engine painting
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Petoskey Mi.
engine painting
first time post, guys/gals. Have a question on engine painting. I want to paint the engine on my '76. Is it possible to do a good job without pulling the engine ( don't have the ability)? How do I make sure the engine is clean enough for painting? Specific products? Techniques? Any help would be appreciated big time! thanx
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: St. Clair Shores Michigan
Re: engine painting (stmc11)
Yet another MI vette on the forum, Welome !!
It can be done.
Biggest concern is getting it clean. Best method is if you can have it steam cleaned, If not you'll have to do it by hand. Local parts store should be able to reccomend something off their shelve, Make sure you read the fine print.
Some folks use stuff that is corrosive, like simple green. I'm sure there will be other posts that have specific products in mind. Just take your time
and you'll have a fine looking job.
It can be done.
Biggest concern is getting it clean. Best method is if you can have it steam cleaned, If not you'll have to do it by hand. Local parts store should be able to reccomend something off their shelve, Make sure you read the fine print.
Some folks use stuff that is corrosive, like simple green. I'm sure there will be other posts that have specific products in mind. Just take your time
and you'll have a fine looking job.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 0
From: N.Y
Re: engine painting (motown 71)
Welcome to the forum It just takes patience make sure it is all clean just like mentioned. Simple green works well but keep it off the paint to be safe I like simple green because It don't leave a residue
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 0
From: Clifton Park NY
Re: engine painting (78 Vette)
Welcome to the forum!
I was able to do a very decent job with the engine on the car. I cleaned the engine with Simple Green, Mineral Spirits, and other products I had at hand. I used lots of aluminum foil to mask whatever was not to be painted, and covered pretty much the whole car with plastic, for the overspray goes a long way... I used VHT paint, and found it to be an awesome paint, that sticks pretty well. It seems kinda thin at first, but after a few covers it gives a very nice finish that lasts.
Good luck!
:cheers:
-Pedro
I was able to do a very decent job with the engine on the car. I cleaned the engine with Simple Green, Mineral Spirits, and other products I had at hand. I used lots of aluminum foil to mask whatever was not to be painted, and covered pretty much the whole car with plastic, for the overspray goes a long way... I used VHT paint, and found it to be an awesome paint, that sticks pretty well. It seems kinda thin at first, but after a few covers it gives a very nice finish that lasts.
Good luck!
:cheers:
-Pedro
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 677
Likes: 5
From: Cary North Carolina
Re: engine painting (stmc11)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=665831
I used Castrol degreaser for the initial cleaning. Simple Green just wasn't strong enough to get 30 years of gunk off. Then I used an assortment of wire wheel and cup brushes to get it down to clean metal and paint. Finally I wiped it down with laquer thinner several times before painting it.
I bought the gaskets for all the openings and cut out cardstock templates. Then I spray glued aluminum tape to the template, peeled off the backing tape to stick them to the block. I also used rolled up aluminum foil in all of the bolt holes to keep the threads clean, and I sacrificed the old spark plugs to cover the plug holes.
Clean is the key.
I used Castrol degreaser for the initial cleaning. Simple Green just wasn't strong enough to get 30 years of gunk off. Then I used an assortment of wire wheel and cup brushes to get it down to clean metal and paint. Finally I wiped it down with laquer thinner several times before painting it.
I bought the gaskets for all the openings and cut out cardstock templates. Then I spray glued aluminum tape to the template, peeled off the backing tape to stick them to the block. I also used rolled up aluminum foil in all of the bolt holes to keep the threads clean, and I sacrificed the old spark plugs to cover the plug holes.
Clean is the key.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: engine painting (stmc11)
First of all, Welcome to the forum and yes it's possible. As many of us did it without pulling the motor, Just make sure you tape off everything well and cover the car to keep over spray from getting on it. I used moving pads 
:cheers:
[Modified by guppie, 4:00 PM 2/2/2004]
:cheers: [Modified by guppie, 4:00 PM 2/2/2004]
