Engine Block Paint ?

[anubis]

how "together" is this engine? it's so much easier to clean and paint parts when they're not attached to other things.

the best thing to do is get the block and head seperated... if that seems like too much work, fine. brake parts cleaner and engine degreaser are both good ways to start. if you can get openings sealed off enough for you to use a power washer without filling your engine, start with that. then move on to degreaser/brake parts cleaner.

once you get most of the grime off the block, use a wire wheel on a dremel or an air tool or a drill and knock all the rust off. then make sure you use high-temperature primer and paint. again, make sure things are sealed/taped off so you don't get debris into important parts.

also, avoid painting gasket surfaces as you'll have to scrape/sand/grind it off later.

 

[overboostedawd]

yeah its pretty together just had a new timing belt head gasket and arp head studs thrown in it so im not trying to take the head off but ill try the break cleaner and engine degreser with the wire brush thanks for the info

 

[THE REAL DEAL]

don't use a dark color either. you'll be able to find problems a lot easier with a brighter color. i don't know why people choose to paint their block black......

 

[Defiant]

don't use a dark color either. you'll be able to find problems a lot easier with a brighter color. i don't know why people choose to paint their block black......

In one specific case, I know it's because a year later a light-colored block looked like crap, the color was yellowing with heat, and it wasn't telling me any more about "problems" than my black one was.

 

[anubis]

In one specific case, I know it's because a year later a light-colored block looked like crap, the color was yellowing with heat, and it wasn't telling me any more about "problems" than my black one was.

seriously.

if you're painting your engine, it's because you want it to look nice. painting it a light/bright color isn't a good idea if you want it to stay nice looking. if you care enough to paint your engine, you'll care enough to keep an eye on things; and you'll notice if there's a "problem" like a leaky valve cover gasket.

paint the block a dark color and if you need some extra pizzazz(sp?) paint your vavle cover a bright color and polish the letters. with an orbital sander or dremmel or a file. that'll give you a really clean look.



overboosted, make sure you buy cheap brake parts cleaner as you'll probably go through it pretty quick. if you are going to use engine degreaser, i'll recomend the foaming kind for the shear entertainment value. be prepared for a mess either way because all that grime isn't going to just evaoporate - it's going to be all over the floor/ground and you'll use a mess of rags.

 

[viperlp01]

or you can use a carb cleaner. I find that prety cheap and it gets the oil off just as easy as engine cleaner

 

[WMD]

...Or () , you could just use gasoline. That’s what I've always used.

I painted my jetta's block Chevy blue and it hasn’t yellowed or done anything weird, maybe its just the quality of the paint that was used.
And just make shure you use a wire brush like stated to get all of the rust off.

 

[Needsoles]

so i'm in the process of rebuilding my engine. i just want to get some opinions. what color should i paint my block and would my valve cover look good painted white with black lettering? any suggestion? thanks

 

[OhhDearOh]

I would go block-black and valve cover I'd say would look good with what you said, white with black lettering.

 

[crxp-o-s4now]

Block-Black (like stated previously)

and I haven't looked at your car/profile but color matches valve covers usually look good.
Whatever you do, don't paint the block "chevy orange" or whatever that orange color is. The previous owner did it to mine and it looks horrible.

 

[Needsoles]

alright black block and white valve cover it is. thanks alot for the advice