Painting Engine Parts

[Canyonero]

I think I'm going to do at least the LIM black, that's what will be going on first when I do the cam and wiring swap. Then I'll attack the intake (LIM will remain the same between the two.

I'd really like to get some fiero valve covers while I have it apart, but I might just clean and paint the steel ones.

[96ols60degree]

This is why on my 96 engine,i masked off the fins and 3100 sfi on it so when i painted it,it sort of set it off like those edelbrock finned valve covers are.To bad that I cannot even get to my motor anymore.Oh and by the way,anybody need ceria parts from the middle of the car back?

[geoffinbc]

I think I'm going to do at least the LIM black, that's what will be going on first when I do the cam and wiring swap. Then I'll attack the intake (LIM will remain the same between the two.

I'd really like to get some fiero valve covers while I have it apart, but I might just clean and paint the steel ones.

Get Fiero covers. You get the looks plus NO Leaks. And a reusable gasket. You can often find them on craigslist or ebay

[Canyonero]

I'm watching a set on eBay, five days out. What is the going rate?

[mongo]

Since we are on the subject, I have been told that the heat paint holds up better if the item being painted is "hot". When I was a kid, my buddies would put their intakes in the oven and their headers on the grill (usually won't fit in an oven) and heat them up (150-200 degrees) before painting them. None of our cars were around long enough to tell if it made the paint more durable or not. Anyone else ever hear of this?

[pocket-rocket]

I've no clue about the heating of parts before painting. It kind of makes sense, but then it would force the paint to cure faster then normal I would think, and I don't know if that is good or bad. But as for my previous mention of the parts washer, I just got a new Harbor Freight sales add today. Now some things I wouldn't dream of buying from there (screwdrivers, pickle forks-I broke two of these on my truck in one job that came from there...), but I am happy with my parts washer, despite how being cheaply built it is since it still does it's job just fine. The add says normal price is $109.99 but it is on sale through March 23rd for $79.99.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?itemnumber=7340&Submit=Go

[neo71665]

Going rate for the fiero covers seems to be $40 to $50. Don't just search the listings for covers, email anybody that is either parting out or selling lots of fiero GT parts. Thats how I got my set.

I've heard of people hot painting parts but I can't see it changing anything but drying time. The paint is the same coming out of the can no matter what temp the part is at.

[geoffinbc]

Yea I paid about $30 or $40 for my last set but shipping killed me.

[BavearaEurbz]

does anybody have any pics of there motors painted im doing my motor job now and i think im painting the block grabber green, the uim is powder coated red and the heads will be silver, the heads will match i think im not sure in the head lim area but the valve covers will be red so just the block will scream and the rest will look good!

[Canyonero]

Yea I paid about $30 or $40 for my last set but shipping killed me.

Set just went for $77 w/ shipping on eBay.

[60dgrzbelow0]

As long as you prep well with some sort of degreaser (dish soap, water, then brake cleaner I used) the high temp engine paint at walmart/etc works well. Just put on several coats, and be careful installing.

Ever use brake clean in a garage while you have your salamander going? Yeah, I would rather stick a whole pack of cigarettes in my mouth at one time. You have better odds of still being able to breathe after that. BTW, my cheap-o parts washer from Harbor Freight filled with Simple Green would have worked wonders for your intake, Isaac. I think I paid $80 on sale for it. It's 20 gallons I think. 2 gallons of Simple Green and fill the rest with water and it does a good job.

To clean all the crap/carbon out of the innards of my U&L IMs (and to prevent my "salamandering" from getting dead LOL) I used a big Coleman Cooler and filled it with a 50/50 mixture of water and some super-de-greaser stuff I got from AutoZone called: "Purple Power" and just submerged the IMs in the cooler. Two hours later... I went fishing for the IMs and with a few extra strokes of some engine cleaning brushes and a short re-dunk... they came out as clean as Kleenex after a good flush with the garden hose and some time in the sun. The cover on the cooler sealed up hermetically tight (No fumes at all...My Salamander was SAFE!) and the eco-friendly clean-up was a snap, too!

[Canyonero]

No splash shield? On the bottom of the intake manifold there is no metal splash shield riveted to the intake? There should be unless it got removed. In which case I would look into replacing it. It keeps oil from baking onto the hot EGR port that passes under the manifold.

I first had a 3.4L LIM cleaned but ended up needing to use the 3.1L LIM, it does have the splash shield.

Well if it is bead blasted and you like aluminum then just use a semi gloss clear. It will look good for years. Black or silver is the most accepted colour for intakes. You typically don't see them in colours it does not look good. When you colour match them to the block and heads then it seems you get too much of that colour under the hood and nothing sets it off.

I painted the middle and upper with aluminum engine enamel, the lower is going to be low gloss black. I set the 3.1 intake in place to see how it would fit, sure enough, more room front and back:

Personally I am doing the block, heads and oil pan in Chevy Orange (was looking for a CAT Yellow at first) and I have the intake done in black and my valve covers are Fiero valve covers with black and brushed aluminum fins.

Well, you have it installed and running now. Let's see it!

Get Fiero covers. You get the looks plus NO Leaks. And a reusable gasket. You can often find them on craigslist or ebay

Done, found on car-part.com from a semi-local yard (same state at least). $55 shipped. Probably have them on Friday.

I am happy with my parts washer, despite how being cheaply built it is since it still does it's job just fine.

I got one of those too with simple green 4:1, and it is handy. I'm still going to the machine shop, but now it's much less work for them to prep for bead blasting. Someday I'll get a blasting setup for myself.

[geoffinbc]

I will have pics up soon. I am making an addition to my site. I also have a budget and details to go with the pics.

[pocket-rocket]

I got one of those too with simple green 4:1, and it is handy. I'm still going to the machine shop, but now it's much less work for them to prep for bead blasting. Someday I'll get a blasting setup for myself.

I want one of the ones at Harbor Freight that runs $299 that they run on sale for $200 on occasion, but things like electricity and heat for the house takes precedence over something like that at the moment