Is there any way to speed up the curing process on Engine enamel paint? I've read in some places that if you paint parts still on-vehicle, the heat of the vehicle in operation will actually cure it for you...

Perhaps some form of heat application will allow faster curing off-vehicle as well... such as baking? :?:

you are exactly right... baking, or using the engine temp does the trick

ask willwren how many engine parts he has baked in his oven, or how many parts have gone thru his diswasher

Awesome thanks!

Any suggestions on what would be safe to set under it just in case, so that nothing gets on your actual oven? I tend to actually bake food at times too. Strange, huh?

I'm pretty sure there'* a thread somewhere on here about temps and times? I'll search.

Thanks again!

what do you plan on painting?

If you're baking anything, you can put tin foil underneath it if you're worried about paint coming off on anything (though it shouldn't).

engine cover, top, and eventually valve covers

Engine cover...I wouldn't put in an oven, though it would probably be ok if you protected it. However, engine paint dries pretty quickly. For the parts you are planning on painting, the need for baking doesn't seem necessary IMO.

Valve covers are easy (I've done two sets....twice ) They dry to the touch enough to reinstall them within 40 minutes of the last clear coat. After a 45 minute drive mine were pretty much cured just fine. The directions on the spray can usually says drive for one hour to let cure.

Top? You mean the upper intake?

Sorry, not a very technical vocab here yet. Yeah the upper intake. Also, the only thing I was thinking about was the engine cover, and yeah, I realized the whole on-vehicle curing as well for that too. I wasn't thinking about it cause I was doing two different colors, so I was thinking bake the first, drive the second. Then I thought... dang, just drive both! lol

"Curing" isn't a huge concern IMO. The paint will dry just fine on it'* own. Unless you're painting exhaust manifolds I wouldn't worry about it. If you're painting plastic engine covers or even valve covers, just slap them back on once they are dry and drive whenever you want. FYI engine enamel left alone will cure in 7 days assuming you're not doing anything else to help it cure.

As everyone has suggested, just paint the pieces, let them dry, then slap them on. I did that with my UIM and valve covers without a hitch.