[79_911SC]

Hi Folks. I had my '79 911 SC repainted in its original Petrol Blue color about 10 years ago. Several years later, the engine lid displayed significant orange peel and has more recently shown bubbling of the paint.

The auto shop suspects this occurred due to high temps on the engine lid/deck. It indeed gets almost too hot to touch on a warm day after an hour's drive.

The auto shop uses high quality materials, the owner is a Porsche 911 enthusiast, and has repainted and restored a number of 911's. He has seen this problem before, and believes it's caused in part to within-modern-history CA EPA regulations to move away from solvent-based and leaded paints. He seems well versed in prep. and paint materials for galvanized surfaces. Is a pretty credible guy.

I'd like to know if anyone has experienced a similar problem, and has any ideas as to a suitable heat shield or other mods I might make to lessen the high temperatures that apparently are crinkling and bubbling the paint on the outside (but not the original paint on the inside) the engine lid. I don't believe there was any body filler needed on the outside of the deck lid prior to the last repainting.

I've search the forums, and there's plenty of posts related to heat shielding turbos, but that's not my problem. It's an all stock '79 3.0 CIS - no turbo.

Years ago, prior to repainting, removed the air conditioning compressor and condenser. Leaked like a sieve. A friend mentioned that perhaps this paint problem was not an issue with the original paint because the condenser functioned as a heat sink. I have no idea as to whether the presence/absence of the condenser would affect the engine lid temp/paint issue.

I've considered whether fashioning and mounting a sheet metal shroud to the underside of the engine lid might help (without, of course, covering the lid vent).

Any advice as to plausible engine lid heat shield solutions would be greatly appreciated. Or other ideas as to how to solve this problem.

The shop is going to repaint the deck lid soon. I'd hate to see this problem occur in another 3-5 years.

Thank you.