Paint burns off heads

[Saltshaker]

I have painted my heads several times. Always prime them and a couple of coats of rattle can blue...even had a shop spray them. The paint always burns off the exhaust ports, WHY?? Is their a better product or way to do this? Motor is out of the car...
Jon

[GerryP]

The way you write this, it would appear you don't understand the exhaust ports are hot.  I don't know.  Feel free to add some clarity.  With that, it's also hard to understand the context of your question.  I mean, if you don't use a heat resistant paint, wouldn't you kind of just expect this to occur, no?  And even heat resistant paints aren't all that lasting, at least not in my experience.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Use aluminum heads

[turbohunter]

I understand. I think . It’s all about FE head anatomy.
Yes other heads keep the paint on around the exhaust ports (qualified of course) better than FEs do because an FEs exhaust comes out of the chamber directly at the top of the exhaust port and has to bend down and out aaaaand if you notice, the ports are not all inside the head as in other heads (qualified of course). Basically half the passage is outside the body of the head (kinda) so there’s not as much heat absorption area. The metal is thinner out there. Paint burns off.

[Saltshaker]

Turbo hunter....TY
Yes, I used high temp paint. Thought maybe there was another product people were using with better success.
Jon

[turbohunter]

I haven’t found one that doesn’t burn off. Not that I’ve looked that hard, I just accept thats the way it is.

[GerryP]

It IS possible to have the heads ceramic coated.  A lot of masking for whoever would be doing it, but it can be done in any color you need.

[chris401]

I have painted my heads several times. Always prime them and a couple of coats of rattle can blue...even had a shop spray them. The paint always burns off the exhaust ports, WHY?? Is their a better product or way to do this? Motor is out of the car...
Jon

I understood you the first time. Gerry mentioned the only method I have ever heard working. Some have mentioned the Eastwood paint that holds a little better. Have you tried the 1200° paint? I have not spotted it in Ford Blue but the Chevrolet Orange seems to stay on a local W Head 409. It is a little different layout though.

[Rory428]

Pontiac V8s have the same situation, as their exhaust ports are also exposed .I have never seen any paint that will not burn off the exhaust ports of either engine. Just the nature of the beast.

[mbrunson427]

The last engine I put together was black, I used black header paint on the exhaust ports only, sprayed the rest of the head like normal. After 1000 miles of driving or so the exhaust port paint is still surviving. It is dull in comparison to the rest of the engine but at least it hasn't burnt off.

[Falcon67]

I don't seem to have any issue like that with Duplicolor engine paint. 

[turbohunter]

I don't seem to have any issue like that with Duplicolor engine paint.

Street cars and track cars both Chris?

[RustyCrankshaft]

It IS possible to have the heads ceramic coated.  A lot of masking for whoever would be doing it, but it can be done in any color you need.

You can also have the chambers and runners/ports or just the ports coated with a ceramic thermal barrier which will keep more of the heat in the gas and not absorbed into the iron around the port. A lot of money and messing around to keep the paint on outside of the exhaust port, but it can be done.

[GJCAT427]

I use POR15 black engine paint on my 427s. Been holding up well on my med riser for 7 yrs now. I think the secret is to cure  the paint using several warm up sessions.

[Falcon67]

I don't seem to have any issue like that with Duplicolor engine paint.

Street cars and track cars both Chris?

Both uses.  I prefer Duplicolor Old Ford Blue.

[turbohunter]

Thanks
Will give Duplicolor a try.

[Stangman]

Also having the right timing when engine is first started, if its too far retarded it will burn it right off. Plus I get the moisture out of the heads and block before spraying. Usually with just a burnsomatic torch.

[turbohunter]

Yup
When I first got the wagon the po said it ran hot. Checked the timing and it ran quite a bit cooler and I had the first piece of the puzzle to make it run nice.
Timing matters.

[67428GT500]

Even Duplicolor burns off FE exhaust ports, regardless of preparation. I went through it twice. It goes flat initially and then begins to flake over time. If you're running blue there are three different Ford Blues.  The variances are by year.