kerry

 

Go to a junk yard, get an extra set of valve covers and try it out

If they work out, use them on the motor

 

By the way, that green marine primer is "zinc chromate" (just remembered what it was).

I've used it on aluminum heads, and never had a problem with the paint coming off, even around the exhaust ports. Tempo makes it. I've also used their engine enamel, which works out pretty well, especially if you bake it in front of a propane space heater - hard as nails after baking.