Should I paint my firewall?

[8708]

Hi folks,
I am trying to decide whether or not to paint the firewall on the engine side.
I have painted the engine mounts blue to match my striping (using epoxy primer and Aerothane) and instead of leaving the firewall bare metal I am considering painting it white, again with epoxy primer first and then Aerothane.
Has anyone painted theirs? Any real or perceived pros and cons?
Thanks!
Jay

[Guest]

Re: Should I paint my firewall?

Mine was painted when I got it and I have continued that practice. Its a pain. The paint peels of in various places and has to spot refinished. Dave

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Should I paint my firewall?

It is a real pain to get the firewall COMPLETELY clean. I had mine bare from top to bottom and primed and painted it with stainless steel high temp paint. It looks beautiful. I just hope it stands up. It sure looked like C**P before I painted it!
Hank

You can get high temp (550*) engine paint or exhaust header paint that is supposed to be good up to ~2,000*!

[crispy critter]

Re: Should I paint my firewall?

Hank, at the rate your going you should never have to worry about wheather yours will peel or not because you have to fly it before it can wear out,lol....sorry Hank but you need to get one of those birds in the air.

It is a real pain to get the firewall COMPLETELY clean. I had mine bare from top to bottom and primed and painted it with stainless steel high temp paint. It looks beautiful. I just hope it stands up. It sure looked like C**P before I painted it!
Hank

You can get high temp (550*) engine paint or exhaust header paint that is supposed to be good up to ~2,000*!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Should I paint my firewall?

NO KIDDING!!! You can't imaging how frustrating it is to be so close. I finished building an engine prop shaft stand last week so I can build up the back of the engine. Finally got the material for the wing bands and the new aileron cables are going in. Of course one of the cords to pull the new cables in slid into the right wing and I need to figure out how to fish it back out.
Hear that sound? It is my head banging on the wall.
Hank

[cvavon]

Re: Should I paint my firewall?

I did my fire wall with high temp engine paint a silver color and it looks grate the photos are striping old paint finish striping primer and color

[astjp2]

Re: Should I paint my firewall?

Use a chemical resistant paint, most of the gasolines now days have enough toxic chemicals to strip and peel a firewall good. You will occasionally spill gas, it will get on the firewall, or a small oil drip will spread everywhere under the cowl, PPG aquapon 35 is a great paint, also imiron or the stitts urethane..... My firewall was mild steel, not stainless. Tim