Painting Engine Compartment

[kiteoregon]

So i pulled the stocker and am getting ready to install the 351, but first figured i would do a little clean up. I used a can of engine cleaner and a preasure washer and started in on the years of oil and dirt. Looks like the po did a painted the engine bay without any prep. So not that it looks like total crap i need to paint.

1. Whats the best way to remove the layers of paint, paint stripper?
2. After the paint is removed, can i just prime, or is there more prep that is needed
3. After the paint is removed, what primer should i use, and how many coats
4. Any specifics on type of paint i should use that will hold up?

I can rattle can or spray, i have a compressor and paint gun.

Thanks.

 

[Bronco Ben]

i use Castrol SUPER CLEAN, it will take it off in layers, and you do NOT want to get it on your plastics, rubber or anything painted that you want to keep.
I am about to do the same thing to my engine bay in my 65 ford f100. I say clean it as good as you can, soap it down with a good car wash soap, sand it or scotch bright it, then wash again, dry it, prime with an automotive primer (wal mart or sams gravity feed guns are good for this) then paint it with a good automotive paint. I personally like two stage base clear, but it will all depend on what you want to do with your truck.
PREP work is the key to it looking like you want it or looking like some used car lot painted it. hope this helps...

 

[bknbronco]

Clean, clean, clean. Or blast it. I had bare steel and scuffed with 320 followed by a maronn scotchbrite, then primed with epoxy primer mixed as a sealer, then shot black single stage urethane. If you get it down to bare metal on the seams i would also take some time to apply a seam sealor like Lord Fusor, then seal and paint. The reason for the sealor is it lays down flatter (smother) than primer which is a better base for top coat paint. The PPG epoxy primer i have can be thinned and used as a sealor also. That way your sealing and priming in one easy step (otherwise you should prime and then seal). I loved the way the PPG single stage urethane shot (i used black). It has a clear built in it basically. Its not totally necessary that you take it down to bare metal though. You could clean, wipe down, scuff, wipe down, seal, and then paint.

By the way...that looks nasty in there! Im glad your taking the time to repaint it!

 

[Rustytruck]

get some 3" crimped wire brushes about 1/2" wide and a die grinder. this will save you alot of hassle.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/2698/=idmti3

 

[graniteguy]

i bet the power washer gets most of the non original paint off.

 

[allenfahey]

Clean, clean, clean. Or blast it. I had bare steel and scuffed with 320 followed by a maronn scotchbrite, then primed with epoxy primer mixed as a sealer, then shot black single stage urethane. If you get it down to bare metal on the seams i would also take some time to apply a seam sealor like Lord Fusor, then seal and paint. The reason for the sealor is it lays down flatter (smother) than primer which is a better base for top coat paint. The PPG epoxy primer i have can be thinned and used as a sealor also. That way your sealing and priming in one easy step (otherwise you should prime and then seal). I loved the way the PPG single stage urethane shot (i used black). It has a clear built in it basically. Its not totally necessary that you take it down to bare metal though. You could clean, wipe down, scuff, wipe down, seal, and then paint.

By the way...that looks nasty in there! Im glad your taking the time to repaint it!

What he said. Sounds exactly the way I would do it No need to sand prime sand, paint. Just sand once, seal, paint. ALOT less work!

One other suggestion.... Paint it black since black will go with any color you choose for the outside. I painted under the hood body color then changed colors a few years later. I had to repaint the engine compartment. I chose single stage satin black this time.

 

[bknbronco]

What he said. Sounds exactly the way I would do it

Thats cause i learned from you brother!! Lots of PM's but it was worth it to me. You were a ausome help when i painted my stuff. Thanks again allen!!!!

 

[TN1776]

I used an assortment of degreasers and a pressure washer to scrub mine clean. At that time I hadn't admitted to myself that a full paint job was in my near future so I took the easy way out and hit some of the surface rust with POR-15 and topped the whole thing off with semi-gloss rustoleum. Would I do it this way again? NO. My engine bay looks terrible compared to the exterior. Definitely take the time and take these guys' advice and do it right the first time with real automotive paint. It'll hold up and look better for a longer amount of time.