Spray Paint For Style Points

It's Time to Make Your Engine Bay Stand Out

An area that is commonly looked over in a build is the engine bay. You may stop and paint your valve cover and add some new shiny parts, however, this is just scratching the surface. You can drastically change the appearance and curb appeal of your car with a simple and cheap 1 stage paint job under the hood. A shiny engine bay will make your other modifications pop while giving your car the VIP ultra clean look we all drool over. The following is a step by step guide on how to paint your Engine Bay!

I highly recommend that you remove the motor. This may not be an easy task for most people, however, it is something you will most likely do at one point of your modification journey. Save this write up for when the time comes!

Step 1: Cleaning and Surface Prep

First, you will need to thoroughly clean out the dirt and grease from the engine bay. Leftover contaminants are likely to end up getting caught in the paint as it dries, which is going to ruin the nice finish on all your hard work. After cleaning rough up the paint that is currently in the engine bay. I would recommend medium grit sandpaper to smooth out any nicks and scratches you may have accumulated over the years. Something like 300-500 grit. This is simply meant to give the primer a surface to stick onto. Once everything is sanded down, you will need to tape and mask everything you do not want to get painted. I would remove as many things as possible from the engine bay, and cover things that you can't remove like your brake booster, brake lines, clutch lines, wiring, and any relays. Time to get handy with the newspaper and painters tape.

Step 2: Primer Coat

Once we have everything lightly sanded, drop a super light layer of primer all around the engine bay. Do not worry about covering the original paint, getting every corner, or spray patterns. This layer is simply to tack the surface with some paint, giving your primer a solid foundation. Once this dries, drop a slightly heavier coat, filling in more of the spots you missed on the first coat. Lastly, you will want to drop a thick layer of primer, covering every spot ensuring you do not let any drips accumulate.

Step 2.5: Perfecting the Primer

After you have everything primered, you may need to sand down the surface with an 800 grit or higher sandpaper and water. primer has a tendency to cure with a rough finish if not applied in correct conditions, and this wet sanding will return it to a smooth finish for your paint to stick to. Nothing is worse than skipping a prep step and then wishing you had done it after you finished. If your primer doesn't feel smooth to the touch or look like a near-perfect surface, you may as well give it a quick wet sanding. This will give the paint a far better finish and is essential if you want to have a bright color POP under the hood.

Step 3: Paint it Purple!

Apply the first coat of paint just like the primer. Aim for about 40-50% coverage on the firt round to avoid streaking or drips. After about 10-15 minutes of dry time spray a second coat aiming for 80-100% coverage. Give the second coat the same dry time and follow with at least one extra coat to ensure full coverage and better longevity. 

Once your last coat of base paint is down, you will need to let everything dry to the touch. Once the paint is dry but slightly tacky, you will start dropping the clear coat. This will need to be laid in steady, thick, and even layers. You will want to ensure that you evenly coat the entire engine bay. Allow 15-30 minutes between each coat before laying another thick coat. This will need to be repeated 3-5 times before you get a wet appearance. ALLOW THE PAINT TO DRY for 24-48 hours before unmasking and installing everything.

Full Video

You have completed the most eye-catching modification you can perform in your engine bay. Bask in the glory and watch jaws drop when you tell them the paint job only cost $50.00! This is one of those things that most people don't spend the time and effort to accomplish, but it's the details that really bring a car together! Make sure to save and share this post for anyone who may need a little bit of guidance when painting an engine bay.