Engine paint

[todds]

Is "low gloss black" the right paint for a mercedes block?

[Mike D]

It appears to be. I've tried flat and gloss and neither of them seem to work. I use the "semi-flat" from Krylon and it seems to be the closest match.

I've been meaning to try some of the barbeque grill/ woodstove stuff but have never got around to it. I figure it would hold up better under the exhaust manifold/header pipes area.

[sjefke]

Make sure you have hi temp paint otherwise it will peel off in no time. And degrease, degrease and degrease again before applying paint. Several classic car restoration shops (like Eastwood) have engine paint.

Bert

[Squiggle Dog]

I have to concur that Krylon Rust Tough Semi Flat black is an exact match to many parts on Mercedes cars. If they make this in an engine paint, it would work nicely. I have used the Krylon paint to touch up some parts as well as complete repainting and it looks just like the factory paint.

[jerryyoung]

The block on my 1971 280se (6 cylinder) appears to be dark red, is this correct or should it be black?
Thanks
Jerry

[PanzerSD]

Originally Posted by sjefke

Make sure you have hi temp paint otherwise it will peel off in no time. And degrease, degrease and degrease again before applying paint. Several classic car restoration shops (like Eastwood) have engine paint.

Bert

East wood makes a VERY VERY good header paint, then only paint I've seen to last on 2"' race headers. a few years later a few thousand kilometers and the paint is still on it and still looks new.

[mbgingerbread]

I used a wood stove paint (www.awperkins.com) to coat the exhaust manifolds of the 280se.
The manifolds were bead-blasted and the paint applied in ideal humidity/temp conditions. The directions for the paint included 'setting' the paint by heating to 'X' degrees; this was done when the manifolds were used for the first time. So far the look of the manifolds is indicating good success with this paint. You could probably get by with a pint unless a wood stove needs coating as well.
Turner

[todds]

Thanks for the info guys...

As far as color, I feel like the cast iron engine block itself should be a little bit glossy, whereas the sheet metal, air cleaner, etc would be flatter, more of a satin sheen black like Eastwood's underhood black. Aluminum stuff stays natural, and exhaust should be some kind of cast iron gray, although I might just paint it the glossier black too like the engine if I can make it stick. I'm going to stay away from polishing the aluminum bits, I don't really care for the "shining like a new dime" look. Eastwood's stuff looks very nice but also expensive. Thanks for the stove paint idea, maybe I can even find some at the local hardware or box store.

[Petteri K]

I have used Black Satin with exhaust manifold.
http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/techline/

And normal metal alkyd enamel with well cleaned surface. A gray-green tone which is used in old parts (like gearboxes etc.) has stayed well, but slight yellow hue has appeared.

Here´s visible the original tone of MB refurbished parts:

[PanzerSD]

Damn that transmission looks pretty short..