Best Way to remove engine paint?

[Daves69Coupe 10]

Ill be starting the process of removing all the paint off my 302 and I was wondering what the best process is to get it to where when I repaint it'll have the nicest paint quality. Dremel? Sanding? Acetone?

 

What do you recommend?

[SlimeGold 69 15]

How much paint we talking? I just bought a used intake that had about 5 coats of grabber green over 2 coats of blue. I used spray on stripper, scrapers, wire wheels and at last sand blasted it to make it look new. You obviously can't sand blast a whole engine, and if your not looking for a full rebuild, removable things like valve covers, oil pan, intake, etc, blasting works pretty good if the paint is not real thick. You would want new gaskets on all this stuff anyway if your spending alot of time cleaning and detailing your engine. Oil leaks would make it all wasted time.

 

Dremels or something with a wire wheel are handy for cleaning up areas like the block and heads. It will be alot of work tho. I would clean the block and heads before taking valve covers or oil pan off to keep crud out of the inside of your engine.

 

If your rebuilding the engine, just take all the parts to the machine shop and have them hot-tank it all. Most if not all of the paint will be gone then.

Edited January 14, 2010 by SlimeGold 69

[d.reese 13]

I use "Easy Off" oven cleaner, on all greasy / painted areas and a pressure washer. Spray out side and keep fumes down wind, let soak for 20 min in 70 degree or less and hit it with the PW! Works great on all my stuff. May take two or three time if real caked on grease,. Even Lowes sells the stuff. You can even take the parts to the car wash, spray down then wash if you don't have a pressure washer!

Edited January 15, 2010 by d.reese

[magician 13]

Getting all the grease off is more important than getting all the paint off. A good coat of epoxy primer after a thorough cleaning will seal the block just fine for top coat.The best paint on an engine is a quality 2k(2-part) paint.Not spray bombs

 

http://autobodystore.com/forum/index.php

 

search here for good advice

[StephenC 10]

I just took mine apart and take it to get acid dipped allot easier and faster plus you get a better finish when putting the new paint.

[StephenC 10]

I just took mine apart and take it to get acid dipped allot easier and faster plus you get a better finish when putting the new paint.

[1952 10]

If you have the block stripped down take the block to a Engine rebuilder/machine shop that Cooks the blocks and intakes in a oven....the block will come back Like a NEW Casting

 

1952

[1952 10]

If you have the block stripped down take the block to a Engine rebuilder/machine shop that Cooks the blocks and intakes in a oven....the block will come back Like a NEW Casting

 

1952

[Denver69 10]

I would not recommend sand blasting around engine parts. That stuff gets everywhere and it's impossible to get it all out. Sooner or later the media will find its way in to parts of the engine you don't want it to. Ask me how I know. I've used Aircraft Paint Stripper with great results. What I like is it won't ruin soft parts like rubber or plastic. Get gloves and work where you have a LOT of ventilation and be patient but it is another way to get good results.

[Denver69 10]

I would not recommend sand blasting around engine parts. That stuff gets everywhere and it's impossible to get it all out. Sooner or later the media will find its way in to parts of the engine you don't want it to. Ask me how I know. I've used Aircraft Paint Stripper with great results. What I like is it won't ruin soft parts like rubber or plastic. Get gloves and work where you have a LOT of ventilation and be patient but it is another way to get good results.

[Fordrevhead 29]

Running engine in car, here's my method for detailing an old engine bay:

 

bag the carb and the distributor, engine degreaser, then water, then brakleen, then compressed air, then 2" 3m flexible sanding discs with the rubber backing pad on an air drill or die grinder with adapter stud, then compressed air, then brakleen again, then compressed air again.

 

oh, dont forget the safety goggles and rubber gloves. :blink:

[Fordrevhead 29]

Running engine in car, here's my method for detailing an old engine bay:

 

bag the carb and the distributor, engine degreaser, then water, then brakleen, then compressed air, then 2" 3m flexible sanding discs with the rubber backing pad on an air drill or die grinder with adapter stud, then compressed air, then brakleen again, then compressed air again.

 

oh, dont forget the safety goggles and rubber gloves. :blink: