Thread: Painting a engine

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I need some advice, i want to paint my engine. I have everything apart because i am rebuilding the engine. Would it be better to paint it now before reassamble or after reassembly. I would think after so i can paint all the bolts and stuff. Any advice?

Depends - if you have aluminum heads, oil pan that stays unpainted, intake that stays unpainted, etc. then before, while it is apart makes sense to me. Take a piece of plywood or a cardboard box and drill/punch holes for all of the bolts, then paint them all at once. Mask all machined surfaces, plug all holes, degrease thoroughly, prime and paint. If it's all going to be painted like OEM then after is probably easier. Either way it's a good time to grind down any flashing and other casting roughness before you clean it up for color. My opinion, and you may get other ideas.

Welcome to CHR, by the way! Post some pictures of what you're working on when you have a chance.

Roger nailed it but if you paint the bolts ahead of time figure on going back to redo them after tightening.
Welcome to CHR

OK thanks guys

I agree with Roger and Charlie. Degrease with whatever works best, then do a final wash with Tide detergent (the powder if you can still find it) then rinse well. As far as bolting - now is the time to switch to a better fastener - it will cost a few bucks, but the black oxide ARP bolts wont need painting and are probably at a minimum of 50% stronger. The ARP polished versions - waaaay too expensive for my taste(wallet), but pretty 8-}

I bought a drees up kit that has block oixde bolts, and I want to paint them the same color as the engne. as for the intake and valve covers, I am gona keep it orignal.

Originally Posted by weslan

I bought a drees up kit that has block oixde bolts, and I want to paint them the same color as the engne. as for the intake and valve covers, I am gona keep it orignal.

Obviously your choice, but the contrast with any engine color almost always looks good looks good

Originally Posted by weslan

I bought a drees up kit that has block oixde bolts, and I want to paint them the same color as the engne. as for the intake and valve covers, I am gona keep it orignal.

On a factory monochrome approach you can fully assemble, minus the carb, distributor, coil, wiring, etc, and shoot everything at once. The down side is that all of your gasket edges are going to get painted, too, which I would not like (unless the engine is black like mine). One approach could be to set the intake, valve covers, & oil pan in place and finger tighten the bolts. Then paint, let it dry thoroughly and then dis-assemble/re-assemble those parts with gaskets. Problem is you'll likely scar up the bolts torquing them, and will have to go back with a touch-up brush.

I think since i have the engine apart, i am gonna just go ahead and paint the engine.

Painting is the beginning of engine detail, I am going to add another level to it just for grins.

Picture shows the mounting holes for an alternator, there will be others around for whatever.

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Seen on the front of the head from the side the holes were filled with acorn nuts. Filling the unused mounting holes on the block gives the engine a more finished appearance.

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I am not suggesting the acorn nuts as the way to do that, it's the builders choice they just happened to be what I selected.


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I also like allens, think they are more mechanical looking seen in the first shot on the water pump. There are lots of ways to decorate using the wires, lines and hardware take advantage of that. It is the little things that stand the most and go unnoticed at the same time.