To paint or not to paint my engine?

[Honda Junki]

I have a 1983 Honda Big Red 200e that I'm going to restore. I've been trying to think of what's the best way to clean up the look of the engine and what's most cost effective? Has anyone else painted their engines?

[jakep53]

Yes I paint motors all the time with high heat engine paint and I sandblast the whole motor first!

[Honda Junki]

Do you have to worry about gaskets at all if you sandblast the motor when it's still put together?

[tripledog]

Soda blasting is more forgiving than sand blasting. And welcome to the forum!

[yaegerb]

Do you have to worry about gaskets at all if you sandblast the motor when it's still put together?

You don't sandblast an assembled motor. if it's assembled I would degrease VERY well and scuff the motor with 600 sandpaper (be prepared for lots of fun).

[Bren_downe]

You don't sandblast an assembled motor. if it's assembled I would degrease VERY well and scuff the motor with 600 sandpaper (be prepared for lots of fun).

What about glass bead blast an assembled motor that your planning on tearing apart right down to the crank?

[yaegerb]

You mean blast the motor whole, then tear down? You can do that. When sandblasting a motor I don't take the chance of missing fine particulates that may have worked their way into a bearing or past a seal. iMO, it's best to replace all bearings/seals/etc. You CAN roll the dice and clean the internals the best of your ability, then reassemble, but I don't.

[WwSiViCwW]

i agree with hiim ^..... completely disassemble if your going to sandblast and then powdercoat..... will be worth it in the end

[jakep53]

I have sandblasted alot of engines assembled and I have never had a problem with it!

[Honda Junki]

Thanks for the input guys, I guess my dilemma is that I had the motor completely gone through 5 or 6 six years ago and then left it parked in a shed most of that because I went away to college. So I really dont want to tear it apart for that reason, I'm thinking of doing the degreaser and using sandpaper and see how that turns out once. Thanks again for the input