Paint vs Powder
 

Why don't people powder coat their motors vs painting them? Is it a heat issue or is paint stronger. Or just easier?

I have done smallblock intakes and small block rocker covers, I have not even considered heads or blocks because they won't fit in my easy bake oven. Logistically powder is a bit more challenging because the parts would need to be done right after washing and prior to any assembly.
If someone has done it I would love to hear the results.
I just use an Eastwood hobby gun and conventional cook stove

May be just easier, but in the motorcycle world (custom HD's) we used to powder coat them.

Ive read somewhere that Roush Racing powder coats the entire block inside and out....then does all the machining after...
I think that Harley also powders their air cooled motors before machine work as well...
I dont think there's any problems doing it its just the time and work involved with it.....paint it easier and faster..

powder coat will stand up to the heat. It bakes @ 328 degrees for .5 hour. I did my out drives and they turned out and held up great. Just a lot of taping because u don't want powder coat where it doesn't belong such as on threads or where gaskets or o rings seal. Engine block would be tricky and heavy

If it can be done, I'm sure there would be a significant ticket price to get it done. For some that wouldn't be an issue. For me after spending nearly $500 to have two pairs of valve covers coated I think I'd pass on doing a block and heads.

Tom - I think you need a new powdercoat guy. I had my childhood go-kart frame and 4 wheels powder coated for about 150 bucks if I recall correctly during an ill-conceived restoration. Guy even had to re-sandblast it due to some surface rust.

They were a lot of work to get done… stripping and degreasing were a lot to do so I was told. The shop that did the work has a strong following and reputation. They came out great but for the money I could have bought a set of powder-coated Teague angled valve covers.

Old aluminum rocker covers soak up a bit of oil on any exposed surface and are quite time consuming to get clean enough to properly powder coat.

Powder stands up to scratches and corrosion better, but urethane clear stands up to solvents better in my experience.
Powder softens if you get a wild hair and clean the soot off your transom hardware with thinner whereas urethane clear doesn't even know its there.

Agreed. I’ve destroyed the powder coating on some pieces via solvent overspray.

This was $900 to powdercoat couple years ago.
I think you need a new place Tom.
More recently I payed $300 for 4 valve covers.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...294b50e559.jpg

Ouch! Yeah, I agree.

Did they do the inside of the valve covers and exhaust? (I Assume no on the exhaust).

Yes. And he did say that he had to do multiple cleanings.

Correct me if I`m wrong but I don`t see any reason to do that so no ....I don`t really care what the inside of the valve covers looks like lol and on the exhaust theres no way it would hold up to the heat.

The places I`ve dealt with never mentioned any extra work to clean valve covers, I do remember one saying they just put it in the oven when they are baking other projects to burn everything off .

Didn't someone on here just have some major issues with inside cover paint coming off and clogging up oil pick up or something?

someone painted the inside of the oil pan................:lolhit:....^^^^

That would be me. Prior numbskull (owner or shop) painted the inside of the pans for me.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fe67301572.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4046bb293e.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d83c92df1c.jpg

Ouch that is insane! I'm assuming your motor is toast? That's the dangers of letting the new guy paint the parts that "don't matter" (I own a body shop and could see that unfolding)

back when my motors where being built we almost anodized the alum heads.

Surprisingly, no. The pickup was about 90% blocked but the motor never lost oil pressure, was 50-60 psi at all times. Melling high volume pump.