Original Honda Engine Paint

Chris Garrett said:

Hey Bill,
I would like to do my lower case in the silver and the cylinder heads in black. Could you outline the prep work that you did? I know you told me once, but if you could write it out, I would appreciate it very much. You know the condition of my engine now. Thanks. I hope you don't mind.

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Chris -

I first cleaned everything in parts cleaner as well as I could do it. I got a 5-gallon can of the stuff from an auto part store and worked on the pieces for quite a while actually.
Then, if any of the pieces had that factory varnish crap on them (like clutch cover, etc.) I sprayed them with aircraft paint remover, also from the auto part store.
Washed several times with soap/water. Blow dry with the air compressor.
Then two good rinses with straight acetone, sprayed with self-etching primer, then the paint itself.
Baked the pieces at 200 degrees for about an hour, in the kitchen oven.

If you're going to do this Chris, now is the time, as I have your cases split and everything torn down. The machinist should have your head done in a short while. And you're right, the engine is sort of an oily, grungy mess........
Not sure what you plan to do about the cam bearings and tappet covers, etc.. Polishing??

With the engine all together, I'm not sure you could get things clean enough for the paint to adhere properly - that is, without getting water or solvents into the engine through the myriad of large and small openings.

Just let me know what sort of plan you decide on - I won't put anything back together for now.
I suppose I could be talked into doing it for you, but I'd have to charge you for it, as it's a lengthy process and I'd have to buy all the chemicals and parts solvent and paint.
Though I'm still not gonna charge you for the rebuild......