3 replies to this topic

[JackF]

A previous owner of my car, in all their wisdom, has painted most things under the bonnet black, very badly.
After an oil leak got progressively worse, I have decided to get this sorted. In order to reach the tappet chest, a lot of bits have been taken off.
I've cleaned radiator brackets and flushed the system through.
While large parts are gone, what quick and simple things can I do to smarten up the engine bay? What is the best way to remove paint from plastics, like the fan?
Cheers guys, Jack.
Hope this is the right section.

[corrado vr6]

Thinners would remove most paints from plastics maybe even white spirit depending on the paint used

[dklawson]

Plastic parts can be soaked in a water bath with mild caustic cleaners and then scrubbed to remove most paint. Avoid chemical paint strippers on plastic.

After degreasing and cleaning away the loose paint in your engine bay you can mask off the items that remain and paint around the engine. Do not plan on doing that in one day and do not plan on painting the whole bay at one time. You will likely need to move components and or mask partial areas at a time. Spray paint in cans can be used. However, if you want to match the exterior color of the car you may have to have it mixed to match. Some paint vendors can supply custom paint in aerosol cans. I have yet to find one near me. Instead I buy about a pint of paint and apply it using a cheap, single-action air brush. The results can be quite good and affordable.

As with all painting, the quality of the final result is almost 100% dependent on the degree of preparation. Do your best to prep the engine bay and you will be happier with the results.

[ANON]

soda blasting