Paint Removal Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 792
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana, It's Always Party Time!
Paint Removal Question
The previous owner of my '80 painted the manifold black and the paint is flaking off and which makes the manifold look crappy. Is there any safe manner to get this paint off without removing the manifold? Would a pressure washer work or any type of paint remover? The factory color of the manifold is what I'm shooting for and don't want to damage that finish with any harsh chemical. Thanks for any suggestions.
Jay
Jay
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
honestly, if you really want to do a good job stripping it and repainting it you should remove it off the motor first.
a pressure washer will also flake off any other paint that it manages to hot while in there plus using hi-pressure water on the motor isn't good as it can get into the distributor and other electronics.
Chemical striipr will work but again if it gets on anything else it will take the paint off that also and it's messy.
You could try a stiff bristled brush but than you still also have the same issue as on any of the methods that leaves the manifold installed of painting it good - you will have to completely mask off everything to prevent overspray.
In the long run removing the manifold is going to be no more difficult that working around everything with it installed, plus it will make painting it easier and a better job.
just my $.02
a pressure washer will also flake off any other paint that it manages to hot while in there plus using hi-pressure water on the motor isn't good as it can get into the distributor and other electronics.
Chemical striipr will work but again if it gets on anything else it will take the paint off that also and it's messy.
You could try a stiff bristled brush but than you still also have the same issue as on any of the methods that leaves the manifold installed of painting it good - you will have to completely mask off everything to prevent overspray.
In the long run removing the manifold is going to be no more difficult that working around everything with it installed, plus it will make painting it easier and a better job.
just my $.02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Barry is right.
By the time you mask everything off and hope that you don't do more harm than good, you could remove the manifold and do it right and get a much better finish. If you try to do it on the car and it doesn't come out well and you then have to remove it to do it right, you've made a bigger project than if you had just removed it and done it off the car.
I speak from experience having tried short cuts that ended up taking longer or costing me more than if I had done it correctly to begin with.
Good luck with the project, post pictures when you've completed. We like pictures on this forum,
Kurt
By the time you mask everything off and hope that you don't do more harm than good, you could remove the manifold and do it right and get a much better finish. If you try to do it on the car and it doesn't come out well and you then have to remove it to do it right, you've made a bigger project than if you had just removed it and done it off the car.
I speak from experience having tried short cuts that ended up taking longer or costing me more than if I had done it correctly to begin with.
Good luck with the project, post pictures when you've completed. We like pictures on this forum,
Kurt
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by BarryK
honestly, if you really want to do a good job stripping it and repainting it you should remove it...
You'd be better off removing the manifold. A pressure washer will get some of the old paint off, but will almost certainly not get all of it. Bead blasting it will remove the paint and give it a factory like appearance.
These manifolds are not particularly expensive. You could consider buying a second, hopefully in an unpainted state, prepping it, then swapping manifolds. Minimum down time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
Any rcomendations for a chemical paint remover and where to buy....same issue with an intake and rally wheels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I bought some engine degreaser a while back that took the paint off the manifold on my truck, aluminum. I don't remember the brand, but it sure took it down to bare metal when I hit it with the pressure washer. You could tape up the valve covers and hit it that way. But that said, the best way is bead blast
