Painting the engine

[chongo25]

Thinking about taking the Slant 6 out and painting the engine to make it look better and clean it up a little. Any suggestions on how to go about getting it prep to go?

Thanks

[dpcd67]

If you are removing the engine, are you also rebuilding it? If not, why take it out? Degreasing an engine is the most important thing to do when painting an engine and if it is being rebuilt, the shop will hot tank the block.  You can use a pressure washer to remove grease and dirt. Once free from all grease and oil, it is easy to spray on engine paint. 

[blown motor]

  I repainted mine this past winter. We took off mostly everything except valve covers. Then did a little masking. It looks great. We didn't get down low on the block. If we missed anywhere else you can't see it anyway.

[footin70rt]

East Off oven cleaner makes a great engine degreaser. Once it's clean and free of grease, shooting it first with some self etching primer will make the paint stick better and last longer.

[chongo25]

Sorry i haven't responded back, I'm not planing to rebuild the engine as of yet, I was wanting to just clean up the engine compartment, but with the suggestions of the you guys on here I will give the degrease with the engine still in a try.

[Haddixj]

What also works good is a roll of quarters and simple green and a car wash place. Works even better if you can find hot water

[dpcd67]

If you are leaving in the car, just buy some engine degreaser (or oven cleaner) and take it to a car wash.  Take a putty knife too as the really caked on grease/oil/dirt won't be cut by the degreaser. Might have to do it a couple of times.  Mask, spray; voila; new engine. Well, a pretty one anyway.

[chongo25]

Thanks Haddix and dpcd for the suggestions.

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[burdar]

If the rest of the car has some "patina" I would be temped to just clean the engine compartment and leave it.  It will look much better without all the caked on oil/grease....better then a quick spray bomb job too.  Also be prepared for some leaks once everything is clean.  That 30 year old caked on crud can help seal up bad gaskets.  Pay close attention to any factory markings that may be wiped away while cleaning.  A slant E-body retaining some factory markings would be so cool to see.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I bought a kit from POR-15 for my car. There was a degreaser, then an alkaline solution, then brush on paint. It worked well. Obviously I couldn't get to the lower parts of the block, but you can't see down there anyway. Just wear rubber gloves when dealing with POR-15 engine paint or your finger nails will be colored for days.   

[dpcd67]

A 6 cylinder E body is a very rare car as everyone removed the 225 for a V8.  No sex appeal though.

[chongo25]

That is what I hear. I like the idea of the slant 6 in it because it's seem they are still around. I'll planning on keeping it in it.

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