engine paint curing on aluminum?

[1fast97gsx]

I painted my head since it jsut got cleaned up at the machine shop and I had downtime. I just painted it a silver/aluminum color to make it look new again, however after 2 days the paint still seems to "rub off" when I rub a finger across it. It doesn't really smear or mess up the look of it ... it just leaves a little pain on my finger. I used engine paint from a local pep boys and brushed it on. Is it always going to be doing this or is there any special way to make it "cure" so it won't do this? Is there a special type of paint I should be using instead? If so how would I remove this paint then?

 

[TD05HTalon]

I've never used brush on engine paint before - just the spray on high temp ceramic kind. How clean was the head when you got it back? If you didn't clean it with something like brake parts cleaner after getting it back the paint probably won't stick. The hot tanks at most shops aren't very clean and leave a film or residue of solvent.

 

[1fast97gsx]

no it was very clean and I DID use brake cleaner and a wire brush as well. On the can I just saw it said at the top that it should be cured in a non household oven for 60 minutes at 650 degrees or just to run the cars engine for 1 hour after paint .... I didn't do that though. :-/. It should still cure once I put it all back in the car and start it up and drive it right? Can I just take a heat gun to it for a while and cure it that way?

 

[1fast97gsx]

should I sand it back off and then use a different type of paint or do all aluminum paints require baking to make them cure?

 

[Defiant]

Just drive it. By the time it stops stinking, it'll have cured. It'll probably cook off around the exhaust manifold.

Next time, you probably don't want to paint aluminum.

 

[1fast97gsx]

well the thing is I read the directions AFTER I did it ... but it says curing must be done within 8 hours. Obviously I can't start the car since the engine is out of it but will I still be ok or is it just going to flake off? Seems like it should still cure normally right?