preparation for engine painting

[james walker]

What prep work is needed prior to engine painting? I have a motor with some rust on it that I'm needing to paint. Is it safe to sand blast a motor first? If not, whats recomended? Obviously plugging up all the inlets/ out lets...

any info would be great.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by james walker
What prep work is needed prior to engine painting? I have a motor with some rust on it that I'm needing to paint. Is it safe to sand blast a motor first? If not, whats recomended?

Hi James,

Don't even think of sand blasting an engine, it will get in to places where it could not be imagined. On all the engines I rebuild, I take the engine down to bare metal by using wire wheels on hand grinders, for in the corners, a small wire brush on a drill, also light use of a needle gun is useful if the paint is thick and hard. Wash down with a degreaser or thinners. Use a good quality red oxide primer, a couple of coats is best then whatever colour you wish.

But don't use a blaster

Richard

[marco]

Hi James,

If your engine is completly disassembled you could consider bringing it to a professional company to have it washed inside and outside.

Otherwise I would advice for the old handwork with wire brushes and scrapers.
All openings should be plugged because loose wires migh come off the brush and fly around.
Murphy's Law says that these wires will fly in that particular opening you forgot to plug.....

Degreasing the porous cast iron blocks is time consuming, you should repeat this a couple of times to get the surface degreased sufficiently for a good paint job.

Red oxide primer is perfect for the job.
2-pack primers give perfect results also but are more expensive.

Sandblasting is far to powerfull, the blast will most likely damage your "plug-work" with desastrous results.

Best regards,

Marco

[james walker]

Cheers Gentlemen, most appreciated info.

I'm off to Alice Springs next month to have a look around for a blitz... C60 preferably... Two weeks of slow cruising around in the dry season will be nice. Any possible leads in the area or anywhere between Darwin, Tennant creek and Alice would be most appreciated. Especially stations which may have one kicking around.

Cheers again,.

James

[Lynn Eades]

In keeping with whats allready been said, I wouldnt sand blast any mechanical assembly that is not going to be completely stripped and cleaned afterwards. the stuff gets in everywhere!!