painting an engine block

[gmchevroletruck]

Going to paint the engine block and cylinder head on a reman 350 motor before it gets dropped in, within a week or so. Probably wouldn't mind going with Chevy Blue, or one of the colors available in the High Temp spray can selection available at the local auto parts stores.

For those of you who have painted an engine block before, do they need to be primed, sanded, degreased...?

I guess I'll just tape over the holes for the freeze plugs, and cover the rear main seal cover and timing chain area, exhaust and intake surfaces, etc...

Any tips? How many coats of primer, paint, etc? Does it usually flake off? Never done it before, would rather not do it twice, but would like to do it myself at home.

 

[Familyguy]

Definitely needs to be degreased. Sanding is not necessary, nor is priming. I generally use 3 or 4 coats of paint. I've only had it flake off when I was lazy about degreasing/cleaning prior to painting.

 

[Johnny248]

I've found they it does hold up a little better if you use the engine primer first. Also, why would you tape over the freeze plugs? Are they not installed? if so install them and paint the it all

 

[Jim 5]

Most remans will have the freeze plugs painted. When I did my bronco project and painted the block black, I taped off the freeze plugs because they were kind of a brass color and I thought it looked good this way. It's personal preference I think.

 

[demarpaint]

Make sure the surface is clean, dry, and free of oil and grease. I would get a high heat engine primer, allow proper drying time, then finish with 3-4 coats of high heat engine paint.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Blue?? Shouldn't that be "Chevy Orange"

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Blue?? Shouldn't that be "Chevy Orange"


Not since GM found out chevy's run better painted Ford blue...

 

[xtell]

I've had good luck with Rustoleum oil base paint. In the 1980's I'd paint degreased engine blocks that I was rebuilding. Some got the Rustoleum rusty metal primer (brown color) and topcoat and the others just got the topcoat. Either way, the blocks have not peeled since then. I also have a 2004 Tacoma that I put the rusty metal primer on the block where it did not have factory paint and did not bother to top coat it. Even through four winters with salt and snow the primer is still holding up well, even around the block where the exhaust manifolds bolt on. I've tried the high temperature paints before but they never seemed to hold up (peeled) on my engine blocks.