Painting a GM Crate Engine
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
Painting a GM Crate Engine
I purchased a new GM crate engine. The engine came painted black. I wish to paint the engine Chevy orange. What do I need to do for preparation to spray paint this engine ? All suggestions are appreciated.
Dano,
Dano,
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Brookhaven Mississippi
what i did was sand it lightly with 800 grit i believe so the paint had something to grab to and just taped off everything else i didnt want painted then i was good to go. not sure what others have done, but that seemed to work for me and it was my first time as well. although, i went from chevy orange back to black haha 
just like the look of the black with all of the polished aluminum
just like the look of the black with all of the polished aluminum
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
I wouldn't know how to act if the engine I desired to paint wasn't covered in grease. Because the engines I have painted have usually been quite greasey/oily I usually start with a wire wheel on a die-grinder or air powered drill. Obviously you're not faced with that situation so you probably just need to rough the surfaces with a scotch brite pad. Now, whenever you use any kind of friction pad such as a scotch brite you need to have the engine completely sealed (valve covers on etc.). Bad things can happen to an engine if you get that friction material inside it.
Beyond getting the metal surfaces roughed up a bit you gotta clean, clean, clean and clean some more to insure your paint just doesn't fish-eye. I typically like rubbing alcohol as my oil solvent as it's not too strong and not too weak. I must stress when you think you've got every nook and cranny on the engine completely clean then you should think about cleaning it all over again.
Here's a couple of my patients:
Beyond getting the metal surfaces roughed up a bit you gotta clean, clean, clean and clean some more to insure your paint just doesn't fish-eye. I typically like rubbing alcohol as my oil solvent as it's not too strong and not too weak. I must stress when you think you've got every nook and cranny on the engine completely clean then you should think about cleaning it all over again.
Here's a couple of my patients:
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Brookhaven Mississippi
cleaning the engine before paint.. ah yes. i forgot i did that haha.. and the wire brush as well. haha i was half way there, but yeah when i cleaned i just used brake cleaner. be sure that its dry before paint and be sure there is no oil on it because it will fish eye
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I just did a good wipe down on my zz4 with a degreaser. Then I taped up anything I did not want painted like the aluminum heads, intake and my engine stand. Then I shot it with Dupicolor Chevy Orange. Here are some pics.
Now just to give you an idea of what this engine went thru during Katrina here is a shot.
All the painting I did still looks good on the it once I cleaned off the dirt. I have the engine disassembled right now, but the valve covers, block and oil pan all look as good as when I painted them.
Now just to give you an idea of what this engine went thru during Katrina here is a shot.
All the painting I did still looks good on the it once I cleaned off the dirt. I have the engine disassembled right now, but the valve covers, block and oil pan all look as good as when I painted them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
One more step in the engnine painting process that I think is very important and that is the use of engine primer. If you paint your engine with primer and then scuff it down with some soft steel wool before putting on the final color you could save yourself alot of headaches and avoid a big ole fish-eye. This is yet another one of those "life's lessons" that I learned the hard way.
Remember, clean, clean and clean your engine again before you paint.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
Great tips everyone, thanks for taking the time. Wow, that certainly is Chevy Orange! Awesome detail.
I will do the wash down and I think I will use a scratch pad to rough up.
Does that original 'black paint' stick well? I can lay another paint job on it if roughed up but I do not want to invest in something that may be a peeler from the factory. Any experience out there with the black paint not sticking?
Dano,
I will do the wash down and I think I will use a scratch pad to rough up.
Does that original 'black paint' stick well? I can lay another paint job on it if roughed up but I do not want to invest in something that may be a peeler from the factory. Any experience out there with the black paint not sticking?
Dano,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
Great tips everyone, thanks for taking the time. Wow, that certainly is Chevy Orange! Awesome detail.
I will do the wash down and I think I will use a scratch pad to rough up.
Does that original 'black paint' stick well? I can lay another paint job on it if roughed up but I do not want to invest in something that may be a peeler from the factory. Any experience out there with the black paint not sticking?
Dano,
I will do the wash down and I think I will use a scratch pad to rough up.
Does that original 'black paint' stick well? I can lay another paint job on it if roughed up but I do not want to invest in something that may be a peeler from the factory. Any experience out there with the black paint not sticking?
Dano,
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
Thanks Mudbone64 and others for the tips. Good point in stating primer will assit with the finish.
The black I am refering to is the factory applied paint when the engine was assembled. I have yet to check to see if it is lacquer or enamel. I agree good prep before application is key.
Does that factory applied paint to the GM crate engine appear to adhere to the block, pan and cylinders? Any history of it not?
I wont paint overtop of the 'black' if it has a history of not sticking to the original cast.
Dano,
The black I am refering to is the factory applied paint when the engine was assembled. I have yet to check to see if it is lacquer or enamel. I agree good prep before application is key.
Does that factory applied paint to the GM crate engine appear to adhere to the block, pan and cylinders? Any history of it not?
I wont paint overtop of the 'black' if it has a history of not sticking to the original cast.
Dano,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
the block black paint is enamel & it don't tend to lift.
if new, suggest degreasing but skip roughing it up.
Instead of roughup, suggest misting it w/ lacquer thinner ... do Not go overboard w/ LT ... immediately shoot the orange enamel ... the LT mist will soften the OE black enamel a bit & the new orange enamel will bond to it tight as a tick.
+add ... frankly, I'd probably leave it black.
if new, suggest degreasing but skip roughing it up.
Instead of roughup, suggest misting it w/ lacquer thinner ... do Not go overboard w/ LT ... immediately shoot the orange enamel ... the LT mist will soften the OE black enamel a bit & the new orange enamel will bond to it tight as a tick.
+add ... frankly, I'd probably leave it black.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Thanks Mudbone64 and others for the tips. Good point in stating primer will assit with the finish.
The black I am refering to is the factory applied paint when the engine was assembled. I have yet to check to see if it is lacquer or enamel. I agree good prep before application is key.
Does that factory applied paint to the GM crate engine appear to adhere to the block, pan and cylinders? Any history of it not?
I wont paint overtop of the 'black' if it has a history of not sticking to the original cast.
Dano,
The black I am refering to is the factory applied paint when the engine was assembled. I have yet to check to see if it is lacquer or enamel. I agree good prep before application is key.
Does that factory applied paint to the GM crate engine appear to adhere to the block, pan and cylinders? Any history of it not?
I wont paint overtop of the 'black' if it has a history of not sticking to the original cast.
Dano,
