26 replies to this topic

[deepee71]

The hammerite was poor to be honest....should have etch primed and used normal paint....

[Tupers]

Can you tell me which red paint you used please? looks nice and bright, great job too by the way :) I'm painting mine red and looking for a very bright red engine paint.

 

 

 

The red was just a Hammerite rattle can sprayed over zinc primer. 

[JonnyAlpha]

Resurrecting this thread to add a question.

 

What are the simplest method using commonly available products for de-greasing and prepping an Engine Block for painting?

 

My block is back from the machinist and before it went I gave it a damm good clean up with Petrol and soaked it in a Citric Acid solution to remove as much rust as possible. It has been in the machine shops parts washer a couple of times between jobs but it is now soaked in WD40 and wrapped up so it needs cleaning again.

 

Thanks

[Guess-Works.com]

brake cleaner

[johnR]

White spirit or thinners will do a good job of cleaning it too - then I recommend warming the block/head with a hot air gun so there's no moisture on it for a longer lasting finish. Etch prime and paint.

[JonnyAlpha]

White spirit or thinners will do a good job of cleaning it too - then I recommend warming the block/head with a hot air gun so there's no moisture on it for a longer lasting finish. Etch prime and paint.

 

Yes I have read about warming the block. Ref Etch Primer, the paint shop said I did not need to use any primer with this paint but I do have some Halfords Etch Primer that I could spray on thin?

[Stu1961]

Cellulose thinner is very aggressive  and a  great final degreaser it also leaves no residue once evaporated, cheap as well.    

[Guess-Works.com]

Definitely use an etch primer... it gets a good hold of the surface and means you don't need thick coats of paint for it to get a consistent cover... The thinner you can put the paint on and get a good finish the better, and the less chance of it peeling or chiping off..

[JonnyAlpha]

Another question:

 

Paint with the Core Plug in or out? 

 

I think an engine looks better if the Core Plug are not painted over by If I leave them out and don't paint them will they rust?

 

Tks

[Tupers]

Paint with core plugs out and then fit them. They’re electroplated and don’t tend to have water sat on the outside of them so don’t really rust.

[JonnyAlpha]

Paint with core plugs out and then fit them. They’re electroplated and don’t tend to have water sat on the outside of them so don’t really rust.

Great thanks, hoping to get it done today now that the block is clean, took longer than anticipated.

[JonnyAlpha]

Well, cleaned, masked, primed and top coated: