The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Painting engine

I found a good deal on a recently rebuilt engine that I'd like to put into my '57. Unfortunately the PO painted it chevy orange. I'd like to re-paint it an appropriate 6 cyl color before installing it. It only had a few miles after the rebuild so it's not dirty at all. I'd like to just wash it good, go over it with a scotch brite pad, and re-paint with the correct color for a '57 truck which I believe to be grey. Will this work okay? I don't want to have the new paint peeling off and leaving me with an orange / gray dalmatian looking thing under the hood. Any advice will be appreciated.

I've had good luck after prep. is to wipe down with rubbing alcohol that will removes oil residue . I'm sure somebody will knock this idea down , But it works for me .... No heavy coats ....

My '46 had the engine rebuilt by the PO shortly before his passing. It was painted the orange color too. The engine sat, never having been started for some 20 + years. I decided to use the blueish grey color engine paint too. Last fall I used acetone to remove all the orange paint to get to clean bare metal. Time will tell if my approach holds up. But, at least the orange color is gone. I applied two coats.

Always better to go to bare metal. Big job on a engine if not on stand. Any chip offs will show bright orange. If the orange is the wrong paint or not cured properly it will give up. If a real nice restoration effort underway...gotta go to bare metal otherwise no guarantees. Even if paint first with POR 15 system there is no guarantee without bare metal.
If just a driver, won't hurt to try a paint over. just labor.