Hey guys...I know this is an old thread but the good old interwebs directed me here.
my 750 engine just went through two stages of paint stripper, followed by heavy degreasing followed by an old fashioned rinse. The orig paint is all gone however my jugs/head are have some good build up of something plus oxidation in the fins. The rest of the engine has a wonderful coat of oxidation as well. I have not found a method worthy of getting in the crevasses and hard to reach places of the block SO.... at what point can I start painting?? (in the future if/when I need to rebuild the engine..I'll vapor blast)
Besides the oxidation and the buildup in the fins...the engine is clean. Can I paint without removing the oxidation? I just want it to look nice then I'll go through the tedious process of polishing the polishable parts.
Any suggestions would be great
As far as the fins: I use small-diameter brass brushes (Harbor Freight cheapies, it ruins them) to reach in between the fins. The lumpy stuff is aluminum oxide crumbs. I use steel wool on the case fins and a soft wire brush in a drill motor. Go gently on the smooth faces with steel wool, it can scratch.
The paint I use is Duplicolor's engine paint, with their High-Temp Ceramic engine primer first and their Cast Coat Aluminum after. One coat primer, 10 minutes to dry, first coat over, 10 more minutes, second coat. Coats are light, as the paint is thin. The engine heat final-cures it, so it is somewhat soft until then. It is a very, very close match to the OEM aluminum color, too.