Topic: VHT vs Dupicolor / self etching vs zinc chromate primer

[huili]

all right after reading more threads then my eyes can handle, about engine preping and painting. I am stuck between the choices mentioned on the title.  What is the difference between VHt and dupicolor which one is more resistant against gas discoloration and which one is more durable.  Now the primers self etching is for adheasion to bare metal and corrosion protection at least that is what is said on the web, they don't actually tell you how it does this, zinc chromate on the other hand also protects and helps adhear.  Apparently the zinc chromate does nothing in dry weather but when humidity increases it reacts with the moisture and forms a protective lawyer around the metal over use the layer will deminish and eventually corrosion will still occur.  This information is on     http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/jul02k.cfm   
I was just wondering if anyone has any expierence with any of these products.  Any advice and knowledge is greatly appreciated
                                                thanks Hui

[ProTeal55]

I have had much better luck with the Dupli-Color line of products than VHT.

[huili]

gooo to hear because I am having a hard time finding VHT at the auto supply stores

[rucorey]

I have just used the Dupli and it looks exactly like I wanted. I have some shots of the before and after on my Verizon site if your interested. I can't speak to the durability of it, though...

The prep was just light sanding with 600 - 1200 depending on need and of course lots of degreasing!

http://mysite.verizon.net/resq5fp3/

[ProTeal55]

It is all in the prep. I have seen macco $100 paintjobs on cars that look great, becasue the time
was spent before the actuall painting do get the body preped as best as possibile...

Sand, Sand , Re-Sand, and then Sand some more 

[howardstapley]

Does Macco do bikes?

[cbjunkie]

ruco - did you post your site link on the website thread yet? - the mods are trying to collect everyone's personal sites (as long as they are bike related)...

by the way - i would eat breakfast off your breather cover...

[ProTeal55]

Does Macco do bikes?

The guys who work at Macco's will paint a human if you flash money in front of their eyes...

[DiscoEd]

Does Macco do bikes?

The guys who work at Macco's will paint a human if you flash money in front of their eyes...

PT,
I see you've got another cool looking avatar. Where the heck do you keep finding these?
 (p.s. please keep it showing us these)

Regards,
DiscoEd

[ProTeal55]

The avitar was of a Indian Powerplus powered Bobber 4 sale on Ebay at the momment.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHOW-WINNING-INDIAN-POWERED-BOBBER_W0QQitemZ4623193021QQcategoryZ10062QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I like it becasue of the tank more than anything. The tank is from Cole Foster, and will prob.
be the one I put on my CB during the complete teardown this comming fall...(Pic Below)

Sorry to Hijack, continue.................

[Frankenkit]

->momentary hijack<- what purpose does painting the engine serve, if any other than adding visual appeal? 

[Magpie]

Because sometimes they end up looking like this beauty. Nothing a bit of paint remover (thanks guys) and a lot of hours won't fix.

[mylittleho]

I did a self etching primer and then Duplicolor high heat aluminum DH 1606 on my mustang valvecovers and intake..


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/scottolan/paint.jpg


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/scottolan/paint1.jpg

Just hit the front of the intake with the paint to see the difference between it and the factory powdercoating.. (valvecovers not painted yet)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/scottolan/paint2.jpg

These pic are after about about 6 months of driving...


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/scottolan/vavlecover.jpg


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/scottolan/intake.jpg

It has held up to the heat quite well although on the other side my A/C hose is spewing some oil and it stained it.. I think I am going to redo them with the same paint and then use a top coat of Eastwood diamond clear clearcoat so I can have a slick surface to wash them..

I originally just sprayed them with the duplicolor paint and no clear.. and I feel if I tried scrubbing them it would take the finish off..

[superchode]

does the self-etching primer need to be a high-temp thing as well? i suppose the outer shell of the engine isn't going to really get hot enough to matter.

[huili]

thanks for the replies. I decided to go with the dupicolor self etching primer and high heat 500F aluminum, and superchode i don't think they have a heat distinction for self etching primers.  As for clear coating I am still debating that from what I have read from previous threads most clear coats will yellow with gas.  Does any one have any suggestions on a clear coat that holds up to chemical attack.  I will post pics of this project as it progresses.  I will geting started on the aircraft stripper this weekend and hopefully have at least the heads done by sunday.   

[mylittleho]

You need etching primer for anything that you are going to paint and that is aluminum.. either that or something that is fresh out of the sandblast cabinet.. all the etching primer does is really grab onto the aluminum and create a base the spray paint will adhere too.. you can spray paint an engine with any type of paint.. if doesn't HAVE to be high heat.. but the high heat will hold up better and for a lot longer!!