Removing Engine Paint for New Paint

[Mike]

Tom,
Thank you ! If the engine is out of the car I use oven cleaner, most of my jobs the engines are in the car so I use degreasers and hot water to get the engine ready for paint.

mike

[marc silva]

Tom,
I use what is called a "needle scaler" I got it at Harbor freight. It is a bunch of 1/8 inch hardened rods in an air tool that vibrates kind of like an air hammer but will chip off paint and rust. It will maintain the texture of the casting finish. I actually used it to re texture a couple mold spots that I had on a Snyder head that were there from casting the head that I ground off. You cant tell where I did it. I took the paint off of a transmission and it looked like a brand new casting. Just clean it with prepsol or a wax and grease remover and paint. The ends of the rods eventually get rounded a bit so touch the ends to a grinder to make them flat again and you are back in business. I strongly recommend this tool. It is much easier than messy remover or wire wheels on cast iron.

Marc