| Painting Engine Parts |
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Cost: Approximately $15 (assuming you have some tools.)
Required Tools: Spray paint (preferably Dupli-Color brand in your choice of colors), Dupli-Color clear coat, 3" wide masking tape,
X-acto knife, mild cleaning solution, weak paint thinner, old
newspapers, and some clean rags.
Time: About 2 hours total (including drying time!)
Instructions:
- First pick the part you would like to paint. Clean it so the paint sticks. If you have oil spots or any residue you will most likely have to use a degreaser, followed by a weak soap (like baby shampoo). If you are able to remove the part off the car - do it.
- Make sure the part is completely dry before you start painting. Use a lint-free towel if you are in a hurry. Lay out the
newspapers in a well ventilated area (automotive paint really STINKS)
apply your first coat of paint. DO NOT HURRY THROUGH THIS STEP! Take your time, don't try to get a solid color on your first
spray. If you apply the paint too heavily, the paint will drip and
it will begin the fill in the lettering. The paint will also be too
thick, and may take longer to dry. It usually takes several coats of paint.
- Once you have the desired color, let it dry completely. The average drying time is about a 1/2 an hour, but the longer you wait, the better. Take the part outside to expose it to some direct sunlight, that way you will be able to tell if you have any missing or thin spots in the paint.
Painting letters:
- Place a strip of the 3" masking tape over the Ford logo or any lettering under the hood. Use your fingers and fingernails to push the tape into the recessed lettering as best you can. Then you can use the X-acto knife to cut away only the part of the letters that you want painted. This is another step in which you will want to take plenty of time to do it right.
- Once the taping is complete, make sure the rest of the area to be painted is covered with either tape or paper... be careful of over-spray Once again, apply light coats of paint to the lettering. If you apply to heavy of a coat of paint, the paint will seep under the tape. Hold the spray can about 2-1/2 feet away and lightly mist the lettering.
- Don't let the paint dry this time! Pull the masking tape off as soon as you have reached your desired color. You'll notice
that the letter paint probably isn't as perfect as you'd like it to
be, but that is okay. Get out a clean rag and some week mineral spirits and begin to lightly 'cleanup' the edges of the lettering.
- Let it dry or just warm up the engine to regular temperatures. At first it will smell like burned paint. Thats normal if you won't let it dry before starting the car.
Impressions:
Although this is some what of a time consuming modification, it is a
relative cheap way to make your engine compartment 'look like
a million bucks.' I've seen people try to use fingernail polish and
other brush on paints, and I must say that the method I used looks
the best.
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