Painting replacement long block 3.0L

[Chris Baranyar]

I have purchased a new long block 3.0L to replace the current 3.0L . The new motor has the coil, spark plugs, distributor,water pump,vibration damper and v-belt pulley mounted to the new engine. The valve cover, water pump, and oil pan are mounted and painted already. My question is can the engine be painted after masking the distributor, coil, water pump, v-belt pulley, spark plugs or should these components be removed prior to painting?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Either. You can paint the dizzy, cap and wire too if you want

 

[biggjimm]

I've seen folks just paint it & try not to get paint on the parts they don't want painted. Doesn't look the best but doesn't hurt anything either. As long as it's not a surface that gets a gasket or other type of seal or an electrical connection or a crucial threaded hole that is.

You could mask them if you wanted or take them off its really up to you. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the water pump or balancer & pulley. They're usually the same color as the engine anyways. Sometimes I'll screw the old plugs in a bit if I don't have anything to plug the holes with.

Of course this is coming from a guy whose mercruiser 350 is painted Chevrolet orange! Although there is a reason it's orange other than I just wanted it that color. You ever try to look at a black engine down in a dark engine compartment or bilge & try to find an oil leak or water leak? I find it a whole lot easier to keep an eye on things if it's painted a lighter color. And it's a Chevy so orange was a natural fit.

Have fun & paint your engine how ever you want.
Jim.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Boat motors are painted black so you do not see the small normal leaks

 

[biggjimm]

I never thought of that Scott. I guess that's a good reason. After a year of so of usage that black motor will still look like it did on day one whereas my orange one will be kind of dingy looking. It's already looking a little dingy in places & it's only been in there 5 or 6 weeks now. Lol

 

[Lou C]

When I replaced the heads on my engine I painted them, the intake (rusty) and the valve covers with OMC charcoal grey. The new exhaust and circulation pump were painted black so I just installed em that way. Looks pretty good with the black Barr exhaust on the OMC charcoal grey engine...

 

[Chris Baranyar]

Thank You everyone. I will let you know how it works out.