Engine Paint

[Sensei]

I am repainting the pulleys on the engine of my '81. I am having trouble with paint compatibility. I am using black gloss engine enamel and it does not seem to be working. It does not wrinkle up but it does not want to stick. It acts like oil and water. Was there some special paint they used on these pulleys?
Any suggestions?
Thank you. God Bless, Cris

 

[JohnZ]

A previous owner might have "detailed" them with Armorall; if so, you'll have to remove them, strip them to bare metal, and start over again with primer and paint. That stuff should be outlawed. :eyerole

 

[Sensei]

Thanks, looks like you are probably right.

 

[srs244]

it might be easier to just soak them for a bit in lacquer thinner or regular rubbing alcohol (lots cheaper to use). it will clean all the oil and grease off of the parts and should prepare them to be painted. it will penetrate the pores of the piece and clean completely. it's a lot easier in my opinion to just use a stiff brush and the degreaser, than to wheel them on a wire wheel, or worse yet to try to wire brush them by hand. if you have a blast cabinet, bead blasting would be a lot easier, but might "resurface" the material.

 

[goertz]

You might also be applying the paint too thick. Try "dusting" them a few coats first. Then give it a slightly heavier final coat. You also don't need to use engine enamel on pulley's. They don't get that hot. Regular semi-flat black Krylon will give you almost exact factory results.