Topic: Engine colors...POST YOURS HERE

[SKTP]

I am hoping people will post there painted engines here. I am currently painting mine and have done the block matte black and the cases matte aluminum...I was going to do the head aluminum too but my friend insists that "nobody would ever do that and it will look stupid with a black block."

If you know of an engine with a black block and silver head, I'd love to see it...thanks for all your help

[strynboen]

it vill look great that vay..silver black silver...dont make top black..
i have glass blast bottom make silinder black and polish valve kover..on my 400..takes some pics soon...

[EverettShadowbrook]

Here's one with the paint scheme you are thinking of. It looks OK.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Here you go.....

[flybox1]

Here you go.....

LOVE IT!!!!

[ev0lve]

Well, I don't think it looks stupid 

[tweakin]

Here is a pic of my 750.  The paint is the reverse of what you did.



This is the engine in my 400twin

[SKTP]

Here is a pic of my 750.  The paint is the reverse of what you did.

That looks amazing...is it paint of powder coat?

[ev0lve]

Here is a pic of my 750.  The paint is the reverse of what you did.

That looks amazing...is it paint of powder coat?

Yeah! Is there a build thread?

Edit:
Found it I think
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=68722.0

[tweakin]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.  The engine case is painted in High temp satin black and the jugs and Head were painted in high temp NU aluminum, both VHT.  All the covers were powdercoated in high gloss black.

The build thread is here;

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=68722.0

[jessezm]

Duplicolor Cast Coat Iron (3 coats, with etch primer underneath), with polished fins and case covers.  Would have done the heads black with polished fins, but I was too lazy to tape everything off and spray again!

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=70938.0

[seaweb11]

 

[jacquesleclochard]

Here you go.....

Man, your bikes are the best. So awesome. This is the Father, right?

[Ichiban 4]

This may be a little off topic..but this subject remends me of a whole series of tests that were done on engine color (cylinder & head color particularly)..back in the early 1960's..when most motorcycle engines were air-cooled..and temperatures/overheating was a continual concern.

The bike I was riding in particular..an Ariel Square Four..tended to have overheating issues with the two rear cylinders..tucked behind the front ones.  Factory engine color on those bikes was silver/aluminum..but they found that by painting the cylinders..sometimes the heads..BLACK..that the running temps were reduced by 10 to 15 degrees F. That was enough to remedy the pre-ignition problems with the two rear cylinders on those bikes.

I remember also..that other bikers would paint their heads and cylinders darker colors..to have the engines run a little cooler (this was in So. California..in the Summer..where ambient temps were well over 100 F.) If I remember correctly..the reason the darker colors ran/run cooler..is that it allows for faster heat dissipation to the surrounding environment.

Nowadays..with oil/liquid cooled engines..I guess this isn't so much of a concern..but it still seems useful to know..for these old Honda air-cooled engines.

Ichi

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Starting in the 40's and before, aircraft (air cooled) engines had the cylinders painted black for exactly the reasons you describe.  The Piper Cub is the most obvious example with an all yellow paint scheme and those prominent black cylinders sticking out of the cowl.

[SKTP]

Hrmmm, with this new information...I think I will go black and not come back!

Any tips on sanding the side of the fins to silver? I hope to tape as little as possible in the future....

[seaweb11]

I sanded the fins with 40 grit, 110 grit, all the way down to a 800. Now they were straight and polished. The head was painted without tape. Once the paint dried I dabbed a rag corner in Varsol and wiped the fin edges. and Ta Da....you have polished fins with a painted head.

[KB02]

I went with something a little different than black and silver for my engine:

[Cuts Crooked]

I am hoping people will post there painted engines here. I am currently painting mine and have done the block matte black and the cases matte aluminum...I was going to do the head aluminum too but my friend insists that "nobody would ever do that and it will look stupid with a black block."

If you know of an engine with a black block and silver head, I'd love to see it...thanks for all your help

Dude!!!! Think "old Triumph"....the coolest looking bikes ever made, with that exact color scheme!

(apologies fer mentioning them here...but I truely LOVED my 72 Strumpet, she was a 650 Tiger, with a 750 upper end, TT pipes, 6" over forks, neck raked, shorty apes, metallic blue tank & fenders with white stripes......sigh)

[Doctor_D]

Here's mine:

[wannabridin]

if you paint it black, then def. polish the fins!  just take some scotch print and rub off the paint.  it doesn't have to be shiny, but it sure will make the motor pop!!

[78CB750CAFE]

cast coat iron lover, black jugs, cast coat steel valve cover


wrinkle black on side covers, kicker...

[78CB750CAFE]

that looks better

[goaarongo]

I'm just getting ready to drop this into my frame.  My 2 cents on polishing fins is to do all the sanding and polishing before you paint.  Then paint the whole part and the paint is fairly easy to remove from the finished surface. 

[SKTP]

Thanks everyone!