acceptable paint color for cylinders/heads

[tgburns55]

What color "silver" or "aluminum is acceptable for cylinders/heads on a 1965 panhead. I have seen both lasted and painted. Thanks

[Rubone]

Cylinders were high temp aluminum color, heads are raw as cast, not painted.

[RichO]

High heat cylinder paint H-D 98669-78 part number

[rbenash]

Yep - what Rubone and RichO said. The original high heat HD paint looks the best frankly. One of those little cans is more than enough to do a couple bikes. I kept several cans when I was searching to make sure I would be able to do touch ups, etc.

[K. Felt]

As others said. Make sure to spend the money on the Harley Davidson spray can. Part # on my cans are 98606EL High Temp Silver/Grey. Metallic Acrylic. Did my '65 cylinders about 8 years ago and still look good. Ridden daily.

[duffeycycles]

Mine is Harley #98860-78 Heat resistant silver

[Hack]

I have this one in the cHPIM1863.jpgan with what looks to be an earlier part number.

[rbenash]

Thats the AMF one and should work fine. It's really just "radiator" paint. But what's special about it is that the Harley Silver high heat is such a specialty color that no one would want to make it and sell it. Originally it's probably because they actually used real silver in the original formulation way back. When you move from that the color will change. One of those small cans is enough to do a bunch of bikes. "Just use regular high heat silver paint and get over it" Which I would agree with unless you are doing a period specific restoration. Other than that just move on and get high heat silver paint and use it in the right spots.

[duffeycycles]

If you use VHT it will discolor quickly

[T. Cotten]

If you use VHT it will discolor quickly

Look like nickel, Duffey?

....Cotten

[duffeycycles]

It will turn orange

[T. Cotten]

It will turn orange

Yuck.

My 'secret sauce' gets a warm glow, almost like nickel.

Almost.

...Cotten