Prep Engine for paint
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
Prep Engine for paint
I will shortly be starting my engine top end rebuild. Motor is out of the car right now. I assume the getting the gunk off of it now will be much easier than later.
I was going to leave everything on the motor, tape or plug what ever holes are left, gunk it up and pressure wash it off..
Anything else I need to do before repaint? I already know that I wont be able to get off all the original orange paint. Should it be wire wheeled off after I wash it?
Any brand engine paint better than others?
I was going to leave everything on the motor, tape or plug what ever holes are left, gunk it up and pressure wash it off..
Anything else I need to do before repaint? I already know that I wont be able to get off all the original orange paint. Should it be wire wheeled off after I wash it?
Any brand engine paint better than others?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
for what it's worth....
When i was redoing the engine bay in my '78 and pulled motor to paint it I first pulled all the big top parts off the block, like the distributor, carb, intake, starter, exhaust manifolds, air pump, AC compressor, assorted brackets, and valve covers basically leaving the block and heads with waterpump.
Than I cleaned up the block of dirt, grease, and as much of the old paint as possible using paint stripper and brake cleaner and wire brushes.
Once I got as much of the old paint off as was possible and everything was clean of dirt, grease, and stripper chemical I prepared the block for painting by using a pre-paint cleaner.
The paint vendor I used recommended NOT to prime the block as their paint is designed to be applied directly to the iron block but to first use a primer coat on the steel oilpan which I did.
After priming the oil pan I painted the block with thre coats of paint.
Came out excellent.
Here is some pics of the motor from start to finish of the painting
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/78Vette/mcu/parts.html
The paint i used was from Bill Hirsh Automotive http://www.hirschauto.com/
I also used the same venmdor for the paint on my '65 Vette motor and it came out excellent as well and I did that motor while still in the car using a brush
When i was redoing the engine bay in my '78 and pulled motor to paint it I first pulled all the big top parts off the block, like the distributor, carb, intake, starter, exhaust manifolds, air pump, AC compressor, assorted brackets, and valve covers basically leaving the block and heads with waterpump.
Than I cleaned up the block of dirt, grease, and as much of the old paint as possible using paint stripper and brake cleaner and wire brushes.
Once I got as much of the old paint off as was possible and everything was clean of dirt, grease, and stripper chemical I prepared the block for painting by using a pre-paint cleaner.
The paint vendor I used recommended NOT to prime the block as their paint is designed to be applied directly to the iron block but to first use a primer coat on the steel oilpan which I did.
After priming the oil pan I painted the block with thre coats of paint.
Came out excellent.
Here is some pics of the motor from start to finish of the painting
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/78Vette/mcu/parts.html
The paint i used was from Bill Hirsh Automotive http://www.hirschauto.com/
I also used the same venmdor for the paint on my '65 Vette motor and it came out excellent as well and I did that motor while still in the car using a brush
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
If the engine is out for a top and I'm going to repaint, I typically just give it a once over with a stiff (non-wire) brush and full-strength Simple Green followed by brake cleaner and finally PPG DX 330. Not perfect, but it's worked OK for me I'm cleaning a 355 this weekend and I'll post pics of the process and results if that's interesting 
I've used DupliColor, VHT and POR-15 paints...the jury is still out for me on a favorite. Anecdotally among my buddies, I've heard the worst stuff about VHT and the best about POR.
I've used DupliColor, VHT and POR-15 paints...the jury is still out for me on a favorite. Anecdotally among my buddies, I've heard the worst stuff about VHT and the best about POR.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Here is some pics of the motor from start to finish of the painting
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/78Vette/mcu/parts.html
The paint i used was from Bill Hirsh Automotive http://www.hirschauto.com/
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/78Vette/mcu/parts.html
The paint i used was from Bill Hirsh Automotive http://www.hirschauto.com/
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
I used POR-15 on the frame section of the engine bay. After 3 coats I finally got the hand of it. The thinner you spread it the better it looks. My first coat was to thick and caused hazy spots.. But I think I got it down to a science.
So what POR did you use on the block? Do they make an engine paint?
And Billla, let me say that I have learned so much from your posts.. Once I get the cam out of the car and measure my bore, I will be shooting you an email for your 2-cents on which head combo I should run.
So what POR did you use on the block? Do they make an engine paint?
And Billla, let me say that I have learned so much from your posts..
Once I get the cam out of the car and measure my bore, I will be shooting you an email for your 2-cents on which head combo I should run.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi X,
I'll only add that having the block, etc. perfectly clean is the only way to insure the paint will adhere well. Clean it, then clean it, and then clean it again!
Regards,
Alan
I'll only add that having the block, etc. perfectly clean is the only way to insure the paint will adhere well. Clean it, then clean it, and then clean it again!
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
If the engine is out for a top and I'm going to repaint, I typically just give it a once over with a stiff (non-wire) brush and full-strength Simple Green followed by brake cleaner and finally PPG DX 330. Not perfect, but it's worked OK for me I'm cleaning a 355 this weekend and I'll post pics of the process and results if that's interesting
I've used DupliColor, VHT and POR-15 paints...the jury is still out for me on a favorite. Anecdotally among my buddies, I've heard the worst stuff about VHT and the best about POR.
I've used DupliColor, VHT and POR-15 paints...the jury is still out for me on a favorite. Anecdotally among my buddies, I've heard the worst stuff about VHT and the best about POR.
That brake cleaner is great for the hard to reach spots
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Easton pennsylvania
Boy that looks pretty Alan. The paint looks so think and deep. I remember years ago when I did my Mustang, the engine looked great for about a year, then it started to loose its depth. Is that rattle can or brushed?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi X,
Thanks!
It's rattle can VHT 600 degree engine paint. Since I have a painted intake manifold I was concerned with the paint blackening on the heat crossover; thus the 600 degree paint.
It's holding up fairly well. The picture was from about 10 years ago. Here's the engine today.... well, New Years Day. It doesn't have very much running time on it. The paint has darkened on the left side, but not the right side.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks!
It's rattle can VHT 600 degree engine paint. Since I have a painted intake manifold I was concerned with the paint blackening on the heat crossover; thus the 600 degree paint.
It's holding up fairly well. The picture was from about 10 years ago. Here's the engine today.... well, New Years Day. It doesn't have very much running time on it. The paint has darkened on the left side, but not the right side.
Regards,
Alan
