what is the best paint for a 1970 hemi engine?

[cudarich]

I am preparing to paint my Hemi engine before installing in my 70 Cuda. I plan to use epoxy primer as a base, but not sure what to use for the hemi orange paint. My local auto paint store said they didn't have any specific hemi orange paint for my gun. Suggested using a rattle can. I would prefer to spray with my gun since I have had better performing and looking paint with a gun. Any suggestions out there on what paint to use?

 

[Challenger RTA]

Engine Paint Color Guide​

Engine	Years	Variations	Color	Mopar Part Number
170 Six	1960	non Valiant	Turquoise	P4120752
170 Six	1960- 69	Valiant	Red	P4349218
198 Six	1973	All	Blue	P4349217
225 Six	1960	non Valiant	Turquoise	P4120752
225 Six	1970-74	All	Blue	P4349217
273 V8 - LA	1964-69	All	Red	P4349218
318 V8 - Poly	1960	All	Silver	P4529148
318 V8 - Poly	1962-66	All	Red	P4349218
318 V8 - LA	1967-69	All	Red	P4349218
318 V8 - LA - Police only	1968-70	Police engine	H-Orange	P4349216
318 V8 - LA	1970-74	All	Blue	P4349217
340 V8 - LA	1968	All	Red	P4349218
340 V8 - LA	1969	All	Turquoise	P4120752
340 V8 - LA	1970-71	All EXC *Mound Rd	H-Orange	P4349216
340 V8 - LA	1972-73	All	Blue	P4349217
360 V8 - LA	1971-74	All	Blue	P4349217
361 Golden Commando	1960	High Performance	Red	P4349218
Gold	P4529149
361 V8	1962-64	All	Turquoise	P4120752
383 V8	1962-69	All	Turquoise	P4120752
383 V8	1970-71	All	Blue	P4349217
383 V8 HP/Police	1969-71	High Performance	H-Orange	P4349216
400 V8	1972-74	All	Blue	P4349217
413 V8	1962-63	All	Orange	P4120751
413 V8	1964	All	Turquoise	P4120752
413 V8	1965	All	Orange	P4120751
413 V8 Race Engine	1964	Race only	Orange	P4120751
426 V8 Wedge	1963	All	Orange	P4120751
426 V8 Wedge	1964	All	Turquoise	P4120752
426 V8 Wedge	1966-68	All	Turquoise	P4120752
426 HEMI	1964	Race only	Orange	P4120751
426 HEMI	1965-71	Street Engine	H-Orange	P4349216
440 V8	1966-69	All	Turquoise	P4120752
440 V8 HP/Police	1969-71	High Performance	H-Orange	P4349216
440 V8	1970-74	All	Blue	P4349217

​

* (GM 340 prefix at driver side front cylinder head deck)

340 V8

1971

Built at Mound Rd

Corporate Blue

 

[rickseeman]

KBS Coatings seems pretty good

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have always just used self etching primer and then Dupicolor Hemi orange engine enamel spray or Hirsh's brush on.

 

[Xcudame]

Self-etching primer is important! Don't skip it.

 

[MoparCarGuy]

@Challenger RTA
The 1971 340 engines (GW340 prefix at driver side front cylinder head deck) built at the Windsor Engine Plant in Canada were painted Street Hemi Orange.
340 engine assembly shifted during the 1971 model year to the Mound Rd Engine Plant in Detroit.
All Mound Road 340's (GM340 prefix at driver side front cylinder head deck) are painted Chrysler Blue.

Consider updating that chart to show 1971 340 engines built at Mound Rd were painted Corporate Blue.

 

[MoparCarGuy]

For the original OP's question...
Correct “Street Hemi Orange” engine paint for 1970 is: Ditzler EQE-60626 w/ 25% Ditzler DX-265 flattening agent
and Uncle Tony's Garage has some very good guidance on prep and paint of the engine block.

This thread discusses the paint and application. Example: Challenger 440 built by Dave Walden (RIP) of ECS Automotive shown below.

 

[cudarich]

Thanks much for all the advice. I thought the epoxy primer was a better alternative than self etching primer. I will consider it.

 

[6PKRTSE]

This is my self etching primer and hemi orange Duplicolor engine enamel process that is about 6 or 7 years old now with thousands of miles and many passes.still holding up well.

 

[Deathproofcuda]

My recollection from a few years back is that everyone who was really sweating the details used a spray gun to shoot paint purchased from Frank Badalson. I don't see paint listed on the website, but there is phone and email contact information.

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