Winter Project

BILLF/TRF

BILLF/TRF

Senior Member
My engine paint (rattle can) is getting a little thin and is wearing off and not holding up against surface rust from a weeping head gasket and water pump. I would like to remove the engine and transmission from the car ('31 tudor sedan) and wonder what would be the best method of preping it before putting on a couple of coats of POR 15 for engines.
 
To get the grease and oil off I'd start of by using undiuted Simple Green. The stuff works wonders and is easy on your hands.
Dave
 
To get the grease off, Simple Green is a good idea. As far as the remaining paint and rust, what do you suggest, paint stripper and wire brush?
 
Use the simple green to remove the grease. Get some lacquer thinner and either brush it on or get a rag and wipe the engine down. This will remove any old paint dirt ect.... wear a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands from drying out from the lacquer thinner. It's good stuff but hard on the hands. Once cleaned and dry use the ford engine green spray paint. You could spray a light coat of primer first.
 
I don't think it is super important to get 100% of the paint off. If it's stuck on good leave it. If necessary use some sand paper to feather the edges. After getting the grease off I like to use a combination of a 4" wire wheel on a drill and several different sizes of wire brushes. Dental tools are pretty handy at getting stuff out of the tight spots. The dental tools you get at swap meets etc... in the platic sets of 4 or 5 are pretty much useless. Go on Ebay and get some good used ones or ask your dentist next time you're in the chair. Wipe down good with a degreaser and you should be good to go.

If you should ever want to paint with a brush or sponge on cast iron or steel add some Penetrol to your paint. It makes the paint flow and you will not have any brush marks. Makes it look like you put it on with a paint gun.

Dave
 
I would like to paint under the nuts on the head. If I remove the nuts will i have to replace the head gasket when it comes time to tighten the nuts again?
 
BILLF/TRF said:
I would like to paint under the nuts on the head. If I remove the nuts will i have to replace the head gasket when it comes time to tighten the nuts again?
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No you will not have to replace the head gasket as long as you do not pull the head off the engine.
 
I've painted the engine while it's in the car with perfectly acceptable results using a sponge brush. The cast iron surface irregularities make a brush job unnoticable. ID did pull the manifolds, starter, generator, distributor, and oil return to make it easier to clean behind them and get paint there Mask off any nuts and such that you don't want painted. I wouldn't pull an engine just to paint it. Now, if you had other tasks in mind, like dropping the pan to clean the sludge and take up the bearings, or to check the valve clearance, etc. while the engine was out, that makes sense.
 
Will N said:
I've painted the engine while it's in the car with perfectly acceptable results using a sponge brush. The cast iron surface irregularities make a brush job unnoticable. ID did pull the manifolds, starter, generator, distributor, and oil return to make it easier to clean behind them and get paint there Mask off any nuts and such that you don't want painted. I wouldn't pull an engine just to paint it. Now, if you had other tasks in mind, like dropping the pan to clean the sludge and take up the bearings, or to check the valve clearance, etc. while the engine was out, that makes sense.
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I agree, if I was just painting the engine; but, since I would like to use POR 15 and it is a slightly different color shade than the rattle can green that I originally used on all the green parts, I think I might remove the engine and than the bell housing and transmissin as well.
 
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