Painting Engine
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 10
From: Dallas TX
Painting Engine
Can I paint my engine without pulling it? My thoughts were to pull the engine bay wiring harness, exhaust manifolds, fan, radiator, hoses, pulleys, expansion tank, plug wires etc, enough to give me some clearance and then tape off the frame, intake, body, etc.
Or is this too much of a PITA and quicker to pull the motor?
Or is this too much of a PITA and quicker to pull the motor?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 4
From: Plano Texas
Derek,
Glad to see you made it back from the holidays. IMHO, I would pull the engine and tranny as one unit. Much easier than masking off everything. The hood will need to be marked at the hinges and then removed. Pretty easy. I can help you if you need. I also have an engine puller, an engine tilter and a plate that can be bolted to the intake manifold to lift the engine. You are certainly welcome to borrow them to use at your house. Let me know if I can help.
Mark
Glad to see you made it back from the holidays. IMHO, I would pull the engine and tranny as one unit. Much easier than masking off everything. The hood will need to be marked at the hinges and then removed. Pretty easy. I can help you if you need. I also have an engine puller, an engine tilter and a plate that can be bolted to the intake manifold to lift the engine. You are certainly welcome to borrow them to use at your house. Let me know if I can help.
Mark
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,354
Likes: 2,726
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Yes you can, but you will have some trade off's. Cleaning every nook and cranny too eliminate grease/oil may not be possible. Priming, sanding and painting all bare metal may not be possible. Unless you are completely equipped with all the necessary equipment too safely pull the engine, paint it in place! 
Dennis
Dennis
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 18
From: cooper city florida
I did it, and it came out very nice. The hardest part was getting everything clean. I used Bill Hirsch engine enamel, and those wooden handle painting sponges. If I remember right, I had the water pump,pulleys,fan,alternator, exhaust manifolds,valve covers,fuel pump,intake manifold,and shielding off. With the V shielding off, you can even do a decent job underneath. I spray painted my oil pan when I had it off to try and find a washer that i dropped in the lifter valley, and it fell through one of the drain holes, down into the bottom end
. But that's another story........and yes, I got the washer out.
. But that's another story........and yes, I got the washer out.
Last edited by 65 vette dude; Jan 12, 2010 at 02:44 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,000
Likes: 659
From: Puget Sound
Your plan is exactly how my "body off restoration" started on my 1960. Remove stuff to make painting the engine easier, remove engine because it's easier to clean engine compartment and frame, remove body to make it easier to paint frame and on and on. You may get bit by the "while I'm at it" bug.
Jim
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 18
From: cooper city florida
I also painted the engine compartment. That was really a PITA. Lots of tedious masking, and I used lots of aluminum foil to cover things like brake and fuel lines, steering column, wiring and the like. Somebody in the past thought the inner fenders would look good painted a high gloss black
. Looked terrible. I made one mistake. I used the SEM trim black spray paint. Looked terrific. Just the right low gloss sheen. The problem is, its not gas resistant. I dribbled a little gas on my inner fender, and it stained it. If I had it to do over, I would use Eastwood's Under Hood Black. It has the right low gloss sheen, and it's oil and gas resistant.
. Looked terrible. I made one mistake. I used the SEM trim black spray paint. Looked terrific. Just the right low gloss sheen. The problem is, its not gas resistant. I dribbled a little gas on my inner fender, and it stained it. If I had it to do over, I would use Eastwood's Under Hood Black. It has the right low gloss sheen, and it's oil and gas resistant.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,226
Likes: 399
From: Northern CA
You can absolutely paint the engine and the compartment without removing the block. Ive done it several times.
Just take your time and clean and mask everything off. Remove the components you mentioned and take your time. Prep, cleaning, masking and painting can easily be done in a weekend.
Go for it!
Just take your time and clean and mask everything off. Remove the components you mentioned and take your time. Prep, cleaning, masking and painting can easily be done in a weekend.
Go for it!
