Prepping the engine before painting?
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: Burgaw North Carolina
Prepping the engine before painting?
I have removed my engine and would like to clean it before painting and would like to know what methods you guys have used to prep it before painting? I would love to sand blast it and have tried to see if there was available covers that bolt over any openings like the exhaust manifold ports and carb opening. I can easily cover the water pump openings and distributor opening and had thought about putting on a worthless carb and bag the carb to prevent sand from entering. I was planning on using VHT primer then the Hi-temp Chevrolet Orange. One last question, I've noticed that some people paint the bell housing on manual transmission cars and some don't, does anyone know what the correct look is suppose to be? I have a 74 model Vette.
Thanks for your advice.
Thanks for your advice.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Don't sandblast it...there is too much chance of loose sand grains getting into the engine or packing into a depression and breaking loose during engine operation. Your best approach is to remove the carb and distributor, then tape-off [duct tape holds better] all fittings and openings. If you have [or can borrow] a pressure washer, that is a good way to rid the caked-on grease. Buy a couple spray cans of GUNK (or similar engine cleaner) and spray down the engine; let set 10-15 minutes for it to work, then use the power washer to blow the dirt off. If the engine is particularly grimey, it may take two attempts. After engine is thoroughly dried, remove any duct tape, then take a rag with some Prep-sol or other pre-paint cleaner to wipe down the engine;that will get all residual tape glue and oil film off. You can use a primer, if you want....if the existing paint is not flaking off, you probably don't need a primer. Use blue painter's tape to mask off any areas where you don't want paint. You can mask off the spark plug holes or put an old set of plugs in temporarily. Spray away!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,335
Likes: 4,449
From: Westminster Maryland
I believe your 4-speeds bell housing should have some orange overspray on it because it was on the engine when the engine was painted at Flint.
Here's a picture of my 71.
Regards,
Alan
PS: O.K. I'm past my year here... 74's were still orange, right?
Here's a picture of my 71.
Regards,
Alan
PS: O.K. I'm past my year here... 74's were still orange, right?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 207
Likes: 34
From: raleigh N.C.
oven cleaner works good to knock thick crud off.
purple stuff and a wire brush then rinse if its not too nasty.
a pressure washer works good too but be careful with water around an assembled engine. sandblasting an assembled engine is not a good idea IMO.
I follow up with carb cleaner and compressed air to get ready for paint.
if I see any fisheye from leftover oil on the basecoat, I scrub the affected area with some carb cleaner on a rag before I continue.
here is plastikote chevy orange. the VHT orange is not as bright.
I dont use engine primer.
purple stuff and a wire brush then rinse if its not too nasty.
a pressure washer works good too but be careful with water around an assembled engine. sandblasting an assembled engine is not a good idea IMO.
I follow up with carb cleaner and compressed air to get ready for paint.
if I see any fisheye from leftover oil on the basecoat, I scrub the affected area with some carb cleaner on a rag before I continue.
here is plastikote chevy orange. the VHT orange is not as bright.
I dont use engine primer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Go get a gallon of Super Clean and a spray bottle. Spray it on, wait 10-15 minutes and hit with a pressure washer. You can get Super Clean at Walmart for $6.99 a gallon, way less than several cans of Gunk and it does a much superior job with much less work. Hose it off, let it dry thoroughly or use a compreesor to blow it dry, masked it off and spray away.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
I also use oven cleaner. It works quite well. I power washed to rinse off the cleaner. Be careful you don't get it on other stuff, it'll ruin most painted surfaces. After the engine is clean, I used compressed air to dry the engine.
I then use Pre Paint Prep from Eastwood Companies (It smells just like brake cleaner....may be the exact same stuff). I also use Eastwood's Chevy orange paint. It's a perfect match for original. I recently painted the front half of my engine and after it dried, I struggled to tell where the original paint ended and the new paint started.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I went the POR-15 route. The block was acid tanked, cleaned with "marine clean/metal prep" and brushed with 3 coats of POR-15 chevy orange.
It seemed to turn out ok!
In my case, I painted the entire bell housing. I just couldn't stop myself!
It seemed to turn out ok!
In my case, I painted the entire bell housing. I just couldn't stop myself!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
Very very nice my friend. I think the bellhousing looks great.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I had my block dipped when it was at the machine shop. I then used washed it completely with a little dawn & liquid tide/water. Coated the cylinders with auto transmission fluid. Then I used POR-15 metal ready right before painting.
I hate that over spray crap too.
I hate that over spray crap too.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Madison Wisconsin
[QUOTE=eastltd;1567005591]I went the POR-15 route. The block was acid tanked, cleaned with "marine clean/metal prep" and brushed with 3 coats of POR-15 chevy orange.
It seemed to turn out ok!
Do you think that the POR-15 is somewhat heat resistant?
It seemed to turn out ok!
Do you think that the POR-15 is somewhat heat resistant?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
[QUOTE=Mad Vette;1567008137]Yes. I used the POR-15 Engine Enamel designed for the application. For exhaust components they offer high temp products.
