Engine Painting Tips

[joeceretti]

When I painted my 346 engine with the Cadillac green from Hirsch it took about 3/4 of a quart. It covers very well.

[Jason Edge]

I think around 4 cans of the Cadillac Blue for 2 to 3 thin to medium coats.

[Valts]

What about cleaning the engine from old paint/rust etc... You said that you bead blasted it.
Is sandblasting also ok?
I have engine completely dissassembled right now, will cover head surfases, install oil pan and center-section on top (under the  inlet manifold) and all other smaller holes.  Send it to blasting, take it apart after that, wash everything, blow with compresses air , clean everything and paint.  Will it work, or should I stick with hours of work with different wire-wheels etc....?
I mean is there any danger, that sand and will close some oil-channels?

When using Bill Hirch paint, then no primer is needed?

Thanks,
Vallo

[Jason Edge]

For externals such as oil pans, water manifold, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, pulleys, valve covers, top push rod valley cover, air cleaner assembly, brackets, flex plate, and other items that were safe to glass bead blast, I would degrease, bead blast, wet sand, wipe down with acetone, air dry and blow off any small debris with compressor and prime and paint per painting tips.

For engine block and heads they were cleaned at machine ship in high pressure degreasing vat (probably a better name) before assembly.  After I rebuilt engine block, I cleaned rough block exterior with impact wire brush, wiped down with acetone, air dried with compressor, primed and painting per painting tips.

To see the progression through the rebuild, cleaning and painting you might check out this link with further links to each stage including preparing the engine compartment: http://6364cadillac.ning.com/profiles/blogs/jason-engine-rebuild-project-spring-2012


This was also posted here at this link: http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=128917.0

As noted in the actual painting tips document (located at http://api.ning.com/files/S813y-uFLk9p90kcOiyBTdwRowlrx2NOOS47ws*kBk0FLx0qlChsAY5TB6CgghcezDteIr0f5iLarEM0sFxgxr20MU-KVsaM/2012NovDecNewsletterMasterENGINEPAINTINGTIPS.pdf you will see I'm a big fan of a final wipe down with acetone and a final blowing off with compressed air.
If fact that was how I super-cleaned the Turbo Hydramatic transmission a few years back which you can see at this link: http://6364cadillac.ning.com/photo/albums/jason-s-transmission-project