need advice on prepping 10 year old engine for repaint

[Ironduke4]

I repainted a pontiac 2.5l 4 cylinder for my 1989 buick skylark last year and it has held up great this is what i did. First clean the block with kerosene and a stiff brush be sure you get all the grease off. Then rinse it with brake cleaner as it does not leave a residue after that is done then wire brush the block with a wire brush on a drill to get off the loose paint and rust. Clean it again with brake cleaner tape off the block where you dont want it painted then paint it. I used plastikote engine paint and it is very durable. Good luck!

 

[1 FMF]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kestas:
For a primo job, you may want to take the engine apart and have the block, heads, and intake manifold hot-tanked for proper cleaning. This would be your best prep for paint.

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The engine is fully assembled, I don't plan on taking anything off other than the intake manifold and oil pan.
I will consider getting the intake hot-tanked if price is reasonable. Other than that, looks like I'll be buying a few cans of brakecleen and some wire wheels.

 

[Kestas]

Hot-tanking is good because it does more than degrease or remove paint -- it also removes most of the rust scale, varnish, and coked products on the inside as well as outside surfaces. To put the price in perspective, I paid $8 to hot-tank a crankshaft.

If you want to take the job down a notch, then Ironduke gave a good suggestion - to degrease with something simple like kerosene or mineral spirits, then remove that residue with brake cleaner or alcohol.

 

[1 FMF]

pulled the 351w out of the boat yesterday,
motor is good, need to do some other work on the boat and outdrive. But while i have the motor out, I want to go over it and make it look showroom new. I will have it on an engine stand, and will be able to pull it apart easy.

My biggest concern is getting a good and durable paint job on the intake manifold, and on the rest of the engine as well. What would be the best way to remove the old paint? Any advice on primers to use, and brands of paint?

I also hope to repaint the carb, it's a holley 4160. I had painted it black many years ago, and it held up well until I needed to rebuild the carb and soaked the bowls in carb solution. how about some pointers for prepping, priming, and painting?

If I can find an oil pan gasket I think I might try dropping the pan to inspect everything. For painting the pan, is there a good primer/paint setup that would hold up better than typical engine paint? I'm happy with the standard engine paint that i did use, but while I have the opportunity, I want to use the best. Thanks.

 

[XS650]

This was a totaly hosed duplicate post, please delete

[ September 15, 2004, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: XS650 ]

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by 1 FMF:

My biggest concern is getting a good and durable paint job on the intake manifold, and on the rest of the engine as well. What would be the best way to remove the old paint? Any advice on primers to use, and brands of paint?

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What does the old paint look like? If it's solidly attached and not too thick, declare it to be primer and paint over it.

[ September 15, 2004, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: XS650 ]

 

[Kestas]

NAPA has paint formulated for high-temperature application, specially made for repainting engines. It's formulated with ceramic.

For a primo job, you may want to take the engine apart and have the block, heads, and intake manifold hot-tanked for proper cleaning. This would be your best prep for paint.

 

[OffOrWFO]

As an old ford guy that has done many shakey bomb rebuilds, I think Ironduke has the right idea. Plastikote #224 Ford Blue is the best paint to use. I have used it on many used engines and intakes with good results. I use gas to get the grease off (careful very dangerous- do it outside). Then I wire brush/wheel to get off any loose dirt/paint. After that I wipe it down with a rag and lacquer thinner, tape and paint. I never use primer. I have never had an adhesion problem with Plastikote spray paint and I never use a primer of any sort. Usually the grease and dirt creepes in before the paint finish goes away. I don't doubt that a good autobody quality paint finish would hold up better but I bet you would have adhesion problems first. I have intakes with 7yrs and 50k on them that still look good with spray paint. The thing that makes intakes look bad is when you wash and engine and then warm it up, which is what most of us do. When the engine warms up the water in the valleys of the intake evaps and leaves minerals behind. If you dry the water first your intake will look good for a long time. A have NEVER painted a crab in my life. A good dip in carb cleaner has taken off any dirt and will take of paint. I the carb still doesn't look very good you can bead blast it with glass beads. Be warned if you do this you have to completely take the carb completly apart clear down the the throttle plates! Also a set of ford racing chrome valve covers does wonders for the look of the topend. Only ~$50 at summit if I recall.