Painting Victor Jr.'s

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Hey guys my victor jr.'s are here and I am wanting to paint them Ford Dark Blue with the rest of the motor so it looks more original, I have bought some self etching primer and the paint. I want to know if its okay for me to primer and piant the gasket surfaces for the intake and exhaust gaskets? And what needs to be covered up (I know the obvious stuff but I want to be safe when I do this they are $1400 heads)?

 

[latamud]

I don't think they look good painted, but if you want to do it tape off the bottom and the top where the head gasket would sit and the valve cover gaskets. Then tape off the exhaust ports and the surfase the intake comes in contact with the heads. Several thin coats are better than thick coats. I think it would be a pain to sand and mistakes.

 

[Darkhorse845]

I don't think it would look good painted either.Don't paint it.

 

[dolfan87]

If you want to paint the heads, then yes tape off all gasket surfaces.

I think he is looking to make his engine appear stock guys, thus he is painting the heads to sort of hide the fact that they are aluminum.

87

 

[bnickel]

don't use the self etching primer on aluminum. in fact i wouldn't use a primer at all

 

[zookeeper]

I disagree on that one. Primer is necesarry no matter what you're painting. Also, are you using spray cans or a gun? I've used both with decent results, but you need to be realistic and realize that nothing that comes out of a spray can is going to last as long or look as good as a catalyzed paint sprayed from a gun.

 

[bnickel]

well whatever, but don't use the self etching kind. just scuff it reall good with a scotch brite pad, then paint (or primer first)

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

I heard that paint doesn't bite aluminum the way it bites iron so you need to use a self etching primer. Why can't the areas around the ports be painted I can live with not painting the intake area but the exhaust needs to be done what do you guys think? They do it on iron heads and this way when i want to take the gaskets off i won't have to worry about damaging the aluminum they would peel off. Dolfan87 hit it right on the head. I want it to look like a factory motor but also rip the road to pieces. I have fallen in love with the Boss 302 color scheme if you guys know what im talking about, with the ford dark blue and the aluminum or titanium looking valve covers.

 

[dolfan87]

well whatever, but don't use the self etching kind. just scuff it reall good with a scotch brite pad, then paint (or primer first)

bnickle, not good advice. I have painting cars and parts for nearly ten years now, and on aluminum you WANT a self etching primer.

I heard that paint doesn't bite aluminum the way it bites iron so you need to use a self etching primer. Why can't the areas around the ports be painted I can live with not painting the intake area but the exhaust needs to be done what do you guys think? They do it on iron heads and this way when i want to take the gaskets off i won't have to worry about damaging the aluminum they would peel off. Dolfan87 hit it right on the head. I want it to look like a factory motor but also rip the road to pieces. I have fallen in love with the Boss 302 color scheme if you guys know what im talking about, with the ford dark blue and the aluminum or titanium looking valve covers.

The areas around the ports can be painted, but the gasket surface itself should be left bare. Paint and primer will burn off around the ports themselves, and could cause a gasket leak because the once tight seal is now missing the paint and primer that burnt off.

It might not leak, but it's a PITA to change header gaskets, and it's rather simple to mask the port area before painting.

Good luck!

87

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

You Guys have got to see these heads. I just painted them. THEY LOOK AWESOME!!!!!!! I will get some pics up for you guys tomorrow.

 

[Max Power]

Man, if I spend $1500 on aluminum heads, I want the world to know about.

I don't even see the point of opening the hood to look at a stock motor.

Just one guys opinion, I guess....

 

[thehueypilot]

I painted my heads and intake as well and they look great and stock! I did not use primer, but intead used an aluminum prep (metal conditioner) from Dupont #5717S which is used help the paint adhere better to the aluminum. I have never seen paint peel from the aluminum parts after using this product.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

That's sweet huey got any pics if you do post em im doing the motor and engine bay right now so more pics will help me a lot. Max Power I see where you are coming from and it's not so much I want it to be stock but I like the look. Besides anyone who is in the know about mustangs will be able to tell that those are aluminum because of the way they are machined, I am simply after the Boss 302 Color scheme. Now anybody here have recommendations on what valve covers to use to make me get that color scheme and clear my roller rockers. The ones below are what i had in mind, I would like something similar to that and if thats all i can find looks it will be what i will be getting.

Check it out:http://mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=CA65826+01



BTW I will get you guys pics tonight.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Here are the pics the flash on the camera made them look really crappy imagine them a much darker shiny blue. But these will give you an idea.

 

[dolfan87]

Looks good bro.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Thanks a lot man. Those pictures don't dothem any justice. I will take pics without the flash and all when i have the motor fully assembled. Now i need your guys help with the valve cover question its like two posts up. Thanks a lot guys.

 

[bnickel]

bnickle, not good advice. I have painting cars and parts for nearly ten years now, and on aluminum you WANT a self etching primer.



The areas around the ports can be painted, but the gasket surface itself should be left bare. Paint and primer will burn off around the ports themselves, and could cause a gasket leak because the once tight seal is now missing the paint and primer that burnt off.

It might not leak, but it's a PITA to change header gaskets, and it's rather simple to mask the port area before painting.

Good luck!

87

i was always taught that you don't want to use a self-etching primer on porous surfaces like aluminum and pot metal because the solvents in it would make the paint peel off. if i'm wrong about that i sincerely apologize.

69Rcode-i think the valve covers you picked out are about you're only choice, unless you run a spacer between the head and valve cover. i have heard that the 83-85 5.0 HO "power by ford" valve covers will work with roller rockers by modifying the baffles some, but i haven't ever seen it done to you for sure

 

[thehueypilot]

That's sweet huey got any pics if you do post em im doing the motor and engine bay right now so more pics will help me a lot.

Check out "my garage" it seems to be the only way I can post pictures. Make sure if you are using engine high temp epoxy spray paint that you shake the can very well. The first time mine came out half light blue and half dark blue all from the same can. After shaking the can upside down for a couple minutes I got all one color after the second coat....dark Ford blue.

Tim

 

[302 coupe]

Here are the pics the flash on the camera made them look really crappy imagine them a much darker shiny blue. But these will give you an idea.

Aww man, you didn't paint enough. Theres gonna be visible machined aluminum hanging out between the valve covers and intake, and it will be visible all around the exhaust gaskets. If you lay the gaskets in place, you'll see what I'm talking about. If I was gonna go through the trouble of painting them, I'd paint everywhere thats gonna show. Other than that, they look good. I like the painted heads to give it a stock look under the hood, your competition won't know what hit 'em.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

O I know about the exhaust gasket. I decided it would be too much of a PITA to only paint where the gasket wouldn't touch. I decided to leave the polished aluminum exposed I figured it would look good with the ceramic coated headers. I see what your saying about the space in between the intake and valve covers i will touch that up right away and get that blue also.