Im going to be painting my eg engine bay metalic purple. Ive done some research but not sure if i should do a single or double stage paint job? Do i need primer, base coat, reducer, hardener, and clear? Can i use the same hardener for the clear as i do base coat? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

I have been thru this recently both with my RX7 convertible and my Accord Coupe....First Off.....PRESSURE WASH! Then.......Definitely go with a one stage and count on lots of prep time (scotch brite, sanding, de-greasing etc) If the paint's in decent shape that you are covering then I would prep it and then shoot it with a decent primer sealer which I used a rattle can primer sealer for. (Some my disagree but I have the pics to prove my results). Unless this is a show car, I would do all of the above along with masking well and you should be happy. Remember, you will be bolting alot of things back in after that will improve your results as well. In the end.....it's mostly in the prep work as I can't stress how important making sure it's clean and free of contaminants.

 

Base and clear all day long

 

Disagree.....too many sharp angles for an amatuer painter to deal with AND keep the paint looking "WET".....not to mention having to deal unforeseen contaminants in the engine bay that ALWAYS show up. Single stage for engine bays, interiors AND door jams for anyone painting as an "enthusiast". Period. Point. Blank.

 

Im going to be painting my eg engine bay metalic purple. Ive done some research but not sure if i should do a single or double stage paint job? Do i need primer, base coat, reducer, hardener, and clear? Can i use the same hardener for the clear as i do base coat? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
----Go for single, so that i wouldn't easily chip.. You need primer, apply a generous coat of Surfacer primer. Then the base coat and then clear coat.


just wanna share some of the engine bays painted in my shop

if you want to see the whole project click the link.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...0446&sk=photos


Champ white ek sedan





Formula Red ek sedan







Lotus Racing green eg sedan

 

[QUOTE=nikko040103;46888248]Im going to be painting my eg engine bay metalic purple. Ive done some research but not sure if i should do a single or double stage paint job? Do i need primer, base coat, reducer, hardener, and clear? Can i use the same hardener for the clear as i do base coat? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
----Go for single, so that i wouldn't easily chip.. You need primer, apply a generous coat of Surfacer primer. Then the base coat and then clear coat.


just wanna share some of the engine bays painted in my shop

if you want to see the whole project click the link.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...0446&sk=photos


Totally agree with this except I would add one more stage to what he said and use some primer sealer as this will help to contain contaminants. Good Luck with whatever you decide and remember that 99% of it is in the prep work.

 

ok first is the engine out or in the car... i painted mine with it in...

You need to clean the surfaces so there is zero grease on them.

You do not need to prime anything that still has paint on it.

If you have rust you need to sand it until it is bright steel and wire brush all the pits out then use metal prep on it and wipe it clean with a little water on a paper towel .. then wipe that clean with some carburetor cleaner from a spray can with lots of acetone in it that leaves no residue... then spot prime it and let it sit over night to dry.. not primer surfacer.. just primer sealer.

You should

Degrease the firewall and all surfaces that will get paint.

Tape and paper over any large items including your engine.

then use a touchup gun to spray as much as you can get

then use a Air Brush to get into areas you couldn't get.

PAINT CHOICE...

Single Stage with hardener

DO NOT SCREW AROUND NEAR THE PAINT FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS

It will be dry you can work around it but if you get solvent on it you will need to do a touchup so best to degrease your engine first and wire brush your intake and do all that before you go to paint.

I do not suggest a Clear Coat in the engine compartment but go for it if you have nothing else to do... and cash to spend...

Clears normally take the same hardener if they are both the same type of paint

meaning some paints are enamel with a urethane additive
some are labeled "urethane" with a urethane hardener

oh also

keep that can of carb cleaner or break cleaner around while you paint and any overspray can be taken off with a paper towel slightly moistened with cleaner.. not dripping .. just not dry.