The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop What is the easiest way to prep engine for paint?

like others have said removing the engine would make for the best job. additionally anything else that needs or should be addressed can be done at this time along with inspecting things that you dont see while the engine is in place. the hoist i got from HF has the fold up legs requiring less space to store it without dismantling it. cleaning the engine can be done on the hoist with whatever cleaning agent you use. i bought a tub from dollar general that i put under the engine and tranny to catch all the crap im removing. with a engine tilter which you can buy at HF the same time you buy the hoist can work to your advantage by tilting the engine enough to get the run off to end up in the tub plus it makes removing the engine simpler. i have limited space in my shop and i roll the truck back and forth accordingly to give me the room for the task at hand. the problem with removing the engine opens up this thinking " well since im here i might as well do this too". its hard at least for me as to where to draw the line becasue next thing you know your removing the rear bumper to do things on a job that started with painting the engine (ive done this more than once). painting the engine/tranny on the hoist allows for a much better job due to the accessability of the little tight areas that you normally dont get with the engine in. painted componets seperately tells others what you have worked on or replaced. nothing impresses me more than that of a well painted and attention to detailed engine. i think a clean engine is a happy engine. if you address all the things that are hard to remove will only make it easier the next time you decide to remove something.