Engine Compartment Re-spray Question
 

What's the best way to restore an engine compartment that has suffered a fire?

A lot of the paint is not burned - it's just black with soot and smoke and a bit soft. Other sections have the paint burned off to the galvanized coating.

I've cleaned it up as best I can using a strong cleaner on the unburned, dirty areas and scraping off and wire-brushing the burned areas. I tried a little power sanding but it took off the galvanizing.

I don't feel it really gets hot enough back there for anything more than regular paint but I'm wondering if I should brush some galvanized primer on the bare areas (there doesn't seem to be any spray primer for galvanized metal) then coat the whole compartment with hight temp spray enamel. Or do the galvanized priming on the bare areas and then have the whole compartment painted with exterior enamel when I have the car repainted.

Your thoughts?

Jack

Regular paint is fine. If you can get it in an aerosol can thats even better. What color is it? You pulling the engine? Engine lid also? After most things are removed just spray it and re-install components with new hoses, wiring, and rubber.

Pull the engine, strip the old paint and other crud, prime, paint, reinstall everything

Respray
 

The engine is out, of course. The main question I have is whether or not to repaint the engine compartment with high temp paint in a rattle can or to re-spray it with the same paint used on the outside of the car it when it is re-painted?

Jack

you can get the same paint that is on the outside placed in a rattle can for the inside. Normal automotive paint can handle 250-300˚F air temp so no need for high temp paint.