black engine picture

I'm thinking of painting my engine black, can anyone send me a closeup picture of their 650 with a black engine? I want to see how it looks....

Here's mine.

what paint did you use?

Mark's engine looks real great, however painting an engine does not work generally. Remember the disaster of the first black KZ engine, the 73 Z1? That was a factory job, multiply that by 10 for disaster on do it yourself. Later Kawasaki went to a hard coat like a powder coat black which still did not fare all that well really. So everyone knows my view on paint already, but painting wheels or engine is even more of a mistake than painting the bodywork by a longshot. Mark's does look good though. Keeping the polished covers and having a black engine is a good looking combo for sure if it holds up to the elements.

2 cents.nothing looks as clean as OE silver. unfortunatly it's also hard to reproduce and/or maintain. the thing is. there's no going back. blacked cyls/head indicate intrususion., thus, it's stock or not. Black, on the other hand, is easy to touch-up, and dragging a file across cyl/head fins add detail. it's your'e ride you decide, G

The main issue when paiting an engine any color is that the paint on the cylinder head and block tends to cure from heat where the engine cases don't. This means that the paint on the engine cases isn't very durable. I suggest if you decide to paint, cure the paint on the engine cases and it would probably make more sense to get them powder coated. The engine on my 79 KZ1000E1 is powder coated. I should have polished the bright covers but I am too lazy but they were brightened using a wire wheel on a drill.

I have a bit of mixed bag at the moment, having largely replaced the motor with later parts. It's currently a mix of black, silver, and black that's been painted silver then painted black again (these are my favourite)...tossing up whether to go all black with polished covers/fins this time around.
For what it's worth my experience in painting engines regardless of colour has been pretty much like painting anything else...the more time spent on preparation, the better the result.

I was planning on using black industrial imron. I did my frame on my H2 with it and it was bulletproof like powdercoating.

I guess I want it to look like the maroon colored KZ900 thats on the home page banner up at the top.

This isn't the best picture, but it gives you an idea.

wiredgoerge - No issues with powder coating cases? I would think it would be a pain if you have to remove the coating from the sealing joints? Any leaks? Did you prep as to not get any in wrong areas of the head?

youd definately have to do lots of masking of machined /gasket surfaces.i told to the local powder coater about using the wrinkle finish on engine cases he told me it holds up good but would be a major hassle to keep it clean.

This one's powder coated.