Painting finished engine and transmission

[makoshark]

Awhile back I painted my engine and transmission with 2k Eastwood engine paint. I painted them with their universal red as I was originally going to paint my car its original red color. I have since decided to paint the car blue and am wanting to change the color on the engine and transmission to the same blue bc/cc I'll be painting the car. What is the proper method of prepping the engine and transmission for this color change? Would it be best to strip them back down to bare metal and start over? If so, what would be the preferred method to strip them? There's a lot of irregular and hard to reach surfaces, so it would be a daunting task to completely strip them. Keep in mind, both, the engine and transmission are fully complete and assembled.

[makoshark]

Any advice?

[69MyWay]

Wow - this one will be tough.

If you don't do a really good job removing the red - any nick or scratch on the blue will show the red through. That will look pretty rough - and you are bound to get various nicks and scuffs on it during assembly, service, and use.

You also need to know the nature of the red paint (enamel, lacquer, urethane, epoxy) so that what you put over it in any areas that it doesn't get fully removed doesn't lift with the blue paint.

I would say you would be best served to seal up any openings and possibly wash it down with thinner/reducer made to cut the type of paint that is on there and see how much of the red will simply dissolve and wash off. You might even try buying a case of brake cleaner spray and see if that doesn't dissolve it off as it won't harm other items as long as you remove/cover up and light plastic parts.

You might even be able to use straight up paint strip, but then you will have to wash it with water to neutralize.

Another idea might be a combo of a heat gun and paint strip - and a screwdriver tip with some sand paper.

Either way, without taking it all apart you have a challenge ahead. I think failure to fully strip the red will be a problem if/when the blue flakes or scrapes...etc.

[makoshark]

Thanks MYWAY for the reply. The paint on the engine now is a 2 part urethane enamel. I'm wanting to change the color with HOK paints and they specifically state not to paint over metals cleaned with any type of acid based products, such as paint stripper. I realize I have a job on my hands, but was hoping for some insight on the best method for realizing my goal with this.

I do have a sandblaster and 200#'s of glass bead on hand