Painting New Aluminum Head
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 6411
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Painting New Aluminum Head
I need to paint a new aluminum head. Any suggestions appreciated.
-
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Tannehill
- Location: Hot Coffee, MS
- MTFCA Number: 49460
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Pat, I painted one about 6 months ago but considered an etching acid first. Then I decided to just use a high heat epoxy instead. So far no change in color or adherence.
-
- Posts: 5409
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Polish it and then clear coat, if desired, with high temp paint. Its easier than you think the process is simple, you need to be aggressive. Start with a grit heavy enough to remove casting bumps and marks, then move up to the next grit to remove the scratches made by the previous grit, repeat the process till your at 600 grit. Then clear coat with 2000 temp.
On a visit to see Elvan Townsend (he made many of the aluminum castings accessories and speedster builder the BULLET), I purchase this water outlet from him, when I mention polishing the letters, he proceeded to show me. Started with a medium coarse file to a fine one then sand paper. --
--
That aggressive approach helped me proceed on my first attempt. This was done by hand, in about 4 hours. I was a bit cautious not knowing what to expect. Could do it now in 2-3hrs --
I intend to do a aluminum hogs head, I started to see how it would go with 100 grit just to see what to start with
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
-
Topic author - Posts: 6411
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
This Z head has a cosmetic good finish and no corrosion. The engine is one of the darker shades of green, and the paint is in good, so I'd rather go ahead and paint the new head rather than polish it.
-
- Posts: 491
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:03 am
- First Name: Chad
- Last Name: Azevedo
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Boattail speedster, 1912 Tourabout project, 1927 Speedster (build)
- Location: Henderson, TN
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Zinc chromate primer will help to prevent electrolysis and chipping
"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail"
-
- Posts: 5201
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
You do need an etch primer suitable for aluminium as a base coat. After that, any usual paint will do. I use ordinary oil based enamel.
Allan from down under.
Allan from down under.
-
- Posts: 147
- Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2021 1:43 pm
- First Name: Tyler
- Last Name: Prondzinski
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Coupe
- Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Either etching primer or epoxy will be a fine primer on aluminum.
-
- Posts: 373
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:00 pm
- First Name: Chris
- Last Name: Haynes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1921 Runabout
- Location: Camarillo. CA
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Blast the head and use Zinc Chromate paint. Nothing else sticks to aluminum.
-
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:41 pm
- First Name: Kevin
- Last Name: Prus
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1910 Touring, 1912 torpedo, 1914 touring, 1919speedster, 1921 touring, 1922 touring 1925TTsemi, 1926 pickup, 1926 roadster
- Location: Canfield, Ohio USA
- MTFCA Number: 8047
- MTFCI Number: 190
- Board Member Since: 2004
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Paint with the paint of your choice. I manufacture the P aluminum high compression head. We use Duplicolor engine paint in our shop with no problems. Don't try to over engineer the project. Paint and Go. Have fun.
-
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:00 pm
- First Name: George John
- Last Name: Drobnock
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Coupe
- Location: Central Pennsylvania
Re: Painting New Aluminum Head
Paint generally does not last long. Why not just have an anodized aluminum cylinder head ?