How To Spray Epoxy Primer Sealer [BMW E30 Engine Bay] Novol 2K Epoxy Primer Paint Guide | 037

How To Spray Epoxy Primer Sealer [BMW E30 Engine Bay] Novol 2K Epoxy Primer Paint Guide | 037

In this video, I progress from the previous front support conversion by painting the engine bay in Novol 2K Epoxy Primer.

Here’s what I used in this video:
Red Scotchbrite Pads: https://ebay.us/txFdxe
Novol 2k Epoxy Primer: https://ebay.us/gmlxQY
Sealey 0.8mm Spray Gun: https://ebay.us/2qvsgy
150L Compressor: https://ebay.us/xxiVq8
Painting Mask: https://ebay.us/gsQzot
Poly Masking Sheets: https://ebay.us/e4Ms44

The engine bay on the BMW E30 was a particularly tired state with rust patches around various brackets and flaking clear coat on every surface. In doing the removable front support mod I'd even uncovered a considerable amount of bare metal around the front of the engine bay.

I was tempted to consider the engine bay as just a future project, but knowing that the Upol etch primer I'd put on to simply avoid flash rusting would likely absorb water and cause a lot of rusting in the future, I knew I wanted to apply 2k primer-sealer to a few parts so I started sanding.

When you start sanding, it invariably expands and you end up sanding things you originally intended to leave because the closer you look more more issues you see. I started with a more aggressive paper to ensure I'd taken off all the weak clear coat and any rust then worked my way up to 3M red scotchbrite pads which give a nice 800 grit style finish. Ideal for accepting a top coat.

Once I'd sanded the entire engine bay and was quite happy with the result, I turned my attention to what I'd want to be painting it with.

I decided to use a really good quality Novol Epoxy Primer, this is a proper 2k 2-part paint with hardener that is far more solid than any paint or primer you get from a can. This hardened finish is a barrier for water, and also a rust inhibitor. It can even be used as a finish coat for more utilitarian applications, but for automotive bodywork it's perfect as a direct to bare metal primer and I've had excellent results with it before.

In my experience, it also sands nicely, which is useful when you're painting the base and clear onto it. From a primer perspective, other than the inconvenience of using it, I can't see why you'd opt to use any other type of primer when doing an engine bay or any other bodywork.

One issue I had was only having access to my mini spray gun, it's a Sealey patching gun with a fine 0.8mm fluid tip nozzle. Generally considered way too fine for a primer which you more likely would want to lay down thick.

To get around this, I used 2k thinners to thin the paint down quite a bit and ensure it passed through the spraygun at the right consistency.

Before I could spray I masked the car up to prevent getting overspray everywhere, I used some poly masking sheets and plenty of tape to do that which went well.

Mixing the Novol Epoxy Primer is quite simple, it's 2 parts primer to 1 part hardener, and then add 2k thinners to get the consistency about right, in my case quite runny as I was using the 0.8mm spray gun. As a quick extra note, always make sure you're wearing the appropriate PPE painting mask when working with 2k paints. It really is bad for your lungs if you don't.

I mixed up 300ml of primer which turned out to be the perfect amount to get full coverage in the engine bay, it's rare that you don't come up short or throw some away. Once the paint was mixed correctly, I poured it into the gun and sprayed a test card outside to set the gup up correctly at about 2 bar of pressure from the compressor.

With that done, start with an inconspicuous area and begin spraying carefully. Avoid lingering on an area and getting runs, but also avoid missing bits and under spraying areas which end up drying rough to the touch.

I worked my way around the whole engine bay for two coats and ended up with a brilliant result, without any runs or missed parts. I even got that front support sprayed up nicely too outside.

There are a few bits in the finish, but knowing I'll need to flat it smooth before a colour basecoat anyway, at this stage that's no problem at all.

For more helpful how-to guides and restorations: https://www.spannerrash.com/

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#bmwe30 #e30build #e30 #modified