VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Engine Paint

I've clean and prep the engine for paint is there a special primer I should use before applying the blue/gray paint. Can I use a brush to apply the paint.

No special primer is needed. You can apply the paint direct.

Yes, you can brush in on but you get a better and more professional job if you spray it on.

I used one of those sponge brushes on mine and it came out good, but it would have been a lot better if I sprayed it.

Only the sheet metal parts are better sprayed. If the paint is brushed on relatively thick and does not dry too fast, the cast parts look virtually the same sprayed or brushed. It takes two or three coats spraying and one or maybe two if brushed.

Brushing paint on the engine block is both time consuming and more difficult than spraying. If you have a spray gun and a compressor, spraying is the only way to go. Besides, the paint from the Filling Station is ready for spraying right out of the can.

I agree with both JYD and Chipper, there are times and places for spraying and brushing, as for time, I often find I can brush on a good coat in the engine shop area, while the head and block are bare, without having to cover up and mask off everything. I have seen some engines painted with a spray gun that are things of beauty, slick, shiny and very well done.
I like to do a spray job when the engine is assembled and on a hoist, I think this is more like the engines were painted by Chevrolet.

I would rather let the cast iron show bare and oil soaked than try another engine paint job while the engine is mounted in the car, It just don't work very well for me.